Come January, the Mumbai Bala Vihar  sevikas team headed by Smt. Shyamala Acharya ( comprising Smt. Usha Sundaresan, Priti kadakia, Aruna Joshi and Manisha Deole) starts gearing up for their annual camp at Chinmaya Vijaya, Kaza village, Vijayawada.
Year 2018 saw the 6th edition of the BV camp, titled ‘Shakti’. Since these camps are held for 100-odd orphaned girls, all camp materials and essential basic necessities are procured at Mumbai and transported there. This year too, lots of stationery, lunch boxes and lunch bags, sanitary napkins, socks and undergarments were given to them. Of course all this was possible only through generous donations by scores of Mission members and well wishers.
Keeping up with the theme of ‘Shakti’, this year, we purchased ‘kolu’ steps and dolls, again thanks to the donors. Our 5 day camp included interactive workshops, hands on activities, physical exercise, work outs, a treasure hunt, BV sessions, a quiz and cultural presentations.
The highlight this year of course was kolu and the decoration of Devi.
Along with the children we too enjoy the entire process and the learning is mutual. We would like to mention here that this humble effort of ours is possible only through the blessings of Pujya Gurudev, Pujya Guruji , unwavering support from Swami Suveerananda , evergreen enthusiasm of  Drs. Sumati and Appa Rao and the help of support staff at the Vijaya ashram.
We hope to continue this spiritually satisfying endeavour in the years to come with the blessings of the Almighty and our revered Acharyas.
Enjoy a glimpse of the camp through photos attached.