Summer vacations usually witness numerous community-based institutions organizing holiday camps for children. Some of these camps truly stand out, like the one organized by The Liaison Committee, a BPP initiative, which annually organizes a free, 10-day Holiday Camp in May for Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian children, who are unable to afford a holiday away from home. They get to spend 10 days of fun and entertainment at the Cama Convalescent Home.

This year the Camp was even bigger and better with 34 children under Camp Co-ordinator Chetna Batty, Senior Social Worker of Liaison Committee, who meticulously arranged the Camp and spent all ten days with the children. Many prominent community members contributed their time and expertise, donated products, sponsored trips and arranged visits to various institutions – ensuring that the camp was a resounding success.

The children returned with hampers sponsored by generous corporates and individuals, comprising a haversack filled with utility items like towel, napkin, bedsheets, water bottle, tiffin box, set of toiletries, food items, stationery items, etc.

The children were taken for many excursions in these. Jimmy Mistry organized a full-day trip at Della Adventure, Lonavala. Through Arnavaz Mistry, they enjoyed a day at Taj Land’s End, where they were given a tour of the Hotel, served delicious food and participated in games organized by the Hotel staff. They participated in the exciting One Minute Game Show at McDonalds and had fun at the variety entertainment program by Bandra Tata Blocks Welfare Association. They also visited a Pizza factory, Donut factory and the BEST Museum, courtesy Anahita and Yazdi Desai; and had a Mono-rail ride – a first for most.

Workshops were conducted by eminent community members including Mickey Mehta, Shihan J. Shroff, Sherry Yazdani, Hutoxi Dadabhoy, Yasmin Charna, Er. Aspandiar and his son Er. Hormuz, greatly enriching the children. Other exciting activities enjoyed by the children in these ten days included cookery sessions, yoga and karate, grooming and personality development, arts and crafts, religious talks, evening walks along the Bandra promenade, campfires every night, a music program by Mehernosh Tantra and a jasan ceremony at Bandra Tata Agiary by Panthaky Er. Freddy Khambatta.

This fabulous 10-day camp was made possible thanks to the Trustees of Cama Home, especially Sam Choksey and Bomi Dabhoiwalla for providing free accommodation for all 10 days, and also a note of thanks to various people sponsoring goodies including biscuits sponsored by Jamshed Dotivala, a biryani party sponsored by the Bandra Tata Blocks Welfare Association, a Chinese meal sponsored by Cama Home Trustee Mr. Sam Choksey, brownies given by Jaroo Nariman and a goody bag of various food items by Rustom Baug Welfare Association. A big kudos to BPP’s Liaison Committee for making the summer memorable for the children who would otherwise have missed out on this fab opportunity of fun, games and learning.