This summer camp teaches functional literacy through real life interactions

The word ‘Summer Camp’ conjures up visions of a getaway camp organised for the children of the elite, where activities like basketball, arts & crafts etc take place. But the summer camps organised by the India Literacy Project (ILP) are a study in contrast. Take, for example, a field trip to Active Farm School in Gachibowli where young boys and girls from underprivileged families get a first-hand feel of farming, seed selection and planting.

Manmohan Jain, founder, ILP Hyderabad, informs that the 2 buses used to cart the children to the farm were loaned by Oakridge International School. According to him, real education is something that goes beyond the 4 walls of the classroom and lets children experience the world. “Education is not only in classrooms. Children at a young age can absorb a lot; their brain is like a sponge. This is experiential learning,” he points out. ILP’s main thrust is to bring education and literacy to the needy with round-the-year reading and learning programmes. “We use literacy in a broad sense. It is not just about writing one’s name. We look at functional literacy; literacy that is useful to the person in life,” he explains

The summer camp currently being organised at the government schools at Madhapur and Kothaguda have yoga sessions, gardening, music, dance, art and craft and games classes. Reading sessions and computer classes too are incorporated. Whats truly special are the volunteers, who come from different walks of life and teach at the camp pro bono.

Volunteers – the backbone

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Babita Sharma, a former educationist-turned-homemaker is the English and art & craft teacher. “I left my job in 2012 and have ample time. My children are grown up and I was looking for something which gives me peace and fulfilment. When one has achieved personal goals, one looks at contributing to society,’ she states.

Another volunteer Nagesh hails from a finance background. A few weeks ago, this youngster from BITS Pilani, was trading in the US markets. He quit all that and now teaches social studies and English to class IV and V. “In the long run, I know I will be in the finance field. For a brief period, I want to do something meaningful,” he shares.

Manmohan Jain, the founder too has taken a leap. He left a cushy corporate job and took up the baton of spreading literacy under ILP. “Corporate life is good but I was looking for a change and satisfaction also,” he recalls. A casual conversation with a neighbour proved to be the trigger for forming the ILP. “Many children do not realise how privileged they are. If they see some less privileged children, they will know,” he says. To sensitise his daughter, once he took her to the Madhapur Government School. “When we were returning home, she was quiet. She only said, ‘some of the students didn’t have footwear and were wearing ordinary dress.’

Every year, students from the summer camp visit new places in the city. “Last year, we took them to Jal Vihar where the children had a blast,” he smiles. ILP uses kiosks at corporate offices and residential complexes to spread awareness about its programmes. “What is best is that a lot of youth want to volunteer. When we were in school/college we didn’t think so much about these things. There is a lot of awareness and the country’s economic well being has also changed. Social media plays a big role,” he shares.

Another highkight of the project is the mobile library. “Through the movile library we are trying to inculcate the love of reading. It took 2 years but finally we started it last year. The library goes to government schools where children can read and return the books. Each year, we cover about 6 schools,’ he states and adds, “My vision is to have a fleet of these mobile vans travelling across government schools of Ranga Reddy district.”

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