This year, our team is made up of thirteen pupils from Ballymena Academy
(4 boys and 9 girls, aged 16-18) along with three teachers. The team has been divided into 4 sub-teams; media team, sports team, arts and crafts team and teaching team. Each of the teams have their own responsibilities to organise different aspects of the trip.
Media Team:
The media team will be posting updates on the blog before and whilst in India for you to read and stay up to date with what is happening. They will also be raising awareness of the trip.
Name: David McCluggage
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Media, History, Drama, Biology
Hobbies: Watching/playing sports- mainly rugby, football, cricket. Enjoy drama- have acted in 3 school plays and achieved grade 8 speech and drama award.
Reasons for applying: Listening to the past team members describing their incredible experience increases my anticipation and excitement for this trip. Seeing a child's smile as they come to the resource centre each day fills me with a real desire to give of myself and help in any way I can.
Name: Molly McCullough
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Biology, History, Music
Hobbies: Playing music, running and yoga
Reasons for Applying: I have always wanted to apply for the ASHA trip and I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to take part! I want to make a difference to the lives of the children in India and try to show them the hope that ASHA has set out to do.
Name: Sasha Bill
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Home Economics
Hobbies: Hockey, baking, piano
Reasons for Applying: I felt this was an incredible opportunity to be able to help those less fortunate than myself and to make a special connection with the children in Tigri. I'm looking forward to going out to India and working with the team.
Sports Team:
The sports team will be very active playing fun games with the children such as football and cricket and enabling them to have fun with one another.
Name: Cameron McNeill
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Maths, German, Add Maths, Physics, History
Hobbies: Football, rugby, going to the gym, piano, guitar, watching movies
Reasons for Applying: To play games with the kids, make a difference in their lives, bring smiles to their faces, enjoy spending time with them and experience a new culture.
Name: Tori Coulter
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Biology, HE, French
Hobbies: Hockey, baking, waterskiing
Reasons for Applying: I want to use the skills and capabilities I have been given to bring happiness to those who are less fortunate than ourselves and bring a smile to their faces.
Name: Rebecca Gray
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, French, Maths
Hobbies: Tennis 3x weekly for ulster pre-college squad to train for upcoming tournaments, hanging out with my friends, going for walks
Reasons for Applying: I applied for the team because from what I had heard from past team members and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity! I'm looking forward to working with the children over there, playing games with them and making a little bit of a difference.
Arts and Crafts Team:
The arts and crafts team will be extremely busy painting murals on the walls of the ASHA resource centre and designing crafts for all the children to take part in.
Name: Lucy Bill
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Classical Civilisation, Art, History
Hobbies: Trampolining, gymnastics, doodling
Reasons for Applying: I saw ASHA as an opportunity to use my skills to help others, teach me gratitude towards others and help make a difference to those who need it most.
Name: Emma Smyth
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Geography, English Literature, History
Hobbies: Chilling with friends, singing, being creative
Reasons for Applying: I want to make a difference and bring joy and hope to the children of Delhi in any way I can. I can't wait to experience the different culture of India and add a bit of colour to the ASHA centre.
Teaching Team:
The teaching team will work very closely with the children to help them to expand their english to help them in later life.
Name: Michael Knowles
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Chemistry, Maths
Hobbies: Rugby, farming, clay pigeon shooting
Reasons for Applying: I thought it would be a great way to show the practical aspects of Christian love while also gaining a new found appreciation for everything I have. I am also excited about getting to know and meet new people.
Name: Lyndsey Simpson
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: English Literature, History, Drama
Hobbies: Drama, playing guitar
Reasons for Applying: I joined the team because after being on previous missionary teams I felt passionate towards this type of work and am excited to use my skills further afield to make even one child happy. I'm hoping I can come away from this experience with a whole new outlook on life as the children teach me about what's important in life.
Name: Ella McDonald
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Class Civilisation, English Literature
Hobbies: playing piano, jujitsu
Reasons for Applying: I was inspired by previous teams and want to continue to help the people in Tigri and hopefully gain and new outlook on life.
Name: Julie Kernohan
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Maths and Chemistry
Hobbies: Hockey, singing
Reasons for Applying: I wanted to apply so that I could help those who are less fortunate than me by helping to give them a hope for the future.
Name: Johnny McKeown
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Economics, History
Hobbies: Rugby, golf
Reasons for Applying: I applied because I thought it would be an amazing experience and I wanted to make a difference to peoples lives. I also think from the stories I have heard about ASHA, that we could learn so much from the children and adults who live in the slums.
