Mayo volunteer saves two lives in India
Brian O'Neill (centre) pictured with some of the Thamarai students he worked with during his time in India. During his time in the country, he helped to save the lives of two people who were drowning.
A Ballyhaunis man volunteering in India helped to save the lives of two people who were drowning and has had a lasting impact on the young Indian students he worked with.
Ballyhaunis man Brian O'Neill travelled 8,330km to deliver the Foróige Leadership for Life programme to Indian students at Thamarai Learning Centre in Tamil Nadu and to start Foróige's first youth club in India.
While there, he and a local man saved two people from drowning when they were swept out to sea in the heavy currents of the Bay of Bengal.
Brian's visit continues the Mayo link of previous volunteer visits from the county and Thamarai's co-founder Bridget Horkan from Castlebar.
Brian was introduced to Thamarai through Breda Ruane, Mayo youth officer of Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), at the start of a cross-cultural youth initiative between the BEY project in Ballyhaunis and Thamarai India. Both projects stand for the equity and the full potential of youth.
Brian is back in Mayo after spending a month in India as a resource person at Thamarai which is a community learning centre in a marginalised village that hosts afterschool, weekend and holiday educational programmes to 90 children and literacy programmes for adults.
The Mayo man spent a month as a resource person at Thamarai. The Leadership for Life programme enables young people aged 15 to 18 to develop the skills and qualities necessary to be inspiring leaders.
Young people are empowered to make a positive change in their community through practical actions and projects. This training builds on the existing work that Thamarai is committed to through the Radical Transformational Leadership (RTL) global and local programmes for young people and adults.
The Mayo connection was also enriched with the RTL leadership programme held in ATU Castlebar in 2023 by RTL creator Dr Monica Sharma.
Brian said he learned many valuable lessons during his time in India.
“From my month in Thamarai, I have experienced nothing but warmth and kindness. I have come to learn that Thamarai is a home for everyone, much like my home in Ballyhaunis where people from all over the world have made a home. Thamarai is an example of what every good community should be."
As a prerequisite to starting Foróige youth clubs, seven Thamarai staff members completed the Foróige club start-up online training in November 2024 with Gerry Prior and Andy Neary. On Brian's last day in Thamarai, the first Foróige Indian club was born with the election of youth officers from the Leadership for Life graduates. The club will meet every Saturday evening.
"We are delighted to carry the Foróige flag in India and look forward to seeing how the youth club supports young people to thrive and unfold their potential for peace and prosperity in their community and on the planet. It was a delight to have Brian with us. His care and commitment are outstanding. The students are missing him already! I learned from his preparedness and professional delivery while keeping sessions fun and light," said Bridget Horkan.
