(SUMMER CAMP FUN) ³

“My experience at the Summer Camp was awesome. With the kids I forget myself and enjoy being a kid .It feels good if you know that someone is waiting to meet you so eagerly and same situation is there in your mind..Every day I wait for Saturday to come whenever I think of camp just a thought brings smile to my face..”- Cry Volunteer, Suman

Day 2 of Summer camp left us wanting for more.  We had to wait an entire week for Day 3 of Summer camp. But behold! 24^th, Day 3 of Summer Camp was finally here. The kids were going to in for a shock today, we had new friends from Philips who packed quite a surprise from them.Its always nice to start our day with music, why not do the same here? Modern Melody kick started Day 3 of Summer Camp. 

  To the mild strums of guitar, the students passionately sang Aashayein and Mera bhi toh adhikaar hai. They clapped and snapped their fingers and waved rhythmically to the tunes of the song, with infectious enthusiasm.Much to their disappointment, singing hour got over, but in store for them was another one of their favourite activities.

 It was craft time! Volunteer Rasika handed out sheets and scissors and instructed the students methodically to make the kandils. The students deftly handled the sheets and made them. Those who managed to finish it quickly flaunted their kandils for the shutterbugs. It was wonderful to see all the kids so focused in making their kandils, as they squinted and made their “scissor faces”.  All in a matter of one hour there were bright, beautifully made kandils in every child’s hand, all of them grinning with pride!

After a short break it was time to let loose and do the ‘CHICKEN DANCE’! The volunteers , the kids, our friends from Philips all quacked and flapped to the tunes of the Chicken dance! Everyone burst out laughing looking at one another.

Wouldn’t it be great if your birthday coincided with the Summer Camp? One of our little girls, Sushma, celebrated her birthday with us, Philips got her a beautiful and yummy chocolate cake which she shared with her 57 new friends. What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday!

Following that we had a presentation on our former president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam by our volunteer Mohit. He gave the students the inspirational story of how hard work and perseverance made an ordinary boy from Rameshwaram rise to the ranks of President and a Bharat Ratna awardee.  Don’t we all have something to learn from that? Mohit himself had a few words to share ““It was such an overwhelming experience. The first day I visited, I saw those innocent faces coming in by the dozen. The activities started, and the response from the children motivated us. We had a schedule for every Saturday, but we never had to carry a script, it was the children who scripted the fun for themselves and we just acted according to it. Those smiling, dancing, artistic, enthusiastic faces will be the best moments of the Summer Camp and will be cherished forever. I have learned a lot in these 3 days. Initially I had stage fright so much so that if I had to speak with a mic in my hand, I would get really nervous. But when I had to present a motivational story to the children, I managed to do so with ease, because the relation between me and the children took away my fear.

If we eliminate the stress of competition among children, and the fear of losing, then the school lectures will turn into camps! Children will learn with fun. Education will become edutainment.
No child is incapable of learning, but the way to teach each of them is different. I believe there's always a fun way to teach, and that's what children need.I thank each and every single person associated with the camp for all the EDUTAINMENT they provided me. Thanks a lot!”

As the day moved on, Philips read every child’s mind when brought out a canvas and platters filled with different coloured paints. Every kid loves getting their hands dirty and that s exactly what they did! Hand painting! The dream activity for every child. 

Sagar too had his own share of wonderful experiences “Initially, when we thought of being a part of Summer Camp in Airoli, I was wondering how it would go as we were new to the school, new to the children but as the first day of summer camp progressed, I found myself in a very comfortable zone with the children. Art, theatre and singing brought confidence in children to speak, helped them to develop team work quality and creativity. It also gave the volunteers an opportunity to work with children.

Personally speaking summer camp has given me a great platform to show my leadership qualities, handling the events and coordinating with volunteers, school staff, CRY staff. Looking forward to more events like this. Thank you very much”

As we see, this had been a learning and fun experience for both, the volunteers and the children.

Can’t wait for  Day 4 of Summer Camp!