Saoirse preparing for her charity trip to Kolkata

A Transition Year student from Coláiste Treasa Kanturk is one of many Cork students heading to Kolkata next year with the Hope Foundation.

Saoirse Gould has been selected to be an ambassador for HOPE Foundation, among other students in her year, to participate in the School Immersion Programme in 2025. The students will learn how to fundraise through their idonate pages, running events from cakes sales to fancy dress to quiz nights, before they then travel to Kolkata in March 2025 for one week.

Saoirse will be partnering with the Thomond Bar on Marlboro Street Cork to run Music Bingo Nights in association with Live Music Promotions. The music bingo craze has taken over the Thomond every Thursday night since 2022, and one night per month during her fundraising period, Saoirse will be looking to the people of Cork to support to help her get to reach the fundraising target.

Saoirse said: “Over the past 25 years, the organisation has made huge strides in providing essential services in the areas of education, healthcare, child protection and vocational training, empowering individuals to break the cycle of poverty and build a better future for themselves and their families. The charity runs 58 projects in the city including 4 creches, 10 residential childcare centres and a state-of-the-art hospital. To date, HOPE has touched the lives of nearly 3 million people.”

Thomond Bar Owner, Rae Kennedy is delighted to help support young people in Cork by hosting the event to help such a great charity. “Doing anything we can to help raise funds for any charity is something I believe in doing, and seeing Saoirse get involved is great for her and her family to be a part of.”

Saoirse’s first monthly event kicks off on Thursday 29 August at 8.30pm in the Thomond Bar, 2 Marlboro Street. Donations can be made idonate.ie/fundraiser/SaoirseGould.

The Hope Foundation is a registered charity working with street-connected and slum dwelling children in Kolkata, India. Founded in 1999 by Cork woman Maureen Forrest, it has been steadfast in its commitment to providing a brighter future for those living in poverty and facing the harsh realities of life on the streets.