My Story

This year I am honoured to be leading the Stranmillis University College Saphara team to India in partnership with St Mary’s University College. 12 Year 3 B.Ed students from both university colleges have been selected to take part in this life-changing journey, visiting Saphara’s partner schools and working alongside teachers who are transforming the lives of children living in poverty through education.

As a team we will spend 10 days in India with our main placement at SNEHA Doon Academy in Dehradun, a city in the northern state of Uttarakhand. This school educates over 1,000 children from a marginalised community. Students will teach Literacy and Numeracy while gaining first-hand insight into how social context shapes schooling. We will also engage in professional dialogue with local teachers, sharing challenges, ideas and expertise. A visit to Kaplani High School in the Himalayas will further deepen our cultural understanding and global awareness.

To support this impactful work, I am quite literally taking a leap of faith by completing a 15,000-foot skydive with Skydive Ireland at the start of May. While this will be an unforgettable experience and one that is outside of my comfort zone, it is a challenge I am undertaking with purpose, to support a cause that changes lives in the most meaningful way - through education.

For many families in these school communities, education remains a luxury beyond their reach. Every £100 raised will fund a full year of education for a child, covering school fees, uniforms, shoes, books, stationery and daily meals. Crucially, this support also helps keep girls safely in education, protecting them from forced marriage and trafficking, while empowering them to reach their full potential. Every pound raised will go directly to Saphara’s vital work supporting education for children in India, helping to create opportunities, security and hope for the future.

Thank you for your support and generosity.