It is always always a pleasure to go back to Honnemardu with the kids. The 29th Jan – 1st Feb trip was no different. 13 kids (9 from Makkala Jagriti, 4 from Vishwas), Krishnamurthy, Ismail (volunteers), Nomito Kamdar (Cofounder & Director, The Adventurers) and I headed out on a Phase 2 camp to build Problem Solving Skills among the children. The camp was unique and different from all other camps as we were to also meet 26 children and 3 teachers from Amber Valley Residential School, Chikmangalur as it was planned to be a joint camp. Nomito and I were a little apprehensive but also very excited as our efforts to do integrative camps were finally bearing fruit.
The camp had its usual high-energy dose of swimming, tent-building, camping on an island, camp-fire, trekking and a few other things added for good measure. Notably been – problem solving games, trust games, scavenger hunt and a visit to Jog Falls, A Power Generation Unit and the Lingannamakki Dam.
Being a first time integrative camp, the camp had its highs and its challenges. More challenges, I would say, but definitely a success because of the challenges. We are quite positive now that we want to do more Integrative camps as the learning is a hundred times over for all groups involved. The key highlights of the camp were –
The obvious differences in the physical attributes of the children, even though the age difference was only couple of years. A Jagan looked really small compared to an Adiraj who was almost 5.8 ft. This already set certain sub-conscious stereotypes that the dream a dream kids were smaller in age so need to be taken care off.
The confidence levels were different but these soon got negated in the outdoor activities as all the adventure activities were new activities for most of the kids.
There were at times subtle areas of discrimination and at other times blatant discrimination among both groups. Again, the actions were very sub-conscious that the kids didn’t realize it.
There was a clear demarcation of roles as if similar to the roles being played out in society. For instance, when mixed groups were formed and asked to come up with a skit during campfire. One group made the Dream A Dream kids the ticket collectors and the other kids as the movie-goers. In some other instance due to language barriers, the dream a dream kids were given silent, spectator type roles.
There was also a struggle of power as the bigger kids took the best mats during sleep-time and the small kids were left wanting. Very small instances but a clear play out of roles in society that we were able to see as outside observers.
Fortunately, the discrimination didn’t play out in perspectives and attitudes in a big way since they are all still children. A lot of their attitudes were built from their environments and influences from their family systems or institutions. It will definitely be a problem if more such interactive and sensitivity building platforms are NOT created because then these children would go out and manifest these attitudes in bigger roles in society. This could be observed in the attitude of the teachers which was more of sympathy and not empathy and mutual respect.
The one thing that was common was that they were all still children at heart and by day-3 the interactions had become very positive and even friendships were built. They enjoyed each other’s company and even worked well in teams together.
I interacted with the 39 kids through the 4-days, at one level I was torn to see the discriminations manifesting in all activities and at another level felt extremely hopeful because this experience will remain with the kids for years to come and hopefully make each of the kids more empowered and sensitive to each other. The most heartening memory was when during circle time one of the kids from dream a dream expressed how hurt she felt when she was not allowed to sleep in a tent with her so-called new friends, yet she continued to try till they would relent, but they did not and that made her very sad. The fact that she was able to state this in a large group, in English, showed her resilience and courage to stand up against any kind of injustice. Another memory was when Abhishek from Amber Valley was able to overcome his inhibitions and participate whole-heartedly in the scavenger hunt game including picking up dung when required. Or Aishwarya, again from Amber Valley made tea for everyone in the morning at the island or 3-other boys from Amber Valley mingled really well and were Jagan’s best friends by end of camp.
For me, I was left on a different high when little prabhu one night was falling asleep during circle time and quietly came and slept on my lap. His heart-beats synchronized with mine and I felt a very different, very new kind of happy feeling.
I have tried to capture just a gist of the entire 4-day life-changing experience. There is definitely a lot more to it which I will try to capture in the report. To conclude, it’s beautiful to see the pure, innocence and charm of children across diverse backgrounds and to see enthusiasm, hope and energy in them for the future but it also worries me that parents and institutions may not be seeing the stereotypes, biases and prejudices they are building in the children because of their own attitude and prejudices.
We need to do a lot more in this area. We need a lot more interactive platforms and I am sure in a few years we will be on our way to a sensitive future. We are planning a series of exciting, interactive camps in April & May 2007 and if you are interested in involving your kids, cousins, nephews or any kid in the age-group of 10-16, mail me at vishalta@gmail.com and we will add them in for a super cool Integrative Adventure Camps.
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