Christopher Biggins and students from Alexandra College launch HOPE Carnival 2015

The Hope Foundation is a charity that is very close to my heart for many reasons, the main one being that I have seen first hand the life saving work they undertake on behalf of poor kids in Kolkata, its suburbs and hinterland.

Maureen Forrest, its founder and director works tirelessly and selflessy to raise funds to help the kids who are oftentimes orphans, addicts and worse - many of whom have nothing but The Hope Foundation to give them a chance at living some semblance of a normal life. 

I have worked with this foundation over the last number of years in a Press & PR capacity and I am extremely proud to do so. We shot the photos in Alexandra College, Milltown and had patron and thespian Christopher Biggins mix and chat to the college students who were of course delighted to see him. 

Please see below for more details regarding the upcoming carnival and drop in to say hello, buy a cake or browse the bric a brac stall. 

Hope Carnival 2015 Press Release

British actor and television presenter, Christopher Biggins joined students from Alexandra College, Dublin to launch the first HOPE Summer Carnival and Market taking place between 2-6pm on Sunday, 14 June. 

Taking place in the Green Door Market, New Market, Dublin 8, carnival goers will be entertained by fairground games such as hood-a-duck, coconut shy and ring toss, along with a selection of ‘pre-loved’ clothes stalls, homemade cakes and treats and hidden gems in the bric a brac section. Entry to the HOPE Carnival is free and all proceeds from the afternoon go to the Hope Foundation’s (HOPE) work with street and slum children in Kolkata.

Speaking about the Carnival, HOPE Parton, Christopher Biggins stated, ‘'It's my pleasure to launch the HOPE Carnival for the Hope Foundation. I have been involved with HOPE for many years and have seen how they change the lives of the street and slum children in Kolkata through their education projects and child protection homes. The HOPE Carnival will be a day of celebrations with market stalls and carnival games to keep all ages entertained for the afternoon and all money raised will go towards helping HOPE continue their good work.’

The Hope Foundation (HOPE) is an Irish charity supporting overseas development and tackling humanitarian issues in India. If you would like to volunteer with the event team on the day or help with facepainting please contact Jayann@hopefoundation.ie or call 01 871 6930.

About The Hope Foundation

HOPE is an Irish charity supporting overseas development and tackling humanitarian issues in Kolkata, India. Over 250,000 children are forced to exist on the streets and in the slums of Kolkata (Calcutta). The Hope Foundation (HOPE) was established in Ireland by Irish humanitarian Maureen Forrest in 1999 to help these children.

Sixteen years on HOPE now provide support to over 60 projects including education, primary healthcare, child protection, children’s shelters, vocational training and drugs rehabilitation. With offices in Cork, Dublin, UK, Germany and India, HOPE also works with 14 local Indian NGOs to rescue thousands of children from the streets and slums of Kolkata.

The Hope Foundation is a registered Irish charity (CHY 13237) and is governed by the Dóchas Code of Corporate Governance. The HOPE Honorary Director, Maureen Forrest, does not take a salary. 

For more information see www.hopefoundation.ie and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HopeFoundationIreland and Twitter @HopeFoundation

Hope foundation "Big Book Of Hope", Thursday 9th September 2010

D700 with 12-24 G ED lens @12mm. f5.6  1/40, ISO 2000.

I had the pleasure of photographing the "Big Book of Hope" release, recently at the Avoca Cafe, Suffolk St. As charities go this is one of the most deserving I have worked for so far. The amount of fundraising needed and more importantly, actual funds that go towards the children in Kolkata is remarkable. The tireless efforts undertaken by sponsors and fundraisers would astonish you. Currently the fundraisers are heading to Everest Basecamp on a mission to raise funds.

Perspective is the key to this photograph, the people are well known, authors, celebrities and life living souls who have a story to tell, an anecdote or a tip, something to say lest we lose sight of the important things on earth. What is your perspective on life, do you have one?.

If you feel you can contribute in any way please contact the Hope Foundation. Every cent helps!!!.

