Carolling sleepout in Navan raises money for Calcutta

 
Pupils from three schools in Navan, joined by members of Youth for Unity, sing and collect funds for Calcutta project and then sleep out to “simulate what life may be like for some people on the streets in Calcutta”.

carol singersOn 19th December 2015 young people from three school and members of Youth for Unity took time out to raise funds for a project in Calcutta.

From 10.00am until 4.00pm the young people sang Christmas songs and shook buckets for the St. Patrick’s Classical School Calcutta Project. This project involves twenty four students of St. Patrick’s Classical School taking part in an immersion trip to Calcutta. They will be living like the people of Calcutta and will be working in orphanages, helping children with both physical and mental disabilities.

“We began our day of carolling at 10 am on the 19th of December. The groups taking part in this event included members of Youth for Unity, students from St. Patrick’s Classical School, and students from two other schools in Navan, St.  Joseph’s Mercy, and St. Michael’s Loreto,” reports Gavin Pentony. “Everyone had a chance to sing during the time we were carolling.”

While most people were carolling others were shaking buckets, collecting money for the Calcutta project.

After the carolling was complete, members of Youth for Unity and students from St. Patrick’s Classical School moved to a different part of the shopping centre to try and fundraise more money for the project. “We explained to passers by what we would be doing in Calcutta and when we were going. This part of the day was also a big success as we were able to help raise some more money for the St. Patrick’s Classical School Calcutta Project.”

A group of the young people ended the day of fundraising by deciding to sleep in the shopping centre over night to “simulate what life may be like for some of the people living on the streets in Calcutta”.

Members of Youth for Unity and students from St.  Patrick’s Classical School both took part in this event. Both groups shared experiences of what they will be doing and what they have done.

Youth for Unity spoke about some of their projects all over the world such as their trip to South America. St. Patrick’s students spoke about past trips to Calcutta and also what they would be doing in Calcutta come March.

“The whole day was a great experience for everyone involved, everyone had a great time and got to know each other much better,” says Gavin.  They also raised in excess of €1.200.