Life changing trip to India

In July, eight pupils and two members of staff went to Kerala in Southern India to build a house for a family of four. The project lasted twelve days, and the pupils saw the construction through to the laying of the roof. As well as actually building the house, the house was paid for by a number of generous donors connected to King's. All pupils and staff paid their own way on the trip to ensure that all the proceeds went directly into the project.

During our time there, we were hosted by our Indian contacts the Matthew family, who helped set the project up, and housed us while we were in India.

The team worked in 90% humidity, and was frequently soaked by the monsoon rains, which were needed to facilitate the mixing of the cement. The Indian workmen taught the team how to mix cement, lay bricks and make sure that the walls were straight and solid. We were also taught the art of plastering.

The technology used was also a great physics lesson, as we saw how to create a spirit level from water and a piece of tubing. It was certainly hard work, and the team was on site from 8.00am to 4.00pm every day. But there was always a good sense of fun on the site, and everybody got on really well with each other.

In addition to providing a house for a needy family, the pupils had a valuable life experience. They visited a Hindu temple, and were woken every morning by the sound of the Islamic call to prayer. They were also given a lesson on how to cook Indian food using locally grown spices and fish from the local lake. We were also fortunate enough to visit an Indian school, which was a fascinating experience for all involved.

All the people we met were really hospitable, and we were made to feel very welcome, both in the village where we stayed and in the village where we built the house. People opened their doors to us, and we attempted to speak some of the local dialect. Overall it was a truly enriching experience for everybody, and our aim of building a house was achieved.