.Thirty-three children, 17 boys and 16 girls, participated in a summer camp organized by the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds (WZOTF), from May 3 to 6, 2025 at the Bai Dosibai Kotwal Parsi Boys Orphanage in Navsari, notes an email from Dinshaw Tamboly, WZOTF chairman.
Among the plethora of activities lined up for the children at the camp, which started daily at 8 a.m. with prayers at the dadgah, was religious teaching by Bakhtawar Minocherhomji. Sagar Gandhi taught the youngsters how to make creative items from waste materials by converting onion skins, maize husks, match sticks, coconut shells into flowers, tablas, show pieces, photo frames, toys, etc. Jamshed Jilla and his wife taught the participants how to make rangoli and chalk designs, following which a competition with prizes to be won was arranged for them to showcase their newly learnt skills, the email noted.
At Navsari summer camp (clockwise from top): prayer session;
learning how to create chalk designs; kusti making demonstration
Prof Hufriz Deboo shared knowledge of finance management: how to save pocket money and use these savings for personal expenses to help their parents. The full process of making kustis, starting from oon katvanu (spinning the woollen thread), to weaving, to the final preparation of the kusti was imparted by experts. Pearl Contractor gave a visual presentation of table etiquette, general manners and grooming. Children further enjoyed various games and ramp walks organized by her. They prepared skits on their own and performed them on stage.
Daily meals and snacks were catered by Sunnu Kasad.
Feedback from parents revealed that the children had enjoyed the experience and learnt many useful new things. They expressed gratitude to the WZOTF team, and especially to Dinshaw and Bachi Tamboly, for organizing such camps every year. S.V.