Olivia Sheridan (Lower Sixth)

On Thursday 21st February, the Careers Department and Mrs Barrett (English Teacher) were delighted to welcome Rachel Collingwood for a Lunchbox Lecture. Rachel is the director and trustee of The Girls Home in Granada, Nicaragua for social orphans.

The home is for girls who have been mistreated, abused, or their carers struggle to provide for them. It is run by an order of nuns called Madre Albertina.    

Rachel first learned of the home for girls in 2003 whilst reading a travel guide. She spent two years trying to locate them as they were not on the map and finally made contact and visited them in 2005. Then followed yearly trips of volunteering and helping the nuns; which led to officially setting up the charity in 2010.   

The session was a real eye opener as it showed just what goes into making a place like this work and how volunteers can make a difference. Rachel’s work ethic is very inspiring as she is very passionate and driven about what she does and believes in giving back to people in need.

Mrs Barrett said: “The event was a wonderful example of how the Careers Department works with outside agencies to create invaluable learning opportunities for the girls.

“Rachel’s eclectic and colourful personality and experience was something the girls who attended will not soon forget and it demonstrates how BGS aims to provide not only specific career focused talks, but also talks aimed at stimulating the girls to consider how they might make life choices and use the opportunities life throws their way for both their own and others advantage.”

Find out more about the The Girls Home here.