By Fr Bento D’Souza & Ms Ankita for BIS Mumbai

Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra successfully organized its residential Spoken English Camp 2026 for 75 students from rural areas including Dhadgaon, Talasari, Dudhni, Karjat, Beed and villages around Ahilyanagar. The camp was conducted with the aim of improving the students’ Spoken English skills while also helping them grow in confidence, creativity and personality.

Students from different backgrounds came together for this unique learning experience. For many of them, it was their first time staying away from home and interacting with students from other regions. The residential atmosphere created a space where learning happened not only inside the classroom but also through daily interaction, teamwork and shared experiences.

Each day at the camp followed a lively and meaningful routine. The mornings began with rising, meditation and tongue twisters, helping students start the day with energy and confidence in speaking English. This was followed by morning exercises and breakfast before the academic sessions began. Spoken English classes focused on vocabulary, pronunciation, sentence formation, reading and conversation practice. Loud reading sessions, study periods and weekly tests encouraged students to actively use English in their daily communication.

Apart from language learning, the camp also included several informative and interactive sessions for the holistic development of the students. Sessions on media awareness, AI and digital safety, personality development, career guidance, emotional wellbeing, communication skills, computer classes and art and craft helped students gain knowledge beyond textbooks. The students were also introduced to basic computer skills and digital tools, helping many of them gain valuable hands-on exposure to technology. Games, animated activities, group interactions and creative sessions made the learning process joyful and engaging.

A special exposure visit was also organized for the students to Don Bosco ITI Chinchwad and Rasquinha Don Bosco Chakan, where they were introduced to different career opportunities, technical education and skill development programmes. The visit gave the students valuable exposure beyond their rural surroundings and inspired many of them to dream bigger about their future. 

One of the most beautiful aspects of the camp was the visible growth in the confidence of the students. Many students who were initially shy and hesitant to speak in English slowly began participating actively in class, speaking on stage and interacting freely with others. The camp created an encouraging environment where mistakes were seen as part of learning and every small effort was appreciated.

The camp was organized under the guidance of Fr George, Director of BGVK, along with Fr Clarence, Administrator, and Br Ambrose, Camp Coordinator. Sr Mabel, Ms Ankita, and volunteers Presley, Riya, Jill and Gloria played an active role in animating the camp, accompanying the students and conducting various activities and sessions throughout the programme. Through their dedication, encouragement and constant interaction, the team helped create a warm, energetic and supportive atmosphere for all the participants.

The camp concluded with a vibrant Graduation Day programme that showcased the talents and growth of the participants. The highlight of the event was a musical presented completely in English by the students themselves. The programme also included dances, songs, anchoring and dramatic performances, all confidently carried out by the campers. Parents, guests and well-wishers were deeply impressed to witness the transformation of the students within such a short period of time.

The chief guest, Mr Vikram Pathare, DDM NABARD, congratulated the students for their hard work and appreciated the efforts taken by the organizers and volunteers. He encouraged the students to continue learning, growing in confidence and making use of every opportunity available to them.

The BGVK Spoken English Camp 2026 became much more than just an English-learning programme. It became a journey of confidence, friendship, exposure and self-discovery for many rural students. The camp helped them realize that with encouragement and opportunity, they too can speak confidently, dream boldly and step forward towards a brighter future.

Overview of the Camp: https://youtu.be/SAaj6JYRQsA?si=s0NFFA1txQf3nyT_