Deepanshu: A Returning Student of CAMaL Ka Camp
Drawn to its activity-based approach to learning, this Grade 7 student is back at the camp for a third summer
Deepanshu Kumar, a Grade 7 student, is a quiet presence at Pratham’s CAMaL Ka Camp in his village in Uttar Pradesh. Unlike his peers who race around the panchayat office, where the camp is being conducted, Deepanshu prefers to sit silently in a corner, observing the buzz around him. “He is shy and takes time to open up to people. But I know him to be a sincere student,” says the volunteer leading the camp.
A familiar face at the camp, Deepanshu has been attending it for the past three years. “I love coming here because, unlike regular school, we don’t have to only focus on textbooks,” he says softly. “Here, learning is fun and full of activities. We play games, listen to stories, sing songs, and learn all the while.”
While he enjoys doing math, he is not very confident in it. “Sometimes I get stuck while solving math problems,” he says. While CAMaL Ka Camp focuses on strengthening children’s arithmetic skills, children like Deepanshu keep coming back because they like participating in the learning activities along with their peers.
Organised across several states, CAMaL Ka Camp helps children strengthen their foundational reading and math skills during the summer break through an interactive and engaging approach.
Deepanshu’s dedication to the camp is evident. While his parents and younger sister went to spend the summer break at his maternal uncle’s house, he chose to stay back with his grandparents. “I didn’t want to miss the camp,” he says. “It’s a lot of fun, and I get to spend time with my friends.”
He says he doesn’t miss his family much, as his mornings from 7 am to 10 am are spent at the camp. Even after the sessions, he plays and spends time with friends in the village. His younger sister, a Grade 5 student, has attended the camp before but couldn’t join this year. “She missed it this time, but I’m sure she’ll come next year,” he adds.
With dreams of joining the police force one day, Deepanshu says he wants to study well and keep learning. For him, CAMaL Ka Camp is not just about academics, it’s a space where learning, friendship, and fun come together.
To know more about CAMaL Ka Camp 2025, click here.
