Towards the end of May, I had the opportunity to visit CAMaL Ka Camp in Poosala village, Karimnagar district, Telangana. Pratham’s CAMaL Ka Camp is a summer learning initiative designed to help children build strong foundational skills in language and math through joyful, activity-based learning. The word CAMaL stands for “Combined Activities for Maximised Learning,” and the camp I visited truly lived up to the name!
My language limitations in understanding Telugu made me unsure whether I would be able to understand what was happening or connect with the children and volunteer. But I needn’t have worried. The camp volunteer, Sowjanya, put me at ease by communicating in English.
She told me she usually teaches at a private school and chose to spend her summer break here, supporting children’s learning. Curious, I asked her why she wasn’t taking this time to rest or do something else. She smiled and said, “Teaching children makes me happy. Helping them learn makes me feel important and useful. When I got this opportunity to spend my summer helping these children with their foundational learning, I didn’t think twice.”
The morning began with a group of children spreading out a mat in the schoolyard, ready for another day of learning. Meanwhile, Sowjanya arranged the teaching materials. She began with a warm-up song. She sang and moved her hands and legs in rhythm, and the children joined in, mimicking her every move. In no time, the schoolyard was buzzing with laughter and playful energy. I stood there watching, no longer feeling like an outsider.
After the warm-up, some of the children turned to me with their questions in Telugu, which Sowjanya patiently translated for me. On hearing her translation, the children switched to broken Hindi mixed with Telugu: “Tum kahan se aaye? Ghar ekkada?” I caught the gist and replied, “Hyderabad.” That was enough to spark more questions and giggles. Even though I didn’t know their language, they welcomed me in, breaking any barrier that might have existed.
The next activity was a math game called Clap and Snap. Sowjanya explained: one snap for ‘ones’, and one clap for ‘tens’. So, one clap and two snaps made 12. It was a simple game, but the children were so excited! The air was filled with claps, snaps, and laughter. I saw children participating with raised hands, eager to answer. They were also correcting each other gently, and explaining how it worked—a wonderful display of learning together.
Later, Sowjanya brought out some word cards she had made herself. She asked the children to read the words and make sentences. Here, I felt like the weakest student—I couldn’t understand a single word. But the children didn’t leave me behind. Seeing my puzzled face, they started trying to repeat the words in English, eager to include me in their world. It was humbling and heartwarming at the same time.
Throughout the morning, I saw more activities unfold: number diaries, story reading, and mind maps. Each one was thoughtfully designed to help children gain confidence and strengthen their basics. But they were also learning something more—how to be curious, how to help each other, how to lead and ask questions. These, I believe, are skills for life.
For me, this was more than just a visit. It was a lesson in connection, in how learning can transcend language and cultural barriers. Pratham’s CAMaL Ka Camp doesn’t just teach children math and language. It creates a joyful space where every child is seen, heard, and encouraged to thrive. As I left the camp, I carried a new resolve with me—to start learning Telugu this year! Because if these children could make such an effort to include me, surely I could take that small step to meet them halfway.
This morning at Poosala’s CAMaL Ka Camp left me with a smile, a renewed respect for the power of community, and a deep appreciation for Pratham’s work. These children are not just learning—they’re also teaching us what it means to connect and grow together.
– Vineeta Dwivedi, Manager, Communications
PS: This write-up has been published in its original form without any editing or alterations. Any grammatical errors, typos, or stylistic variations are preserved to maintain the authenticity of the author’s work. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individual authors and do not reflect the views or positions of the organisation.
