Eight members of the Monmouth University Debate Hawks made the two-day trip to India to teach debate at the Loreto Rainbow School over winter break.
Alongside Dr. Joseph Patten, the students flew out of New York City on Jan, 7. After a connection in Qatar, the Hawks arrived in Kolkata, India in the early morning hours of Jan. 9. There, they met Dr. Rekha Datta at the airport.
That night, the group went to the Loreto Rainbow School, where Indian girls who grow up in extreme poverty and homelessness are given housing and an education. The Rainbow Program supports more than 600 young girls. The Rainbow students welcomed the Monmouth group with food and performances before giving them a tour of the school.
On Jan. 10, the Hawks ventured onto the streets of Kolkata, visiting street markets and taking in the city, home to roughly 15.1 million people. The team also visited the home and tomb of Mother Theresa. The world famous nun was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and lived in Kolkata providing healthcare, housing and other services to the poor and elderly.
The group spent their days exploring the city, and spent the evenings at the school, coaching 16 girls for a final debate. The topic was, “Resolved: Reserving 50% of seats for women in Parliament will effectively promote gender equality and rights for women in India.”
After a week of coaching and trial runs, the final debate was scheduled for Jan. 15. In a nearby Rainbow School, the students made posters welcoming the Hawks. One read, “Monmouth University team, you have crossed 12,800km to come to Loreto Rainbow Homes. Thank you.” 12,800 kilometers is equal to roughly 7,950 miles.
With students, teachers, parents, and members of the local press, Monmouth students facilitated the debate in a large auditorium. The Hawks all purchased formal Indian attire. The women bought sarees and the men bought kurtas to surprise the students. Despite language barriers and nervousness, the Rainbow students put on a phenomenal debate.
On Jan. 17, the Hawks took the nearly 21 hour flight from Kolkata to Qatar to New York City.
The group of Monmouth students that traveled include Veronica Belloso, Destiny Goodfriend, Taylor Fenton, Aiden Fornicola, Michael Makfinsky, Sierra Michel, Mariami Ramirez Tsuladze and Brendan Sheehan, accompanied by Dr. Joseph Patten and Dr. Rekha Datta. Datta was raised in Kolkata and attended the Rainbow program as a child. Monmouth students have traveled to the Rainbow schools through the International Service Seminar for more than 20 years.
“Going to Kolkata, India was one of the most meaningful and impactful experiences of my life.” said Goodfriend. She continued, “It changed how I see my own life. The memories and stories from this trip will stay with me forever, I am truly grateful for this opportunity which reminded me how important it is to help those around you, even in the simplest way.”
The trip was sponsored by the Diversity Innovation Grant, the Office of President Patrick F. Leahy, the Provost, and the Department of Political Science & Sociology.
