Village Action News
Monthly news about the efforts of
AVAG to bridge the gap
between Auroville and the villages around it.
Summer Camps For Village Kids
The month of May was a month of happenings for Village Action.
Every two days, over 50 children jumbled into AVARC (Auroville
Village Action Resource Centre) for summer camp. There were nine
camps in all and each camp was conducted by people from Auroville
and neighbouring villages who led the children in special techniques
and skills. There was one camp on painting, another on drama,
another on story-telling, clay & craft work, dancing, singing
and sports.
During one of the camps a local doctor was
called to give the children some practical information about health,
hygiene and medicinal plants.
In another camp children were taken to Post-Office,
Police-Station, Bank, Court and other Public Service Departments
to show them how things work in India. They were also taken to
visit different places in Auroville. They were very much impressed
by the Matrimandir and were really happy to know about many new
things that are happening in Auroville.
At the end of the camp AVAG's
co-ordinator Jerald Moris asked the children whether they would
like to be a Postman, a Policeman, a Banker, a lawyer or an Aurovilian
if they had a choice. Few showed interest in other jobs but to
the surprise of all, almost every child wanted to stay and work
in Auroville.
It was heartening to see that
despite the scorching heat children were full of energy and enthusiasm
all through the summer camps. It was a golden opportunity for
them to do all the things that they longed to do and they did
not want to miss out on anything.
The
Summer Camps are a part of the PEP program in which Village Action
Development Workers visit twice weekly 30 village schools in the
area, and engage the children in joyful ways of learning. To know
more about PEP contact avag@auroville.org.in
for this year's annual report.
|
