From dabbling in the basics of circus arts to understanding the art of origami, children in Puducherry have had an array of activities to choose from in this summer holidays.
Adding to the regular music, dance, art and language classes are new fields which parents and children have shown eagerness to learn.
Shruti Reddy, a class V student, is considering pursuing robotics after a summer camp she attended.
“I have understood how to make robots, and about how they are useful to do different things,” she says. Ms. Reddy is among 100-odd children who have attended the summer camp in robotics organised by Auro Systems and Communications. The participants work with kits to create demo models, and understand concepts behind line-following robots, obstacle-avoiding robots and light-seeking robots, says Vikram Parekh who runs Auro Systems and Communications.
“The camp is one of the first-of-its-kind in Puducherry, and the response has been good. The six-day course covers the basics of what is a robot, its parts, its functions, types of robots and mechatronics. It lays a foundation for children, and helps them get interested in robotics. We use the latest processor and Arduino technology,” says Mr. Parekh.
Arthur Hebron, a student of Lycee Francais, says, “I am learning new things like the use of sensors and reflection in robotics.”
Catching them young also seems to be a key motivator for parents to seek out classes in emerging areas, and those with good potential. “Parents have asked us to continue classes even after the camp. Many of them are engineers who are aware about the field. They are keen about children studying new subjects,” says Mr. Parekh.
Other places offering summer camps have included SITA Cultural Centre with classes which include cooking and origami, and La Casita with classes in gardening, circus arts and acro yoga. With French language classes for adults and children, the Alliance Francaise is making sure adults do not feel left behind in the plethora of summer camp activities.
An equal chance
Giving around 120 children from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to learn some skills this summer is the ‘Kuzhanthaigal Kodai Kondattam,’ organised by the Trust for Youth and Child Leadership, from May 25 to 30 at the Pondicherry Engineering College.
The summer camp is focused ‘towards ecosystem-based child-centred stewardship,’ says its coordinator Guru.
“The camp trains participants in leadership qualities while focusing on the active engagement of children with themselves, peers and adults, which is their ecosystem. We have sessions by leaders from different fields, including the sharing of life experiences by child leaders whom we recently awarded” says Mr. Guru.
The camp, which has been held since 2011, has participants from New Era Children’s Collective which works with Dalit children, Child Development Centre which works with children from slums, Baby Sarah’s Home, an orphanage, and Gypsy Community Centre, which works with children from the Narikuravar community.
