It is that time of year when organisations previously unheard of mushroom in urban areas, claiming to have experience conducting ‘comprehensive summer camps’ for children. While how these camps help the children is debatable, they all come with an admission fee, sometimes an exorbitant one.
However, there is one organisation in Huballi that has been organising summer camps for the last seven years without charging a single rupee. Sunidhi Kala Sourabha, which is headed by theatre personality Subhas Narendra, began organising summer camps seven years ago with the help of Veena Athavale, another theatre artiste and primary school teacher. Soon, they started getting more volunteers.
“For the children whose parents can afford to pay, there are options. But for the underprivileged, there is none. We thought we should help these children spend their summer vacations in a meaningful manner. Thus was born the idea of ‘Chitrada Chiguru’ summer camp,” said Ms. Athavale, who is also the convener the camp. The camp began at the Model Government Primary School at Unakal on April 10, and it will conclude on Saturday.
Donations
Mr. Narendra told The Hindu , “When we first started off, it was difficult for us to bear the expenses. We paid from our pockets, brought utensils from home to cook food for the kids. But as the years passed by, benevolent persons came forward to join hands with us for the good cause.”
This year, 23 resource persons are teaching children at the camp. Among them are Arun Modak from Mumbai and Padmini Oak from Bengaluru, who came down to Hubballi voluntarily to spend a few days with the children. The Department of Public Instruction and the Teachers’ Association too have extended support this time.
The result is a summer camp where the children got to learn how to make sky lanterns without using a single stick, got basic lessons in music, clay modelling, kite making, painting, etc. They were even given lessons on making compost out of the waste generated at their schools, and on why they should avoid using plastic items.
“We don’t know how much they will take it forward. But even if a few of them adopt such good practices and nurture the talent within themselves, we will be satisfied,” said Ms. Athavale.
Sunidhi Kala Sourabha has been holding summer camps for free for the last seven years
