In a small village in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, 66-year-old Diwan Chand has found a new purpose after retirement. A former Panchayat Secretary, who served his community from 2003 to 2017, Diwan Chand has always been committed to the development of his village. Even after retirement, his dedication towards education continued with the same zest.

Education has long been a pillar in his family. His three daughters are teachers, and his son is preparing for a state government job. Years ago, he adopted a local government primary school, supporting children’s learning and stepping in as a volunteer teacher whenever he could.

In May 2025, Diwan Chand learnt more about P&G Shiksha–Pratham's summer learning initiative, CAMaL (Combined Activities for Maximized Learning) Ka Camp. The camp brings together children for a fun-filled, activity-based learning experience. It focuses on building strong foundations in math through stories, songs, role-play, games, and play-based activities.

Diwan Chand decided to join the camp and opened the doors of his own home for the children to learn. He created simple teaching aids—charts, abacuses, and number diaries—and used them in fun and meaningful ways. Activities like number jump for number recognition and number circle to understand place value became favourites. Children especially enjoyed forming numbers using the number diary and fitting them into the playful slithery snake activity.

“Children get bored easily," he said. “But the way these activities are designed keeps them engaged. They’re learning and enjoying themselves at the same time."

He also completed Pratham’s Digital Readiness Course, learning to use Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Lens. A naturally curious person, he found Google Lens especially exciting. “Living in the hills, I’ve always been curious about the plants and trees around me. Now I use Google Lens to explore them,” he shared. “And with Google Translate, I help children understand better. I don’t need to ask for directions anymore—I use Google Maps and get there on my own.”

Working with children brought back fond memories of his own school days. “Though I cannot relive my childhood, I feel like I’ve got a chance to remember it," he said. “Back then, if I didn’t understand something, I would get scolded for my handwriting or homework. But here, there’s no homework, no pressure—just simple and joyful learning.”