Each year EIS Meadows organise a ‘service trip’ which is a charity event that aims to help underprivileged children in different parts of the world. This year, 35 students from Grade 12 embarked on a trip to Mauritius.
Accompanied by four teachers – Marc Whitehead, Sonia Henderson, Stephen Schmidt and Sarah Wakeling – the students worked on the La Providence School – an establishment for underprivileged children, run by a woman called Madame Pascal and based in the South of Mauritius.
Operating entirely on a voluntary basis, it’s completely dependent on donations from people all over the world. Many of the children live in dire poverty - and it serves not only to educate them but to provide a shelter in a safe environment. They’re given home-cooked meals, school uniforms and hot water.
Both the EIS students and their teachers worked hard over a period of a week to complete work on La Providence. The boys put up a fence securing the school grounds, while the girls painted the walls of the classrooms. What’s more they got to spend time with the children and at the end of the visit took them to the beach for the day. Meanwhile the teachers worked on decorating the school canteen with art work.
The response from both the school children and the staff at La Providence School was overwhelming. The huge smiles of appreciation on their faces said it all.
The EIS students meanwhile claimed it had been an unforgettable experience. “It was so rewarding,” explained one of the students. “We got a great sense of satisfaction from completing the work, but it was also really good to be able to help the children. They were so appreciative. The whole week was fun from start to finish.”