"Unperturbed by the 44 degrees celsius scorching heat… ready to learn, experiment and bond,” 50 children participated in the two-day summer camp on April 27-28, 2019 organized by the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat (ZWAS), noted trustee Maharukh Chichgar, in an email to Parsiana.
The children were grouped by age: five to seven; eight to 10, and 11 to 15 years. Games, dancing, story-telling, holistic talks and training for skits, dances, Parsi songs and inspirational speeches that would be on display on the next day, were on the agenda that morning.
(Above and top) Volunteers and children at the summer camp organized by Zoroastrian Women’s
Assembly of Surat: learning, experimenting, bonding
A religious talk by Chichgar and Vira Karanjia kicked off the second day. Sports and innovative games followed. Decorating envelopes, making bookmarks, yoga and a treasure hunt rounded off the morning. All in the audience, which included the parents of the participants, were "highly elated” by the performances that were on show that afternoon, Chichgar wrote.
Binaiffer Engineer, ZWAS’s program committee chair was responsible for conducting the games, while Mahazarin Variava taught the little feet to tap in rhythm. Dramatics were the responsibility of honorary secretary Dilnaz Besania and Kainaz Variava. Daisy Patel, Firozee Elavia and Karanjia were in charge of the crafts. Chichgar appreciated the efforts of trustee Piloo Bhathena, Tanaz Coachman, Afreen Patrawala, Delnaz Katpitia, Dhun Kharas, Nilufer Bavadam, Perin Karanjia and Firozi Karanjia "who had been on their toes looking to all the minor details of the event.” Snacks were sponsored by Surat Parsi Panchayat chairman Jamshed Dotiwala and his son Cyrus.