Students
Challenges Abroad - India 2025
Mr Sarsfield and 4 of our Newman Sixth student will travel to India on 28th March – 13th April for 2 weeks to take part in the Challenges Abroad Programme.
They will spend their time to work with schools in the rural town of Palampur, in the Himalayas. They will help empower the communities of the future through development work focusing on education and health inequalities. The programme specifically targets disadvantage areas and providing them with a cross-cultural exchange.
This once in a lifetime opportunity offers a peaceful escape with stunning views of lush tea gardens and snow-capped peaks. Known for its natural beauty and tranquility, it’s the perfect base for exploring nearby valleys, hiking through scenic trails, and experiencing the rich culture of Himachal Pradesh.
Index
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Final Update
End of Trip UpdateAfter what has been an incredible and massively rewarding 2 weeks, Mr Sarsfield, Mrs Burby and Mr Feteira, our students from Newman Sixth and the rest of the students from the St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust, have finally finished their 2 week challenges abroad program in India. During the last few days of teaching we saw some of the best lessons, that included some of the most interactive activities which we no doubt believe the students in Palampur will remember for a long time to come. The students can be so proud of their efforts over the past 2 weeks and they have definitely developed into well rounded, more perceptive and more understanding global citizens after this humbling yet rewarding experience. The last few days after school the students were rewarded with activities such as Palampur’s Got Talent, Karaoke, a last night Meal out, plus we took part in local activities such as Henna drawings, Bollywood dancing, tree planting and Turban & Sari drapings.
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Week 2 Update
During our weekend off the students spent their well earned break visiting the Norbulingka Tibetan Institute where they dove deep into learning about Tibetan culture and the importance of trying to maintain it. We even took part in some Thangka drawing where we attempted to draw Buddha. (Mr Sarsfield still claims his was the best!) After we took a drive to Dharamshala where we visited the cricket stadium and took a cable car ride up to Mcleod Ganj visiting the famous markets, trying some Tibetan food and visiting the Dalai Lama’s house/temple. On Sunday we visited the famous WAH Tea Plantation where the students delivered important session around health and hygiene to the migrant worker children before sampling some of the famous tea that gets sold to Harrods!
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Days 3 & 4
Day 3 and 4On Monday, we had a full day of travelling. We got the train at 5.30am for a 6-hour journey to Palampur. After the long ride, we fuelled up with a hearty lunch, dove into some fun board games, and then embarked on a scenic drive to a renowned temple. We then had a 2 hour drive up to Palampur where the breathtaking views of the Himalayas left everyone speechless!
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Day 2
Sunday 30th March: What an epic day of ticking off bucket list moments! We kicked things off with the breathtaking Taj Mahal — absolutely surreal. Along the way, we spotted some cheeky monkeys, enjoyed a wild tuk-tuk ride, and had a delicious lunch. Next, we ventured to the magnificent Agra Fort, where we dove deep into the rich history of the area.
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Day 1
Saturday 29th March: Landed in the vibrant heart of Delhi! Visited the Qutab Minar Tower and Gardens, sat in some lovely Delhi traffic and had to put up with some of the most chaotic driving I’ve ever seen! In the evening, we went to the Dilli Haat Market where we all done some shopping. – Mr Sarsfield
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End of Week 1
Update from 1st week of teaching:The students from all three schools from the Trust have had an incredible time working with the local primary school children, providing them with unforgettable experiences through detailed and interactive lessons. They’ve dedicated a lot of effort each evening to plan the best lessons, and the results have been outstanding—we couldn't be prouder of what we've seen! Even Mr. Sarsfield, Mr. Feiteira, and Mrs. Burby got involved, teaching the older students, who didn’t have a teacher, about UK geography and introducing them to different sports played in both countries. In the evenings, the students participated in various activities, including visits to national parks and an Indian cooking workshop.
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