Diwali vacations! That glorious time when school students get the
much deserved break from the books that keep them busy preparing for exams.
While it’s initially the festive activities that keep them busy, there are
various programmes and camps that children can enrol in to make the rest of the
vacations fun. “It is a way to keep children busy and at the same time teach
them a skill or two,” says Asha Gonsalves, a resident of South Goa. She has
enrolled her son in a drawing and art class for the vacations.
“When I decided to become an artist, I knew that it is a gift to
pass on a skill that you are good at,” says arts and crafts teacher Pradeep
Khandeparkar. He has been holding a camp in three educational institutions in
Goa for the past three years. “The objective is to work with the child in order
to bring out the artist in him or her. It is the best way for a child to spend
the holiday season,” he says. James Mendes, a physical education teacher from a
government school in North Goa, is busy training students to play outdoor
sports. He has been employed by an NGO that regularly organises camps for
children during the holidays. “I am very passionate about engaging with
children and the Diwali vacations are a good time to work with them on their
skills. Today, it is vital for students to be all-rounders. This means that
besides excelling in academics and co-curricular activities, they should also
play sports. It teaches them to work as a team and helps individual growth in
the long run,” says James.
Raj, a student of Std. VIII, is most excited when the Diwali
vacations pop up. Why? It’s the only time his parents allow him to take part in
dance camp. “I have tuitions regularly through the academic year, and when I am
done with tuition class, it’s too late for me to go to any dance class, so
vacation time is the best opportunity I have,” says the child. He attends a
dance camp in Vasco that is conducted by Devashish Kamble. Devashish is a college
student who conducts classes in association with a school and while doing what
he loves, he also makes the much required pocket money. “It’s always good to do
something that you love doing. And since I am in college, I get to teach all
these young children a little about dancing during the camp and make some money
for myself during the vacations,” says Devashish.
Another reason that parents opt for vacation camps such as these is
to better manage their daily schedules. “While my children are on Diwali break,
I still have a job that needs me to be in the office during the day. By sending
my kids for these vacation camps, I know that they are engaged in a worthwhile
activity and I don’t have to worry about them,” concludes Rebeccah Mendes, a
mother of two.
