Ten-year-old Payal from Bihar’s Gaya district always dreamed of becoming a scientist. But at school, her learning struggles told a different story. With her father working long hours as a driver and her mother busy managing the home and four children, she received little support for her studies.

Things began to change during the summer break, when P&G Shiksha–Pratham's CAMaL (Combined Activities for Maximized Learning) Ka Camp reached her village. This community-led learning program is designed to help children catch up on their foundational skills so they are better prepared for the new academic session.

Like many children in her village, Payal joined the camp. Her initial assessment revealed that she could only recognise numbers up to 99 and was not able to perform basic addition or subtraction. The gap was concerning but the volunteer was quick to notice that despite her academic struggles, Payal was curious and engaged, always eager to participate.

Wondering what had held her back in school, the volunteer asked her, “You seem to enjoy learning a lot here—why do you think math has been so hard for you?” Payal said, “I was scared of math. But here, you make it fun with games and rhymes. I don’t feel scared anymore.”

At CAMaL Ka Camp, learning came alive through playful methods—group activities, stories, and interactive quizzes. For Payal, this was a whole new world. The pressure she’d felt in school was replaced by laughter, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. Slowly, her fear gave way to excitement.

Just 10 days into the camp, she was solving addition problems with ease. By the end of the month, Payal could tackle arithmetic word problems and even perform division—skills she had once believed were out of her reach.

Her growing confidence didn’t go unnoticed at home. “She used to avoid studying,” said her mother, Sunita. “Now, she explains math to her younger siblings with a big smile. Seeing her this involved makes us so proud.”

For Payal, CAMaL Ka Camp became more than a place to learn—it was a turning point. In 30 days, she didn’t just improve her skills; she discovered her strength, her voice, and gained a renewed confidence in herself.

Her dream of becoming a scientist feels a little closer now. And she’s not afraid anymore.