Bala Mandir’s Kinship Care Programme supports the education of children who have lost one or both parents, enabling them to reach their fullest potential.
Since last summer, we have started conducting a summer camp for children and mothers, a day filled with joy and carefree moments with the goal to create a memory that children and parents alike would cherish forever.
The theme for the summer camp was “HAKUNA MATATA – No Worries, Take It Easy!”—a day to leave behind sorrow and look ahead with hope and happiness.
The day began with the rendition of “Tamil Thai Vazhthu” by the children, followed by the welcome address by two of our social workers and a brief overview of kinship care by our Treasurer and Trustee Mr. P. Natarajan
This year, Kinship Care partnered with Fun Fair Games, Chennai, to organize a fun-filled day packed with structured entertainment, a wide variety of engaging activities and interactive games for the children. For many of the children, it was their first time experiencing such games, and their excitement was palpable. They waited patiently for their turns and played with kindness and enthusiasm.
The games played by the parents during the summer camp were filled with joy and enthusiasm. Many participated wholeheartedly, expressing that it felt like they had returned to their childhood. They shared that it had been a long time since they had laughed and played so freely.
Following the games, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch featuring a special menu that the children thoroughly relished.
The highlight of the afternoon was the screening of The Lion King, when the room fell silent except for the movie’s soundtrack and occasional gasps and exclamations of awe from both children and parents. To enhance the theatre experience, we had a popcorn counter, which brought even more smiles to the children’s faces.
In addition to entertainment, we also wanted to leave the parents with a renewed sense of strength and confidence. A discussion session on best practices was facilitated by our
counsellor, Ms. Sujatha, and Coordinator, Ms. Vijayalakshmi. The conversation focused on the
challenges faced by single mothers, including balancing work and family life and dealing with societal pressures.
The session fostered a deep sense of empathy, solidarity, and collective strength—developing a strong “we” feeling among the participants.
Overall, the day turned out to be one of joy, connection, and rejuvenation for everyone involved.
