Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Summer camp at Indore (MP) Chatralaya - Report

Please read the wonderful efforts from Indore. Mr. Bhandari is Pujya Swamiji's devotee and helps with organising his talks and so on in Indore.

Swami Aishwaryananda and his gurubhai Muditavadananadaji both conducted the ''shivir'' /camp for the 80+ children of the Indore and Dhar chatralayas - and here is the report they sent.

Sheela Balaji
==================
AIM FOR SEVA SUMMER CAMP, INDORE, Madhya Pradesh, India
14th April 2009 to 20th April 2009

A Summer Camp was organised by Swami Aishwaryananda Saraswati and by Shri Jamboo Bhandari an ardent devotee of Pujya Swamiji.
The camp began on the 14th & concluded on the 20th.About 80 students (Indore & Dhar Chatralaya) participated with great enthuiasm.
Swami Muditvadanandaji Saraswati also spent very valuable time on all the days.
The overall conclusion was that not only were the activities well received & enjoyed but the exposure & excitement levels were extremely positive.

A brief report of the daily activities is given below:

Day 1---14th Morning session:
Swami Aishwaryanandji briefed all the participants about the various activities that were planned.It was observed that as a result of this orientation the childrens confidence & grasping of various activities was enhanced.

Day 1---Afternoon Session:
Shri Vikas Dube,Chief Editor Devputra Magazine spoke on very interesting subjects of truth,Love & compassion.The talks were very well received.

Day 2---15th Morning Session:AEROMODELLING SHOW
Shri Aniruddha Kasliwal of the Aeromodelling Club,Indore & his colleagues came to the chatralaya & did a live demonstration of the model aircrafts.It was a first time experience to all the children & the excitement was unbelievable.The acrobatics & loops & the aircrafts flying over their heads made them curious.Later an interactive session was held where many questions & queiries were answered to their satsfaction.

Day 2---Afternoon Session:VISIT TO THE CRICKET ACADEMY
Shri Amay Khurasia an international cricket player invited all the children to the Usha Raje Cricket Stadium,Indore.He first made them observe the State level matches going on.It was the first time for all of them to see a stadium.Later Amay interacted with the children on an individual basis.He explained in great details about the technicalities of playing.All the children felt greatly inspired to learn this sport.Shri Amay also agreed to come & teach the children on a regular basis.

Day 3---16th Morning Session:PHOTOGRAPHY WITH SHRI PRAVIN RAWAT
Shri Pravin Rawat,Award winner of Society of Royal Photographic Society,UK & a Gold Medal by Japan came & demonstrated the technaclities of a camera & the value of photography as a hobby as well as a career.He got with him many of his photos as his subject of specilisation is on villages & rural society.The children were amazed to see their own village life depicted through the camera.It was once again made interesting by a question answer session.

Day 3---Afternoon Session:SWAMI PARMANANDAJI TIRTH MAHARAJ
Swamiji spent a lot of time with the children sharing with them his experiences & how they should conduct themselves in life.Stress was given by him on many moral & value based living.

Day 4---17th Morning Session:INDUSTRIALIST SHRI OP GOEL/WATER CONSERVATION
A very prominent industrialist of MP Shri Goel addressed all the children in the chatralaya.He chose to speak on a subject of current importance-Water conservation.A power point presentation was shown & was very well received.He requested the children to do a vacation project during the holidays in their villages & importantly share this awareness with their parents also.Shri & Smt Goel are frequent visitors/contributors to our cause.

Day 4---Afternoon Session:SHRI KRISHNAKUMAR ASTHANA,CHIEF OF VIDYA BHARTI SCHOOLS,MP
Shri Asthanaji addressed the children on various moral subjects & interspersed them with many inspirational stories.An animation movie on Chatrapati Shivaji was also screened.
Miss Shivani Dhighe a very well known vocal/Classical singer taught the children may patriotic songs & bhajans for two evenings.The children enjoyed these sessions too.

Day 5---18th Morning Session:INDUSTRIALIST SHIV SINGH MEHTA
A young industrialist Shri Mehta addressed the children on various inspirational topics-aims in life,dreaming big,discipline,moral values etc.He interacted very intimately with them all satisfying each one.

Day 5---Afternoon Session:MISS SHIVANI DIGHE:CLASSICAL/VOCAL SINGER
As reported above she got well involved with teaching the children.

Day 6---19th Morning Session:ACTUAL FLYING EXPERIENCE IN AIRCRAFT AT YASH AIR,UJJAIN
Shri Bharat Tongia & his son Yashraj were extremely kind in offering all the 80 children a flying experience at his world famous academy in Ujjain.The excitement of the children to fly was a great joy to see.Each of them thoroughly enjoyed the take offs,landings & the view from above.We had requested joy rides for the first four outstanding children but their large heartedness was really appreciated.Few children got inspired to become pilots.His hospitality was unique as he offered cold drinks & snacks sevsral times.Mr Tongia has explained that under a Govt of India scheme,Social Welfare Ministry there exists a scheme wherin children under this category can avail of a complete loan for training & after qualifying,under the same category get a job as a pilot instantly.We have requested him for details.
In the afteroon all the children were taken for the darshans of the famous Jyotirlinga the Mahakaleshwar temple.

Day 6---Afternoon Session:VISIT TO FREE PRESS JOURNAL-LEADING NATIONAL DAILY
Shri Jainarianj Karnani & his son Ashok Karnani invited all the children to visit the press & see forthemselves the printing of newspapers.The visit & interaction in the press was very interesting to all the children.

DAILY ACTIVITIES: Besides taking & exposing the children to various activities an equally quality time was spent in the early morning & evenings on Yoga,Exercises,Guided Meditation,Campfire etc.

SWAMI MUDITVADNANDJIs contribution to this camp was highly commendable.He was with us for all the days.His interesting & participative methods made all the children feel at home in their interactions with the guests we invited.We are thankful to him & also will care of some suggestions,observations & improvements.

Finally,the camp was made successful only because of the tireless efforts of our very own Shri Anil Bohare,Br Krishnandji & Rajkumarji.Without their backup support this would not have been possible.

OBSERVATIONS
1)The Children's confidence levels increased significantly in general as well in interacting with guests increased
2)We may experiment with this model elsewhere.
3)Encouraged children to look beyond just studies
4)Exposure to different activities broadened outlook.
5)Many guests were amazed at the upbringing of the children & agreed to repeat their interaction.
6)The children were observed to be very free in asking questions.
7)Exposure to various activities inspired them
8)A great learning experience not only to the children but we the organisers.
9)The guests were appreciative of AIM FOR SEWA effort

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