In The News
www.DavidASpencer.com/rainesfoundation/inthenews.html
|
In The Newswww.DavidASpencer.com/rainesfoundation/inthenews.html |
|
One Wharfers' trip of a lifetime to India, Thanks to Bank Firms' Scheme Teen swaps Canaries for Camels The Wharf - 20 March, 2003 http://icthewharf.icnetwork.co.uk/thisweek/news/page.cfm?objectid=12754014&method=full&siteid=71670
A TEENAGER who works at Vision Express in Canada Place Mall visited remote villages in India - thanks to a scheme backed by a Wharf bank. Venn Chesterton, a lab assistant at the optician and a student at Raines Foundation School took part in the ultimate overseas challenge thanks to sponsorship from Cabot Square-based bank Morgan Stanley. Venn told The Wharf the opportunity to experience a new culture, the people and their diverse communities had changed his life forever. "I didn't realise how much we take for granted," the 18-year-old said. "It's amazing how close-knit these villages are and what a different outlook they share on life. "They wouldn't know what to think of the way we live. "The support from such a large corporate firm like Morgan Stanley was an important step in ensuring we had the backing to go overseas and share something which is a world away from life at the Wharf," Venn said. Morgan Stanley International Foundation chairman Jerker Johansson said the "Fulcrum Challenge" was an obvious initiative to sponsor. "As one of Morgan Stanley's core values is teamwork. This leadership development programme focuses on building teams and inspires young people to become leaders of the future." The teenager was one of three students from the Bethnal Green school to participate in the Challenge, which says it is a character building initiative aimed at investing in leaders of the future. As part of the project, the group of students travelled to India in February. The group spent a week crossing Rajasthan on camel back and visited villages along the route interacting with locals and helping with social work. "It's not something you can sum up easily," Venn said. "I can't explain to my friends and family how this changed the way I perceive things. It was an amazing learning experience for me. "The villagers lead simple lives. They get up in the morning, tend to the animals and crops, wash in the afternoon and spend a lot of time with the family. They do everything together and having experienced it, it has given me a totally new perspective." He said while the group was given some idea of what to expect, he had not been prepared for the culture change. "We watched videos before our arrival and were told what we would be confronted with but when we eventually arrived, I was blown away. We spent time playing with the children in the villages, sang with them in the evening and gave presents to the families. It's something I'll never forget." Venn plans to return to the Indian villages during his gap year in 2004. Aaron Langmaid aaron.langmaid@wharf.co.uk Copyright © 2003 The Wharf |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Further information about Raine's Foundation School today can be found at: www.rainesfoundation.org.uk
Further information about The Old Raineians' Association can be found at: www.oldraineians.com
Further information about individual Old Raineians, including their memories of the school and their teachers, a message board, a list of famous pupils and some school photographs, can be found at: www.friendsreunited.co.uk
