Tribal kids get a peek at the world ………Anahita Mukherji
Mumbai: It’s got all the ingredients of a regular summer camp. There are sessions in day-time astronomy, environment, drama, singing and painting. The difference? The kids here are Adivasis and the camp is in the middle of a tribal hamlet not far from the Vihar lake.
The camp, aptly called Caravan, is organised by Navnirmiti, an organisation that works towards popularising mathematics and science in municipal schools. The camp is in its fifth edition. Navnirmiti has held summer camps for over 2,000 kids from 18 municipal schools in the eastern suburbs in the last one month.
On Wednesday afternoon, mathematician and Navnirmiti founder Vivek Monteiro landed up at Sai Bangoda—the tribal hamlet—cardboard telescope in hand, and gave the kids a peek into the distance.
“The building is upside down. I know where it is,’’ says 13-year-old Suraj Bhujbal, as he kneels down and squints eagerly into the telescope.
Besides popularising science, there were theatre workshops, where kids helped write the script, enacted 26/11. Asked about the camp, Bhavesh Jadhav, a Class IV student says, “We learnt songs on education and played bat and ball and learnt how to act in plays.’’
Artist Chintan Upadhyay conducted drawing workshops, acting was taught by Navnirmiti volunteers trained by theatre personality Manjul Bhardwaj. “Students here are a little shy, but know about nature,’’ says Bhavna Golambde, a volunteer at the camp.
Navnirmiti founder Vivek Monteiro (left); a kid shows her art