Community Living Camp: Day 1

 Chiranthana – 12th February 2024

The much-anticipated community living camp of the 2023-2024 academic year, "Chiranthana," commenced on a vibrant note on February 12, 2024. Our first session took place in General Hall 2 at GCTE, Thycaud. Students, teachers, and camp coordinators—Ms. Asha Krishnan, Ms. Sreeja, and Ms. Anju—gathered for the inaugural session titled "Earn While You Learn: Socially Useful Productive Work."

Led by resource persons Sri. Ummer and Sri. Sukumaran, students engaged in the hands-on preparation of lotion and hand wash. In a bid to promote sustainability, we collected and repurposed plastic bottles for packaging these products. Handmade labels added a personal touch, emphasizing the theme of sustainable development. This exercise not only familiarized us with various raw materials, tools, and equipment but also honed our critical thinking skills amidst the ever-evolving technological landscape. The practical experience of creating these products instilled a sense of accomplishment and highlighted the importance of self-reliance and economic contribution through social service.

Post-session, we headed to our camp venue, Grameena Patana Kendram, Karakulam, arriving around 2 pm. After addressing final preparations for the inaugural ceremony, the event began with a heartfelt prayer by Paravathy S. Dr. Anju, Assistant Professor at GCTE, Thycaud, delivered the welcome speech, followed by the presidential address from Dr. A.V. Sujith, the principal of GCTE, Thycaud. The official inauguration was graced by Sri. Brahma Nayakam Mahadevan, a renowned social activist and master trainer, who lit the ceremonial lamp, symbolizing the beginning of our journey. The camp song, beautifully composed and performed by Ms. Gowri Venu and Ms. Keerthana Anil, resonated deeply with the camp's theme.

The second session, "Puthiya Lokam Puthiya Kaazcha," commenced at 3:30 pm under the guidance of Sri. Brahma Nayakam Mahadevan. An expert in special education, he brought an infectious positive energy, sharing his life story and teaching experiences with us. Through a series of engaging activities, he helped us break down preconceived notions and foster deeper connections with our peers. By the end of the session, his moniker "changathichettan" felt genuinely earned, as he left us feeling relaxed and open. Reflections from several students underscored the impact of his session, followed by a vote of thanks from Ms. Arsha of the social science optional group.

As the day drew to a close, teachers reiterated the camp rules, regulations, and duty allocations. After freshening up and having dinner, we reconvened to work on the camp news—a collaborative effort that wrapped up by 10:30 pm. With that, we retired to our rooms, bringing an end to the first enriching day of the "Chiranthana" community living camp.