Charlotte’s Indian Adventure

My name is Charlotte Armitage. I’m a 20-year-old woman who has been nominated for a once in a lifetime opportunity - one people like me rarely get to do.

What I mean by that is, I come from a deprived background and I am Care Experienced person with a high ACE count. This means that from a young age, the odds have been against me.

My life has been one full of challenges - abuse, abandonment, loss, poor mental health and separation. 

As a teenager, I was taken into state care following the worst year of my life - moving schools, separation from family, a court case, self harm and a suicide attempt.

All of the above meant my education suffered and I left school aged 16 without gaining any higher qualifications. Aged 17 I was homless and living in a b&b and I was even told I wouldn’t make it passed my 18th birthday. 

And then something wonderful happened - which has led to this amazing opportunity - I found the organisation Who Cares? Scotland, joined the East Lothian Champions’ Board (a group of Care Experienced people who come together locally to influence changes within the community for other Care Experienced people) and began actively campaigning for a lifetime of equality, respect and love for Care Experienced people across Scotland and the Globe. 

Since then, my life has dramatically improved. I’ve gained employment with Who Cares? Scotland and the East Lothian Champions’ Board. A whole new world of opportunities I could never have imaginged have been made possible. 

Opportunities like this one. Thanks to my Corporate Parent,  Jim Lamond, I have been nominated to take part in a 12 day world renowned leadership programme in India.I along with 33 other emerging world leaders from all over the globe will be taking part in the WYSE International Leadership Programme from 23 October until 4 November 2018. 

WYSE International is a charity that works with emerging leaders from all over the planet who are inspired to make the world a better place. Over 30 years WYSE has worked with thousands of emerging leaders from over 115 countries, supporting them to take their visions into action. WYSE invites applications from individuals with a strong interest in active global citizenship who have a vision of a fairer, more sustainable and peaceful world and who are willing to play their part to make it happen.

Being nominated to take part in a programme like this is not only hard to believe for someone like me, but it is an absolute privilege.

The learning I will gain will be of huge benefit to myself in my career with Who Cares? Scotland and in adult life, but will also be transferred directly back into the Care Experienced movement that is quickly gathering momentum here in Scotland. I already have plans to use everything in my role within the Work Force working group for the Independent Care Review as well as I feeding back my learning to Who Cares? Scotland and the Champions Board. In addition, the new perspectives I will gain will influence each move I make towards campaign for equality in today’s society. Throughout my time away you will be able to read blogs and watch vlogs to find out how I am getting on too.

My adventure in India does not stop there. After the programme I will travel to village not far from Japuir called Vatsalya Udayan.  A residential child care program for orphaned and abandoned children. Children are saved from the streets and invested in. The programme creates a positive attitude towards life and is an essential prerequisite to moving towards a successful and happy future. Using various methods the programmes helps them transform themselves into positive-thinking, forward-looking, happy young individuals with bright futures ahead of them. 

I will spend 6 days here volunteering with the children - teaching English, taking part in work and their routines,  sharing my own experinces and joining in with celebrations for the festival Diwali before flying back home nearly a month later. 

This opportunity is one that will no doubt change my life and will have a huge impact on all future influencing I will do.  

Even now, I am struggling to believe this is actually happening. Going from not going to be alive past my 18th birthday to traveling to India to teach and learn for other people from all over the planet. It is crazy.

These kind of opporunties do not come free.  Therefore,  I have created this page for any donation, big or small, to help pay for the programme, travel and additional costs that may occur. Any dontation is greatly appreciated and any additional money raised will go towards a chosen charity.

Thank you for reading and please feel free to share.