The needs of the vulnerable children are greater, and they are the ones who suffer lot of violations of their rights. Every excluded child represents a missed opportunity. The dream and vision of this summer camp has been to exclusively enable and provide platform for these vulnerable children to develop their productive and creative skills, with a deep focus on the socio-cultural values.
This capacity building camp aimed infact to create awareness on equality, diversity and social inclusion through this intense training in performing arts. The camp was organized by Rev. Fr. John Christy SDB, the Youth pastoral delegate of INM, and the Salesians of Ennore Community. 10 art forms were taught to the children with the help of 15 volunteers and 15 resource persons. The art camp was conducted with the aim of inculcating some of the art forms of Tamil Nadu that owe their roots to ancient times which are practiced and performed even today with enthusiasm and devotion. During this camp, the children were introduced to the following art forms: theatre, paraiyattam, arts and crafts, puppetry, mime, martial arts, western and fusion, silambam, karakattam, and oyilattam.
This camp also provided life skills education to the children. This camp provided a wonderful opportunity to develop and practice skills necessary for the defense and promotion of their own and other people’s rights. They were imparted with the skills that would transform them into leaders and responsible citizens of the future society.
The best interests of the child were the primary consideration. The children were divided into 10 groups of 20 each respectively, and they were able to learn the particular art during the five days of the camp. Every day the children spent six hours in learning the art forms, and they were very enthusiastic about learning the chosen art form. In addition to this, the children were given orientation talks both in the morning and evening for their welfare. In the afternoon, children were given the opportunity to learn dance and action songs with the help of the Salesian Clerics. The campers had the typical Salesian fun and entertainment like campfires, family circle and watching movies before they could retire to bed.
The summer camp concluded with a valedictory function, on the final day. The children themselves hosted the event and showcased the art forms that they had learnt during the camp, and everybody witnessed a great enhancement in the confidence, performance, knowledge and skills of the children. Fr. Leo Joseph Sdb, the Director of Don Bosco Surbai, was the chief guest, and the guests of honor were Fr. Andrew Stephen, the Director of Anbu Illam and Fr. Nallayan Pancras, the Rector of SIGA and Fr. Joseph Franklin, the Province Secretary. The function was graced with the presence of Salesians in charge of various groups and movements of the youth ministry sector of INM. The entire program went live in the YouTube Channel (Aflame ministry - DBICA).
Don Bosco, a man of dreams, who had his first dream at the age of nine and he actualized that dream in his mission for the poor and abandoned youth. We are sure that these experiences and skills and art forms that children learned during the camp will help them to realize the dreams and achieve their goals.
Fr. John Christy SDB
Youth ministry Delegate INM
https://www.infoans.org/en/component/k2/item/18047#sigProIdd774e76a65
