Angmering students see cyclone’s devastation first-hand

Alice Pickard, 17, left with friend Tara Moynihan, 18, left and pupils from India

Sixth-form students Tara Moynihan, Alice Pickard and Lily Parisi, of The Angmering School, were part of a team of young people taking part in the humanitarian trip overseas.

They, along with other students from Worthing High School, visited St Joseph’s School, in Rajahmundry, in the south-east of the country.

Just days before, the area had been struck by a powerful cyclone, which damaged many buildings and caused wide-spread flooding and travel chaos.

Members of the team spent their time teaching and helping Indian schoolchildren

Year-13 Alice said: “The first day we arrived there were floods everywhere. It was terrible.

“Our flight had actually been delayed because of the severe weather conditions out there.

“Lots of the streets were totally flooded. We even saw some people fishing in the streets which had been badly affected.

“Many families had lost their possessions. It was crazy.”

The trip had been organised by the Cred Foundation. They spent five days teaching at the school and learning about the pupils’ way of life.

Supplies at the school were basic and what few resources were available to the Indian schoolchildren – whose ages ranged from five to 15 – were either old or out-of-date.

The sixth-formers taught a variety of different lessons including biology, geography and maths which all helped with their speaking in Indian children’s English.

They also organised fun activities for the pupils to relax and unwind after the trauma of the cyclone.

Alice added: “They were all so lovely. The children were really friendly and loved us being there. I’ve made some lifelong friends.

“It was the first time I’ve ever been on this trip and it was really inspiring.”

Alice said that having first-hand experience of the devastation caused by the weaker cyclone in India, that when she heard the news of the horrendous typhoon which had ruined the lives of countless Filipinos, earlier this month, she could only imagine the scale of destruction.

“Seeing the devastation in India I can only imagine how bad it was in the Philippines,” she said.