Harpist Heads for the Indian Hills
A 50 YEAR OLD grandmother is to wing her way, with her harp, from Aberfeldy to Denradon in North East India in late January.
Some might say that she is a little mature to be setting off on her first ‘tour’, but she is not gigging. Claire Hewitt has offered her services as a volunteer music and art therapist to Ngoenga School for Tibetan childred with multiple disabilities.
The school was created after the Dali Lama expressed his concern that the Tibetan government should do something to help children with disabilities and their families. He donated seed money to start the school which opened in 2000.
Four years on, and 50 children attend the school. Some of them live in, as their families find it difficult to give them the care they need. Their ages range from 4 to 21 years and their disabilities span severe behavioural problems, autism, cerebral palsy to hearing impairment.
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Claire travels to Delhi on 20 January and then heads for the hills for four months.
“I support two Tibetan children through the Tibet Relief Fund,” she explained to Comment, “and it is through them that I came to know about Ngoenga. As yet I have no sponsors but would like to seek these through a couple of fund raising events.”
Claire is looking to raise money for musical equipment for the children.
The Events
12 November Saturday – sumptuous Indian feast 7.00pm at the new Community Church Hall, Taybridge Road, Aberfeldy. Donations will be taken at the door. Donations of vegetables beforehand would be happily received. Two years ago sufficient money was raised from a similar event to build a school in Nepal.
7 December Wednesday Benefit Concert 7.30pm Birnam Institute featuring musicians from Iran, Iraq, Albania, Perthshire and Glasgow. The Paragon Ensemble, harpist Fiona Davidson, Jamie Jauncey, the Corrbenics, Claire Hewitt and guests. Tickets from Claire at 34 Kenmore Street, Aberfeldy, tel 01887 820339 £5 and £4 concession.
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