Yashashvi & Nikisha: Falling in Love With Learning at CAMaL Ka Camp
From reading simple words to full paragraphs, the sisters are now leading learning with excitement and joy
Two sisters, Yashashvi (Grade 5) and Nikisha (Grade 4), from a small village in Telangana’s Karimnagar district, loved to play but were less enthusiastic when it came to picking up their textbooks and doing schoolwork. Every evening, their mother encouraged them to study, but all she got was resistance. As a result, the sisters struggled to read, even simple words.
This began to change when the siblings started attending Pratham’s CAMaL Ka Camp during the summer break. Every morning, they eagerly head to the community space where the camp is held. There, they join a group of children in playing warm-up games, listening to stories, and taking part in hands-on learning activities designed to improve reading and arithmetic skills.
“Yashashvi and Nikisha are now able to read whole paragraphs. We’re sure they’ll be reading stories very soon,” said the volunteer with pride. But the learning doesn’t stop at the camp.
In the evening, when the girls are at home, they ask their mother to replay the audio stories they have listened to at the camp from the Kahani Train—a collection of short, engaging stories available in multiple regional languages. They sit together and do the related activities again—this time as a family. Their mother, who once had to convince them to study, is now amazed at how self-motivated they’ve become.
“It feels so good to see them happy while learning. Earlier, we had to ask them to study. Now they ask me!” she shares with a smile.
Inspired by their interest, she has started participating in their learning. She plays the stories, helps them with the follow-up activities, and even visits the camp regularly.
“It fills my heart with warmth watching my daughters and other children laugh, learn, and grow together,” she adds.
For this family, the summer has brought more than just a break from school—it has brought a shift in mindset. What was once a struggle is now a source of joy. And for Yashashvi and Nikisha, learning has become something they look forward to every single day.
