Ten-year-old Rohan from West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district shares a special bond with his mother. Every afternoon, after school, he rushes home to tell her all about his day. He never misses a detail—what he played with his friends, what he learned in class, whether the teacher gave homework. It’s their little ritual, and one that fills their home with warmth and chatter.

This summer, something new came to their village—CAMaL Ka Camp, a catch-up initiative by Pratham in collaboration with P&G Shiksha, to help children strengthen their foundational reading and math skills through fun, activity-based learning during the summer break.

When the camp began, Rohan, like the other children, was assessed. Although he was in Grade 4, he could only recognize a few letters and was unable to read even simple words. His mother was taken aback. She had assumed he was doing well in school. But when she saw the assessment results, she made a quiet promise to ensure Rohan never missed a single day of the camp.

In the beginning, Rohan was shy and hesitant. He struggled to keep pace with the group and often stayed silent during activities. But there was something that drew him in—the stories, the songs, the games filled with movement and joy. Slowly, those sparkles of interest turned into sparks of confidence. He began to participate, trying out new words, smiling a little more each day.

To support his learning, the camp volunteer suggested that Rohan practice reading short paragraphs at home. His mother immediately stepped in. Every evening, she would write a story from the Kahani Train—a series of audio stories available in multiple Indian languages— for him and gently ask him to read and rewrite it. Even when he stumbled or made mistakes, she never stopped encouraging him. “You’re doing better every day,” she would say, beaming with pride.

The efforts, at home and at the camp, soon began to show. By the third week, Rohan could read short paragraphs by himself. His confidence soared. He started raising his hand more, joining group activities with enthusiasm, especially the storytelling and role-plays that once made him nervous.

By the end of the fourth week, Rohan could read a full story fluently during the camp’s endline assessment. His handwriting had improved, and so had his smile.

“I couldn’t read before, and I felt scared in class,” Rohan shared. “But at CAMaL Ka Camp, I played, sang, and learned new words every day. Now I can read stories on my own. Learning is fun now!”

His mother added, “When he was younger, he had started learning to read, but without support, he forgot. This camp helped him start again. I’ve realised now that learning doesn’t stop at school, parents have a role too.”

Rohan’s story is one of quiet determination and growing belief. It’s a reminder that with regular support, encouragement, and a space that celebrates small successes, children not only learn, they thrive.