Summer Plans? CAMaL Ka Camp!

Summer holidays usually mean children rushing off to visit their grandparents or relatives living in different villages, towns, or cities. But this year, something is different in a small village in Uttar Pradesh. A group of children has chosen to stay back and they all have the same reason: CAMaL Ka Camp!

“I used to play the whole day during my summer break, but this year, I am spending my mornings at the camp, learning new things,” says Aman, a Grade 6 student, his face lighting up as he speaks.

Wareesha, another student from Grade 6, also decided to stay back home this summer instead of visiting relatives. “I want to enjoy the camp as much as I can while it’s happening. Each day, didi (camp volunteer) makes us do so many fun activities,” she says with a smile. 

Sumit, a Grade 5 student, shares a story that surprises many. He recently went out of town for a family wedding, but insisted on returning the same day. “I didn’t want to miss the camp the next day,” he says. “I have so much fun here with my friends and didi, so I asked my parents to bring me back that very night.”

For Aryan, a Grade 7 student, the camp is the highlight of his day. It’s where he connects with friends, joins in group activities, and participates in activities he usually wouldn’t in a regular classroom. “We learn while playing, singing and listening. It is a lot of fun,” he says. 

Anurag, in Grade 6, had a choice to make. Every summer, he visits his maternal grandmother but not this time. “I like the games and activities here. It’s different from how we learn in school classrooms," he says, beaming.

Satyaprakash, also in Grade 7, is always one of the first to arrive at the camp location. “I love coming to the camp because there’s always something new to do,” he shares, his excitement hard to miss.

Then there’s Shashank, another Grade 7 student, who explains what sets CAMaL Ka Camp apart. “This learning is different from being in a classroom, where we primarily focus on writing and reading from textbooks. Here, we play, do activities, and learn together. It’s fun!” he says.

The enthusiasm of these children attending CAMaL Ka Camp—Pratham’s large-scale summer initiative to help children strengthen their foundational learning skills—is unmistakable. The goal is to ensure that all participating children are able to do basic arithmetic, read fluently with understanding, and express their thoughts both orally and in writing by the end of the camp.

To know more about CAMaL Ka Camp 2025, click here.