Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu Prant, Madurai Branch, Ramar Vistar (TVS Nagar) conducted a 10-day Personality Development Camp for children, from 9th May to 18th May 2025, between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM each day. The camp was attended by 54 children, guided and supported by a dedicated team of 10 Karyakartas.
Each year, the camp is centered around a theme, and this year’s focus was on “Understanding.” All the activities were thoughtfully designed to align with this central idea.
The camp featured a wide variety of enriching activities, including:
- Surya Namaskar and Yogasanas for building physical strength and discipline.
- Games to improve concentration, mental focus, and foster team spirit and unity.
- Handicrafts to encourage creativity and fine motor skills.
- Inspiring patriotic songs to instill a love for the nation.
- Stories about national leaders, told in a way children could easily understand and connect with.
To encourage teamwork and facilitate group activities, the children were organized into four Ganas: Curiosity (Aarvam), Joy (Anandham), Encouragement (Ookam), and Progress (Munnetram).
Highlights and Learnings
- Storytelling Sessions: Elders shared inspiring stories. A story explaining the value of Sraddha (attention) taught the children that whatever task we undertake should be done with curiosity, joy, and wholehearted attention.
- Games: Over the 10 days, around 15 different games were played, each imparting values such as teamwork, effort, focus, adaptability, and learning to accept both success and failure gracefully.
- Creative Arts: In drama, crafts, and various activities, children used their imagination to create and present their own stories, fostering both creativity and confidence.
- Cooking Session: Children experienced the effort behind meal preparation and gained a newfound appreciation for the hard work their mothers do daily.
- Discipline through Agnyas: A unique session helped them learn discipline in a simple and interactive way through Agnyabhyas.
- Singing and Music: Children explored musical expression, voice modulation, and group singing, learning to coordinate and express with clarity and respect.
- Social Skills: Through shared experiences, the children learned how to interact respectfully, maintain self-discipline, and live harmoniously in a group setting.
The camp successfully created a nurturing environment where children could explore, express, and evolve. Through engaging activities and meaningful interactions, they not only had fun but also imbibed important life values and deeper understanding—the core aim of this year’s theme.
