Summer Camps in Ludhiana District, Punjab

Today I set out with Ajay Singh, a Pratham Punjab state-support member, to visit Pratham summer camps in the rural Ludhiana II Block of Ludhiana District (states are split administratively into Districts and then Blocks).

Our goal was to visit four villages to see four summer camps. We hadn’t given the camps any advanced notice that we were coming; these were surprise visits meant to see how the camps were really operating day-to-day.

Before I talk more about the actual visits, here are some details about Pratham summer camps:

• They emphasize teaching literacy (in local language), numeracy, and creating a fun atmosphere, with students learning through games and play—it is summer break…
• Last about 1 month long; 2 hours a day, 6 days a week
• Most take place during May or June, with a couple in July
• Student assessments are done at the beginning and end of the summer camp in order to determine student abilities (and therefore what and growth (if anyone is interested in hearing more about how we assess students please just leave a comment asking).
• Taught by volunteer teachers (recruited by Pratham "mobilizers"), with support by Pratham District Coordinators, Pratham Block Coordinators.

The camps we saw in Ludhiana II Block were operating out of government schools and ran from 9-11am. Most families in this area make a living as farmers or laborers. We visited four camps in Hassanpur, Bhadowal, Jhandeh, and Threeke and while each camp was unique in its own way, the most noteworthy one was in Hassanpur.

We arrived at the Hassanpur camp at 8:50am, and though it was humid, it was rather pleasant as there was a cool breeze in the air. What we found was also pleasant-- students had arrived early and had already begun learning. Ajay and I watched as the classroom filled up with 20 students ages 5-8, who read a paragraph word by word as a Pratham volunteer teacher lead them through it on the board. The classroom was well-maintained, had 2 new fully-functioning overhead fans in it, and a very sweet blackboard—a giant green apple painted on the front wall (pictures on the right).

After observing for about 15 minutes we moved next door to a Pratham-Bharti library, decorated, almost floor to ceiling, with drawings made by the students. A Pratham volunteer oversaw the classroom of 26 students each with a Pratham book in hand. The students read aloud quietly to themselves creating a wonderfully warm sound—an excited buzzing which bordered on the intensity of prayer. Ajay and I looked at each other and couldn’t help but smiling.

(Hassanpur, Pratham Library)

(Threeke, Posters on the wall)

(Threeke, Pratham class)

(Threeke, Pratham shop game)

(Bhadowal, Government multiplication tables on interior wall of school)

Side note highlight of the day:

Today I saw a sign for a place advertised as a “Canadian restaurant.”
Canadian restaurant?
I've never been to a place that serves "Canadian" cuisine. Anyone out there been to one? Or even better has anyone ever had Canadian bacon in Punjab?

Tomorrow:
To Gurdaspur, northernmost district of Punjab, which borders on Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan.

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