Downpatrick women joining Saphara trip to India

1 February 2017

THREE lifelong Downpatrick friends will be part of a group travelling to India at the end of March to work with disadvantaged women and children.

Ahead of their nine day trip, Karen Fitzpatrick, Stacey Dobbin and Claire Savage are raising money for Saphara, a Northern Ireland-based charity which works in India helping children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds attend school.

The charity was set up by Belfast teacher, Dr Christine Burnett, who first visited India in 1998, experiencing the poverty as she visited huge slums where many struggled to survive.

Inspired by the life–changing encounters between Indian and young people from schools across the Province, Christine resigned from her teaching post to set up Saphara as a UK–registered charity.

She recruited Catholic and Protestant schools who shared her vision of inspiring students to become local and global citizens by joining Saphara’s ‘Journey with Purpose’ to India.

Now Karen, Stacey and Claire are heading to the sub-continent and are busy raising money to reach their £2,100 target. The women held a successful coffee morning in December at the St Michael’s Centre in Downpatrick, raising £700 for the charity, with a recent collection at a store in the town generating another £300.

The money will be used to help provide a range of services in India, including education, school meals and adolescent health education in areas of immense poverty.

Stacey’s daughter, Claire, was one of a number of students from three local schools who were part of the annual Saphara trip to India in 2014 and it was her passion for the cause which inspired the trio of local women to step forward to play their part.

They are also delighted to be following in the footsteps of many students from St Patrick’s Grammar School, Down High and Ballynahinch’s Assumption Grammar who have visited India over recent years with Saphara.

The Downpatrick women need to raise another £1,100 to reach their fundraising target, with plans being drawn up for a ladies’ movie night and another coffee morning. Stacey is planning to abseil down Belfast’s Europa Hotel on February 26.

“My daughter Claire’s trip to India and the impact it had on her inspired us to get involved and do something to help,” said Stacey. “I have been following Saphara ever since Claire went and have been inspired by the work it does, promoting women and women’s education.

“The charity’s work is inspirational and the fact it is a Northern Ireland-based charity and run by mainly women is also inspirational. We know what is ahead and that nothing will prepare us for some of the sights we are going to witness, for example, the conditions people live in. Our trip will also provide us with an opportunity to see the difference Saphara has already made providing new facilities including toilets.”

The women say they are keen to help make a difference and hope people in the district will support them by helping them achieve their fundraising target.

Claire explained she decided to get involved with the fundraising initiative as her youngest child has just started P1 and she has a bit more time on her hands.

“You just don’t appreciate how difficult it is for other children her age in India who do not get a chance to get involved in education. It will be nice to help provide these children with some education,” she continued, explaining the trio will be taking some teaching resources with them.

Claire added: “The visit will be challenging and we are no under illusion about what awaits. It is not going to be easy, but we would like to help make a difference.”

Karen said the Downpatrick trio are pleased they will be part of what will only be the second women’s’ team Saphara has sent to India.

“A group of around 12 women from Northern Ireland are going and we will be part of a cross-community team. It will be a difficult trip but something we are keen to do. I originally thought I could not commit to the fundraising and the trip to India, but after Christmas I decided I wanted to help. We have all been friends since school and I am pleased that I will be alongside Stacey and Claire on this journey,” she continued.

“This is a once in a lifetime trip and something that we will never get an opportunity to do again. It will be difficult, but it will be nice we will all be together. This is something we will never do again and we would be delighted if people would help us reach our fundraising target.”

Anyone who would like to assist the Downpatrick women’s fundraising effort is asked to via Claire’s online MyDonate page.

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