Mullingar girl Patricia O'Loughlin, who will, with your support, travel to the Indian city of Calcutta on June 8 to volunteer as a teaching assistant for ten weeks.

Mullingar girl seeks your support ahead of India mission

Published: Wed 24 Mar 2010, 6:00 PM

A 26 year old nursing student is seeking the support of her fellow Mullingar residents this Friday night, as she embarks on fundraising to support her on a volunteer mission to India.Patricia O'Loughlin of Russellstown, Mullingar, a psychiatric nursing student at Athlone Institute of Technology, plans to go to the poverty-stricken Indian city of Calcutta for ten weeks this summer as a volunteer with the Irish charity, Suas.Suas Educational Development is a movement which is dedicated to supporting quality education in under-resourced communities. It works with over 13,000 children per year in Ireland, India and Kenya.Patricia, a daughter of PJ and Cathy O'Loughlin, has wanted to do volunteer work for years, and is determined to get round to it in 2010."It's something I've wanted to do for a long time," she told the Westmeath Examiner. "I first found out about Suas when they e-mailed our college looking for volunteers, so I decided to follow it up."Patricia is currently in the third year of her four-year course at AIT, but the Calcutta trip won't disrupt her own studies, as it will start on June 8, running until August.During that time, she will function as a teacher's assistant, teaching English, Maths and French to students in under-resourced schools, and helping to prepare them for mainstream schooling.Patricia, a former student of Gainstown National School, Mullingar Community College and Loreto College, Mullingar, says that she hopes to give children in Calcutta the chance to get the same educational opportunities afforded to her and other people in the West.To get to the Indian city - made famous by the late Mother Teresa - Patricia must raise the guts of €3,000 to cover expenses.The first leg of fundraising for her trip will take place on this coming Friday night, March 26, with a table quiz at the St. Loman's GAA clubhouse, Delvin Road, Mullingar.The quiz kicks off at 9.15pm, and tables are €40 apiece, with a variety of prizes on offer.This first event precedes Patricia's participation in the Phoenix Park Fun Run on April 18, and with this in mind, the Mullingar girl welcomes all sponsorship and donations.But first of all, she would appreciate the support of the people of Mullingar and Westmeath for Friday night's table quiz.For more details or to lend your support, contact Patricia on 085-1225941. Suas Educational Development is a registered charity (no. 14931).WEBLINK: www.suas.ie