by Cleric Bless Rumao for BISMumbai

Don Bosco Narukot has organised an English Summer Camp for the tribal children from 01 to 23 May 2022. There are 147 children of the age group- 3 to 13 years, most coming from a poor and marginalized background from around 20 villages. A thorough survey was done of these villages by the staff, brothers: Mahesh Vasuniya, Alfred Menezes and Bless Rumao and past pupils, after which these children were invited for the camp. The total number includes 60 residential campers and 87-day scholars who attend the classes held from 8 to 11am.

The classes consist of the subjects: English, Maths, EVS, Gujarati, and Hindi. After the class the day scholars leave while the boarders have the rest of the day filled with fun activities like art and craft, music, dance, guided studies and English training, loud reading, language lab (Linguaphone) along with weekly competitions. Together with three brothers, there is the house staff and 13 volunteers who have opted to help out in the camp and look after the children and educate them. Ashwini madam (a former teacher of Don Bosco Baroda and a psychologist and counsellor) is also rendering her expertise. Thus, the camp is a blend of Salesian and lay collaboration. The children will be admitted to the English medium school of our institution from KG to Std 5.

Here are some of the expressions of the children about the camp: “we have never experienced such love and care and such a variety of activities;”and “our earlier school is boring, but here it is very interesting, not even a single dull moment.” This is the miracle of Don Bosco’s Preventive system and lay collaboration.