When current student Belinda Frater returned from India with stories that lingered long after her journey ended, the Notre Dame community found itself at the heart of an unexpected but profoundly impactful project.
Belinda's immersion trip in 2019, part of Notre Dame’s service-learning initiatives, included visits to orphanages where the vivid realities of need and resilience left a lasting impression.
Moved by her daughter’s accounts, Jo Frater and a group of adept crafters took to their knitting needles and sewing machines, producing more than 20 handmade blankets destined for the children Belinda had met.
Fast forward to 2024, another contingent of Notre Dame students, led by Associate Professor Sagar Athota, journeyed to India, continuing the tradition of service and learning. They carried with them the fruits of the Frater-led initiative: bundles of blankets, each a tapestry of care and community effort.
The immersion trip leader, Associate Professor Sagar Athota, said "The service-learning trip was extremely successful and created a transformational learning experience for every student. The students thoroughly enjoyed their time in India and built wonderful memories that will last forever."
The blankets, a physical representation of warmth and care, were distributed to the children at the orphanage, a gesture that transcended geographical and cultural boundaries.
This story, beginning with a student’s experience and culminating in a community-driven response, underscores the unexpected ways in which acts of kindness can multiply.
This initiative highlights not only the university’s commitment to fostering global awareness and empathy among its students but also the capacity of personal stories to inspire collective action. The blankets, now in the arms of children thousands of miles away, symbolise a bridge of goodwill, woven together by the Notre Dame community and beyond.
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