SCHOOL: (Pune, India)

Posted for a week at Gyanankur English Primay School in the countryside near Pune, we were keen to help in whatever way would be useful to support and encourage the staff and children. The head, overworked and savvy (aren't they all?), asked if I (Kris) could operate puppets??!! Little did we know that we were being primed to run the whole Christmas party programme.

My lack of puppeteering skills was ignored in favour of our 'open offer to help', and we were asked to "perform something" for the 350 strong school the very next day…for twenty minutes! Thankfully, there was an old youth work stunt I remembered that we could pull out the bag, no puppets, but it's gold. I rallied up some support on the basis of this 'surefire skit', secretly terrified, more than aware that kids are the most frighteningly honest audiences going. Lauren and Jonathan, our lovely hosts from NYC living in Pune, were good sports, volunteering to muck in - even where Jonathan knew he was to be covered in egg, water, and…well muck basically. The following day, relieved as the skit unfolded, to be greeted with riotous laughter and applause, bouquets of flowers, and smiling little faces everywhere, we finally took our bow. Heroes basically. Hearts and minds campaign wrapped up. All part of our charitable portfolio. Please don't hesitate to contact us for birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, summer fetes, Christenings. Ask Dan & Sarah West for a reference on my child entertainment skills in clown suits: not scary or inappropriate at all.

It's an amazing school, with amazing staff, doing amazing work. If you're going to India, go visit and get stuck in.