Media Team:
The media team will be posting updates on the blog before and whilst in India for you to read and stay up to date with what is happening. They will also be raising awareness of the trip.
Name: David McCluggage Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Media, History, Drama, Biology
Hobbies: Watching/playing sports- mainly rugby, football, cricket. Enjoy drama- have acted in 3 school plays and achieved grade 8 speech and drama award.
Reasons for applying: Listening to the past team members describing their incredible experience increases my anticipation and excitement for this trip. Seeing a child's smile as they come to the resource centre each day fills me with a real desire to give of myself and help in any way I can.
Name: Molly McCullough
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Biology, History, Music
Hobbies: Playing music, running and yoga
Reasons for Applying: I have always wanted to apply for the ASHA trip and I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to take part! I want to make a difference to the lives of the children in India and try to show them the hope that ASHA has set out to do.
Name: Sasha Bill
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Home Economics
Hobbies: Hockey, baking, piano
Reasons for Applying: I felt this was an incredible opportunity to be able to help those less fortunate than myself and to make a special connection with the children in Tigri. I'm looking forward to going out to India and working with the team.
Sports Team:
The sports team will be very active playing fun games with the children such as football and cricket and enabling them to have fun with one another.
Name: Cameron McNeill
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Maths, German, Add Maths, Physics, History
Hobbies: Football, rugby, going to the gym, piano, guitar, watching movies
Reasons for Applying: To play games with the kids, make a difference in their lives, bring smiles to their faces, enjoy spending time with them and experience a new culture.
Name: Tori Coulter
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Biology, HE, French
Hobbies: Hockey, baking, waterskiing
Reasons for Applying: I want to use the skills and capabilities I have been given to bring happiness to those who are less fortunate than ourselves and bring a smile to their faces.
Name: Rebecca GrayAge: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, French, Maths
Hobbies: Tennis 3x weekly for ulster pre-college squad to train for upcoming tournaments, hanging out with my friends, going for walks
Reasons for Applying: I applied for the team because from what I had heard from past team members and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity! I'm looking forward to working with the children over there, playing games with them and making a little bit of a difference.
Arts and Crafts Team:
The arts and crafts team will be extremely busy painting murals on the walls of the ASHA resource centre and designing crafts for all the children to take part in.
Name: Lucy Bill
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Classical Civilisation, Art, History
Hobbies: Trampolining, gymnastics, doodling
Reasons for Applying: I saw ASHA as an opportunity to use my skills to help others, teach me gratitude towards others and help make a difference to those who need it most.
Name: Emma Smyth
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Geography, English Literature, History
Hobbies: Chilling with friends, singing, being creative
Reasons for Applying: I want to make a difference and bring joy and hope to the children of Delhi in any way I can. I can't wait to experience the different culture of India and add a bit of colour to the ASHA centre.
Teaching Team:
The teaching team will work very closely with the children to help them to expand their english to help them in later life.
Name: Michael Knowles
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Chemistry, Maths
Hobbies: Rugby, farming, clay pigeon shooting
Reasons for Applying: I thought it would be a great way to show the practical aspects of Christian love while also gaining a new found appreciation for everything I have. I am also excited about getting to know and meet new people.
Name: Lyndsey SimpsonAge: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: English Literature, History, Drama
Hobbies: Drama, playing guitar
Reasons for Applying: I joined the team because after being on previous missionary teams I felt passionate towards this type of work and am excited to use my skills further afield to make even one child happy. I'm hoping I can come away from this experience with a whole new outlook on life as the children teach me about what's important in life.
Name: Ella McDonald
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Class Civilisation, English Literature
Hobbies: playing piano, jujitsu
Reasons for Applying: I was inspired by previous teams and want to continue to help the people in Tigri and hopefully gain and new outlook on life.
Name: Julie Kernohan
Age: Year 13
Favourite Subjects: Maths and Chemistry
Hobbies: Hockey, singing
Reasons for Applying: I wanted to apply so that I could help those who are less fortunate than me by helping to give them a hope for the future.
Name: Johnny McKeown
Age: Year 14
Favourite Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Economics, History
Hobbies: Rugby, golf
Reasons for Applying: I applied because I thought it would be an amazing experience and I wanted to make a difference to peoples lives. I also think from the stories I have heard about ASHA, that we could learn so much from the children and adults who live in the slums.