Astonishing, thought provoking, intuitive, surprising: - The Big Book of Hope Officially Launched

The Big Book of Hope, an eclectic blend of over 40 fiction and non-fiction short stories was officially launched on Thursday 9th September in Avoca, Suffolk St., Dublin in aid of The Hope Foundation.

Complied by Inkwell’s Vanessa O’Loughlin with writer, journalist and broadcaster Hazel Katherine Larkin, The Big Book of Hope is a unique collection of contributions from Ireland’s top writers, media personalities, businessmen and women, and political figures; a number of which attended the launch in Avoca, along with over 70 other invited guests and representatives from The Hope Foundation.

Contributors to the book in attendance included Evelyn Cusack, Deputy Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann; and Brian Keenan, who was taken hostage in Beirut in 1986, and has since won numerous literary awards for his work “An Evil Cradling”.  A number of well known authors who contributed to the Big Book of Hope also attended the book launch, including Martina Devlin; Monica McInerney; Julia Kelly and Mary Malone; as well as Roisin Meaney; Lia Mills; Sinead Moriarty; Kate Thompson; Brian O’Connor; Niamh O’Connor, and Sarah Webb.

Ex Fair City actress, Claudia Carroll, who has published seven bestselling novels since leaving the show, dropped in; as did writer and performer Ann Gildea, who shot to fame with her all-girl comedic songster group The Nualas.  Teena Gates, Head of News in Dublin’s 98FM came along and was happy to talk about the fundraising she is currently doing for the HOPE Challenge 2010, in aid of The Hope Foundation, which will see her and a well known group of Irish personalities climb Mount Everest in late September.

Speaking at the launch, Maureen Forrest, Hon. Director of The Hope Foundation said “We are delighted with the support the Big Book of Hope is already receiving, and would sincerely like to thank all the contributors, without whom, this project would not have been possible.  I would also like to thank Unilever, who have kindly supported the official launch tonight, support like this is invaluable to HOPE.”

Proceeds from the sale of The Big Book of Hope will go directly to The Hope Foundation which was set up in 1999 to raise funds for one girls’ home, and today funds 64 projects in Kolkata (Calcutta) including education, primary healthcare, shelter, vocational training, child protection and drugs rehabilitation.  HOPE works with 16 Indian NGO partners to rescue thousands of children from the streets and slums, improve their quality of life, and give them a better future; and is currently reaching out to over 18,000 children through education alone and hundreds of thousands more through primary healthcare, in partnership with Irish Aid.  These are the children that sales of The Big Book of Hope will help to house, educate, and protect and love.

Published by Poolbeg, The Big Book of Hope is available now in bookshops, and online. For further information on The Hope Foundation visit: www.hopefoundation.ie.

The Big Book of Hope - Full list of Contributors

Ivana Bacik, Ivy Bannister, Maeve Binchy, Sam Blake, Declan Burke, Claudia Carroll, Norah Casey ,Don Conroy, Evelyn Cosgrave, Brian Crowley, Bill Cullen, Tracy Culleton, Evelyn Cusack, Martina Devlin, Clare Dowling, Myles Dungan, Ana Fischel, Derek Foley, Maureen Forrest, Teena Gates, Anne Gildea, Noelle Harrison, Hazel Katherine Larkin, Brian Keenan, Julia Kelly, Ferdia McAnna, Monica McInerney, Liz McManus, Mary Malone, Roisín Meaney, Lia Mills, Sinead Moriarty, Anita Notaro, Denis O’Brien, Brian O’Connor, Joseph O’Connor, Niamh O’Connor, Vanessa O’Loughlin, Jim Power, Kate Thompson, Sarah Webb

About The Hope Foundation

Set up in 1999 to raise funds for one girl’s home, today The Hope Foundation funds over 60 projects in education, primary healthcare, shelter, vocational training, child protection and drugs rehabilitation.

HOPE works primarily with the street & slum children of Kolkata (Calcutta) and the subsequent difficulties that these children encounter. The estimated population of street children in Kolkata is over 250,000. HOPE is currently reaching out to over 18,000 street children through education alone and hundreds of thousands more through primary healthcare, in partnership with Irish Aid.

The Hope Foundation is a registered Irish charity (No: CHY 13237).