The sizzling Pune summers notwithstanding, Zoroastrian Association of Pune (ZAP) held a month-long summer camp, from 1^st to 31^st May, 2024, for a group of enthusiastic children. Pune Parsi Gymkhana (PPG) provided the usage of its facilities gratis, through the camp.

The days started early with fifteen children arriving daily at PPG by 6:30 am, for warm ups and training in football, volleyball, table tennis and swimming, by Capt. Sarfaraz Shaw, ably assisted by Faryaz Bharucha, Aban Kamdin, Aarti Irani and Capt. Kerman Bharucha. A daily breakfast was provided by ZAP Volunteers Faryaz and Nauzar Bharucha. The number of children soon rose to twenty.

Unseasonal showers couldn’t dampen the spirits as they readily took on the challenge of trekking to Vetal Tekdi, under the watchful guidance of Ashok Captain, on 12^th May. A day trip to the Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd., at Baramati, on 18^th May, facilitated by Neville and Mahrukh Bharucha and their staff, proved educational and inspirational to the children, with many now considering a career in an aviation related field!

Many other such excellent sessions included a mosaic art workshop conducted by Anahita Khorana, fun games conducted by parent volunteer – Jyotie Mehta, a yoga workshop conducted by Kaizeen Kamdin, an excursion to Agricultural College in Pune, facilitated by parent volunteer Niloofer Ghyara, where children learnt about vermiculture, weather readings, Agronomy, entomology and dairy farming. The camp concluded with much entertainment comprising songs, drama and a sumptuous dinner sponsored by Mahanaaz and Mahyar Irani, followed by a dance party.

ZAP extends thanks to Rajesh Ovalekar for providing T-shirts for the children with the ZAP logo designed by Farzad Irani; as also Parveen Pudumjee at PENOSH for transport.

ZAP was established in 1979, by Arnavaz Damania and Eruch Irani – both recipients of the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati Award. Growing in popularity and participation, ZAP’s Summer camps witnessed children participating from across India, and has birthed a number of future champs too. After a break, 2024 witnessed its successful resurgence, thanks to the Zap-ians who took the initiative for the next generations, under the guidance of Arnavaz Damania. ZAP looks to organize events through the year and invites more youth and adults to participate.