Surrounded by trees, sun and surf, over 70 kids from two shelters supported by the Make A Difference (MAD) foundation, spent three days at a Dream Camp organised for them at the INDeco Resort in Mamallapuram. An annual event, the camp aims to get kids outside their comfort zone and give them a chance to relax, learn and have fun outside the rigid confines of their shelters and homes. These camps are organised nationally across all 23 cities in which the organisation is operative and was held in Chennai for the fourth time.
The experiential camps help children dream about their future goals and understand what it takes to achieve those dreams through personal discovery, explore new talents by challenging themselves and take responsibility for their actions. Sessions included Beautiful You, River of Life and Making Dreams Come True, and were conducted by the MAD volunteers and camp authorities.
One of the session leaders who organised the River of Life session said, “The children drew their lives’ journey as a river, including all turning points. By doing so, they realised how they became the person they are right now. It was a very emotional session and everyone opened their heart and shared their life stories.”
MAD mainly concentrates on creating safe ecosystems for children to grow up in, as well as providing them with emotional and after-school support. As one mentor puts it, “Due to the lack of exposure, children living in shelter homes hardly get the scope to dream or articulate their goals. On leaving their homes, they encounter various difficulties. Through the Dream Camp, we enable them to work in a group environment or a practical real-life scenario and, of course, help them open up their minds and have a lot of fun.”
Bharat Bhaskaran, Chennai city team lead, said that the camp was much more than they had hoped for or even expected. “We had the kids walking up to us and asking us if we had rested well, and had food. They seemed to realise that a lot of people put in a lot of effort to make the experience happen and that was the most moving part.”
Apart from the life-oriented lessons, the last day was a time for a carnival and a fashion show where the kids and their volunteers took to the ramp. Dharani, a 13-year-old at the camp said, “Our akkas and annas have filled us with so much confidence that I’m not afraid to do what I like; I speak in a crowd without hesitation, start dancing to any song, and do what my heart tells me to.”
