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Barry OBrien has been a Trustee of the East India Charitable Trust since 2001, and was elected Chairman in July 2011. The Trust runs the Tollygunge Home (for senior citizens), the Mary Cooper Home (for senior citizens), St. Marys Hostel for Girls, EICT Infant School and, Lavinia House (a vocational school and hostel), for girls who are fighting the odds. The Trust provides monthly financial assistance and medical assistance to about 85 families living below the poverty line.
He was an active member of Round Table, a non-political international social service organisation, from 1985 till 1997. For seven years, he was the Project Convenor of Calcutta Central Round Table 38s activities in Ghoshpur Village, Champahati, South 24-Parganas. During this period, RT provided educational scholarships to over 100 children each year; conducted free Eye Camps and Operations, sunk tubewells and distributed blankets and school uniforms regularly.
Udayan (a Home for children of leprosy sufferers): Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has been a huge inspiration to The Calcutta Foundation and Rev. Stevens in their efforts to build homes in Barrackpore for the children of leprosy sufferers. Barry has been privileged to be part of Steves fund-raising efforts over the years. He has played the role of auctioneer at auctions (of Steves gear, Bradmans bat, Sachins gloves etc.) and helped to raise funds for this cause to the tune of Rs 50 lakhs and more.
Barry feels privileged to be considered a friend in need by Padma Shri Sr. Cyril in her far-reaching educational initiatives, like Shikalaya Prakalpa and the Rainbow Children project for destitute children across the state of West Bengal.
Barry is privileged to be considered a friend in need by many institutions and organizations that care for the welfare of special-needs children, and those belonging to less privileged families. These include Indian Institute for Cerebral Palsy; Loreto Day School, Sealdah; Akshar; Holy Child Institution, UDAYAN; NECSW Shiksha; Alokdhara; Development Action Society; Vivekananda Mission Ashram, Haldia; Rahara Ramakrishna Mission Boys Home High School.
As a Concerned Citizen, he has supported...
...the efforts of Concern for Kolkata, a non-profit citizens movement. He has tried to encourage the common Calcuttan to want to know more about the heritage, history and culture of the city, at the quizzes that he has conducted on the street in front of and behind the New Market.
...the organizers of the Kolkata Book Fair, by researching and conducting special theme quizzes in Bengali and English for school students at the Fair grounds.
...and been one of the initiators of the CESC True Spirit Puja, a unique initiative to make Puja organizers and common people more conscious of their civic responsibilities to keep the city safe, clean and orderly during the festive season.
From time to time Barry has initiated public awareness projects, like the Radio Network Annual Citizens Award for Courageous Calcuttans, and Kolkatas Apology to the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in the form of a signature campaign after the 1996 World Cup semi-final fiasco.
Youth Initiatives
Friendship with Pakistan: Barry Sir initiated a peace and friendship initiative between the youth of India (in West Bengal) and Pakistan, in association with Karachi High School and TTIS, Kolkata. This movement, Bonding Beyond Borders, encourages visits and interaction between young Indians and Pakistanis. Since 2003, Barry Sir has been visiting Pakistan almost every year with this message. TTIS also hosted a delegation of students and teachers from Pakistan in 2004. Inspired by this initiative, some students are making peace trips across the border.
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