April 15, 2019 to May 31, 2019

2019 summer is eventful in many ways. Our 2018 summer camp gave us a number of insights on what to offer in 2019. So this year we offered a total of six areas in which we can train our kids during our 2019 summer camp. These include Practical Robotics Level 2, Practical Robotics Independent Project, Learn and Sing over 12 Songs, Accomplish Typing with a minimum speed of 25 words per minute, Independent Drawing Assignments, and Advanced Yogasanas and Formations.

Here are some highlights about how kids responded to what we offered:

1. 30 students participated in the yoga program, by far the most popular one. This program was managed by our yoga gurus Vignatha and Bharat
2. 12 kids completed Practical Robotics Level 2 and 8 kids followed it up with an Independent Robotics project. As part of the project we also completed one assessment test. This program was managed by our robotics gurus Shiva Krishna and Sai Krishna.
3. The singing program started with 9 kids but eventually only 5 completed the program and mastered 12 classical songs most of them being Annamacharya kritis. Smt Padmaja, a very enthusiastic music guru, was instrumental in training our kids in singing some of the most complicated kritis such as Siruta navvulavadu sinneka and Narayanate namo namo among others.
4. Many of our kids spent a lot of time in using our computers for various chores, but 6 of them were able to complete basic typing skills. They all passed the typing test and can type at a speed of at least 25 words per minute. Good enough!
5. Drawing is something most of our kids are really good at. They drew something or the other almost every day. But only three of them took their drawing way more seriously than others. They completed independent drawing assignments that deserved to be acknowledged in a special way. Our art guru Preeti managed this group of highly talented kids.
6. Two girls took advantage of 5 out of 6 programs that we offered. One girl took advantage of four programs. The rest of them took up from 1, 2 or 3 programs. 

Again here are some more highlights about our 2019 summer camp that is different from last year.

• We offered certificates to all our students who completed what they were assigned to do. A total of 32 kids received their certificates. Some kids showed up and did take advantage of the program, but they did not take up work serious enough to qualify for a certificate!
• We take our certificates seriously and we decided to provide for a way to verify our certificates.
• As part of the learning program for practical robotics, we took all our kids to Akshaya Patra Foundation. While we were at it, we also visited a nearby Goshala managed by ISKCON.
• During summer we also launched our new website. This entire program was planned, organized and managed by our kids.
• Almost every day, our kids lined up to draw rangoli patterns in front of our office. They also took turns draw a pic on our white board. They also draw something and show it to us. In each of these cases we reward our kids with a click. The clicked photograph is posted in our Soham Family WhatsApp group.
• Whenever there was an opportunity we organized a literary club and gave our kids an opportunity to stand up and speak and participate in group discussions.
• In the midst of our summer camp 10th class results were announced. We celebrated with a special lunch for all those who crossed this most important milestone in their life.
• Our kids watched three movies – Manikarnika, Jumanji and Kesari.
• Our valedictory day was held on June 3. It also coincided with the first birthday of our Yoga partner Sudeha, a start up managed by our yoga gurus Vignatha and Bharat. It also coincided with our first ever public performance of our yoga kids at iFocus. It was a mini-festival for all of us. We ended the day with a sumptuous lunch. During the valedictory our kids demonstrated the skills they acquired in singing, yoga, and robotics.
• This year our program was organized everyday from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. A number of our kids could not bring their lunch, so we thought we should provide lunch for those who could not bring their lunch boxes for various reasons. Sobha, one of our trustees took charge of all the lunch arrangements for all the days!

Our biggest and longest event of the year is our summer camp that lasts a whole of 45 days. We are very happy to conclude this event on a very satisfactory note. Our summer camp was fun filled in every way – we did everything that we can to make it useful and yet very enjoyable for all.

Here is a short movie that sums up 45 days of our work in about 4 minutes and 11 seconds!

Here are some pics from the event.