Spend any time in the Homes and you’ll soon hear some slightly unusual words and phrases. Here’s what they mean!

• 3Ks Tour

  The 3Ks Tour was a popular holiday tour, led by Rev. John Webster, that ran annually for many years until 2019. It stands for Kolkata, Kathmandu & Kalimpong, the three main areas that supporters visit during their three-week journey, following in the footsteps of sponsored children who now live in Dr Graham’s Homes.

• Anglo-Indian

  Children of mixed parentage, usually a white European father and Indian mother. These children were often ostracised and abandoned by both communities.

• Aunty

  The traditional name for our female “house parents”, who live in the Homes and look after the boarding pupils.

• Children

  The term we use for young people at Dr Graham’s Homes (rather than “Students”, by which we refer to our young people in higher education or training).

• Cottages

  The boarding houses where the children live and socialise together. Each is named after a benefactor who helped raise funds for them, for example Elliot, Woodburn and Grant.

• DGHUK

  DGHUK is an abbreviation of Dr Graham’s Homes Kalimpong (UK), which is the full name of our charity here in the UK, and which was set up to support the school and its sponsored pupils.

• GO

  Shorthand for Global OGB Association. This is the official alumni association of Dr Graham's Homes - an international group of former students, teachers, staff, friends and supporters.

• Grahamite

  The honorific given to ex-pupils who come back to serve at the Homes as teachers and staff members.

• ICSE

  The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, an exam qualification that pupils work towards in Class 10 (ages 14-15).

• ISC

  The Indian School Certificate, an exam qualification that pupils work towards in Class 12 (ages 17-18).

• Kolkata

  The modern name for the city formerly known as Calcutta.

• Namaste

  A Sanskrit greeting, widely used across India and Southeast Asia (the literal meaning is “I bow to you”).

• OGBs

  Former pupils of Dr Graham’s Homes. OGB is short for “Old Girls and Boys”.

• Students

  The term we use for former DGH pupils being supported in higher education or training (rather than “Children”, which refers to young people at the Homes).

• The Children's City

  An old nickname for the hilltop campus that Dr Graham established, encompassing school, accommodation, sports fields and more.

• The Homes

  The Homes is an abbreviation of Dr Graham's Homes (sometimes known as DGH), which is the school in Kalimpong, India, supported by our charity.