From Chalkboards to Horse Saddles: Cuddalore’s Govt School Kids Get a Dream Summer

Tell My Story

The horse riding camp for children at a facility in Puducherry looked like a summer camp for affluent children. But a closer scrutiny revealed the children are from government schools in the neighbouring Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Organised by the Cuddalore Collector, it was a memorable vacation for around 1000 underprivileged children studying in government schools.

The camp in four schools provided opportunity to develop extra curricular talents in more than a dozen fields – from pottery to swimming, Archery to Chess, French to spoken English, besides coding among others, all for free, something only affluent students can normally afford. Pavithra who had opted for horse riding told tellmystory.in “They teach us how to ride and how to control horses. It’s very useful”. Kavya another government school student who learnt swimming added “This free programme is so encouraging. I will aim to win medals in swimming”.

A dream project of the Cuddalore Collector Mr Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar, it was a super hit. Ajay and Dharani Devi, in high school learnt baking. With hands on training, already they have big plans to turn entrepreneurs. Ajay said “I want to launch a catering business sometime. This opportunity has given me the confidence and vision”. Dharani added “I have learnt to make a variety of biscuits and bun. It was a wonderful experience. I will study further and want to make it big”.

The idea was to develop extra curricular talents of these children who are often denied opportunity. The district administration and parents are happy. Collector Sibi says “The aim is to equip these children with extra curricular skills so they become more all-rounded and well developed personality. There has been a positive feedback and next year we would expand these activities”.

A mother of a child studying in a government school added “We can’t imagine affording these to our children. Horse riding for instance they say would otherwise cost at least Rs 2000 a day which we can’t spend. Earlier we felt shy that our children studied in a government school. Now we are proud”.

This magical summer programme many say has kindled the creativity and talents of less privileged children, to dream big and scale greater heights. Certainly a model worth replicating across the county.