Gemma Witcomb

Gemma's Sky Dive for Reality Gives

Fundraising for Loughborough Students' Union
£735
raised of £500 target
Donations cannot currently be made to this page
Loughborough Students' Union

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Story

So, why am I going to fall out of an aeroplane (probably in tears)....

While I was living in Mumbai, India, I met a very cool guy (that's you Chris Way) who, over a few beers and teaching me some essential Hindi, told me about his tour company that takes tourist around Dharavi - India's largest slum. The aim; to show the world the amazing industry and community that exists within the slums, and with the profits made, to create a Community Centre that could provide education to the children and young people in Dharavi. If anyone ever visits Mumbai, this is a must-see and unforgettable experience (www.realitytoursandtravel.com) and I personally loved clambering on rooftops to get a breath taking view of the vast slums.

Chris introduced me to his business partner Krishna, who moved to Mumbai alone at the age of just 13 (and always asked me if I had eaten...so hospitable). Together, they had just set up the Community Centre and I, disillusioned with being in such an amazing country and sat in a office job, decided to join them as their first volunteer English teacher. I don't think I was very good but it was a start!

I had an amazing time, teaching classes of children and young adults and the friendship and warmth that I was shown is indescribable.

The small Community Centre has now grown, thanks to the work of their sister Travel and Tour company, and to donations and fundraising, to an amazing enterprise that now offers education, teacher training, youth empowerment, girls' football training and much more (www.realitygives.org).

I am fundraising to give something back to this amazing community that gave so much to me and to help ensure that all children and young women have opportunities to create fulfilling lives for themselves. Your donation will help in the following ways:

  • SCHOOL TRIP- £20 will allow us to take all of our children on a school trip within Mumbai
  • TRAIN OUR TEACHERS- £50 can pay for a teacher's annual training costs
  • EDUCATE A CHILD- £80 can pay for a child's education for one year
  • SUPPORT A SALARY- £100 can pay for a teacher's salary for a month
  • TRAIN A NEW TEACHER- £250 will allow us to send a new teacher on a year-long training programme
  • MAKE P.E. POSSIBLE- £500 can pay for all our children to have access to sports facilities for one year.

If it's any consolation, I'm dreading throwing myself out of a moving aircraft at height....

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About the charity

Loughborough Students' Union

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Loughborough Students' Union is one of the very best in the country and is one of the only unions to be owned and managed by the students.

Donation summary

Total raised
£735.00
+ £164.03 Gift Aid
Online donations
£735.00
Offline donations
£0.00

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