Sanskriti India Immersion camp 2010

AILIV, in collaboration with the West Essex Y, concluded its India Immersion Summer Camp on Friday August 27. The two week camp (August 16-20, 23-27) provided a safe and fun environment for children to gain knowledge and better understand Indian culture and values as well as build self-esteem, confidence, and pride in their ethnic heritage.

A typical day started with yoga and stretching followed by an hour of academics during which the children’s learning experience was enhanced by the use of interactive audio-visual aids. Week I focused on Indian national symbols, India’s independence movement and M.K.Gandhi, Indian states, as well as community projects to help the underprivileged in India. Children did projects on their chosen states, Indian wildlife, and Indian national symbols. In Week II, the emphasis was on Indian festivals. Children learned about Diwali, Onam, Raksha Bandhan, Baisakhi, Holi, Eid, and Pongal. The older children wrote poems on the festivals whereas the younger kids made collage of pictures representing various festivals.

After a short snack break the children would sit down to learn Indian music starting from the basics of sa, re, ga, ma. In Week I, they learned to sing and correctly enunciate the entire Hindi song “Lakri ki kathi, kathi pe ghora” and in Week II, it was “Re mama, Re mama, Re.” Children were also taught about various percussion and wind Indian music instruments.

Lunch and free playtime followed music, after which children worked on a variety of arts and craft projects including rangoli, clay diyas, rakhis, tie-dye shirts, fabric painting using Indian motifs, picture frame painting and decoration, paper lanterns (fanoos), cow decoration, masks, and pin-wheels. Children also learned to make kaju barfi! Many of the activities were coordinated with the festivals that the children were learning about.

After arts and craft it was time for Bollywood dance. In Week I, children learned to dance on “Khai ke pan Benaras wala” and in Week II, they learned the dance moves to two songs, “Om Shanti Om” and “Twist.”

The last hour of the camp was devoted to Indian sports where children learned to play kho-kho, kabaddi, pitthu/lagori, gulli-danda, carrom, and of course, cricket.

On the Fridays of both weeks at the concluding ceremony, children entertained their parents, grandparents, and friends by showcasing the songs and dances they had learned. In Week II, they also recited the poems they had written on various Indian festivals.

Here are video presentations of some photos from various camp activities as well as song performances under the guidance of Urmi Battu.