Report of Young Friends Study -cum-Work
Camp,
Friends Rural Center, Rasulia
29th Oct. to 4th Nov. 2012
A Study-cum-Work camp was held at Friends Rural Centre, Rasulia, Hoshangabad from 29th Oct. to 4th Nov. 2012. In this camp 4 from Nepal , 4 from Dharwad( Karnataka), 9 from Friends Girls School , Sohagpur, 2 each from Bhopal YM and MIYM and 1 from Friends Rural center, Rasulia were the participants who introduced each other as part of the first day's orientation and first evening's cultural activity.
Thereafter we had study and home group sessions in the morning and work sessions in the afternoon. In the study sessions Usha Samuel, Scott Rhodewalt, Sheela Jacob, Archana Gaur, Shamin Shelton, Bhaskar Sonkamble, and Denis Jonathan led sessions on Prayers, Advices & Principles of Quakerism, History of Quaker Work in Sohagpur, AVP, Quakers and Christianity, Compassion, Peace Makers, and Friends World Organization. Young Friends very much valued and appreciated these classes. For some it was the first time to learn specifics about Quakerism. It was an entirely new way of thinking especially for those from Karnataka and Nepal . We had three "Home" groups that met four times to discuss what they were experiencing in the classes. Their feedback showed how much they were amazed to learn these things for the first time. Many said that they wanted to continue discovering more about Friend's practices.
In the afternoon we had four work sessions. The road from the main gate to the Meeting House, about 400 feet, had become rough and curved over the years. Participants first made two straight lines for the borders of the new road. Then they leveled the newly marked road by filling the pits and gaps with baskets of stone fill. They worked cooperatively in a long queue passing baskets of stone fill. Young Friends, Rasulia staff and other participants together watered the new surface to make it easier for a mechanical roller to level the new road.
On the last day of the work camp Young Friends each claimed one of the holes, which a machine had made on both sides of the road, to plant their own tree. Each Young Friend and other participants mixed manure, black soil, and water to make ready the hole for planting a tree. They planted 6 Palm, 4 Gulmohar and 20 Ashoka trees.
Worship united us in spirit each day before breakfast and dinner when every one came together in the Meeting room. During this time different groups of students led the worship in different languages that always included singing, Bible reading and praying. Games and cultural programs, which included songs, drama and story telling in different languages, also preceded dinner each day. Then worship concluded each day during "epilogue."
It was a joy to see how willingly the Young Friends and others always worked as a group with laughter and good humor. Even though they were tired from the hard labour they kept working to see that it was all completed before the end of this camp. There was a glow of happiness when they completed the road and planting which normally would have been impossible in such a short time.
We lived together at Friends Rural Centre, Rasulia for one week as a family. Every one worked joyfully for food preparation, serving the food and cleaning plates afterward. We became closer even without knowing each other's languages, and sometimes this created good humor and laughter. Our closeness was especially evident when Young Friends left Rasulia in tears about losing each other. Clearly, Young Friends hope to meet again. Organizers were moved to create an opportunity to continue Young Friends Study -cum-Work Camps regularly.
Devdas Shrisunder Nalini Titus
Trustee Chairperson
Friends Rural Center, Rasulia
29th Oct. to 4th Nov. 2012
A Study-cum-Work camp was held at Friends Rural Centre, Rasulia, Hoshangabad from 29th Oct. to 4th Nov. 2012. In this camp 4 from Nepal , 4 from Dharwad( Karnataka), 9 from Friends Girls School , Sohagpur, 2 each from Bhopal YM and MIYM and 1 from Friends Rural center, Rasulia were the participants who introduced each other as part of the first day's orientation and first evening's cultural activity.
Thereafter we had study and home group sessions in the morning and work sessions in the afternoon. In the study sessions Usha Samuel, Scott Rhodewalt, Sheela Jacob, Archana Gaur, Shamin Shelton, Bhaskar Sonkamble, and Denis Jonathan led sessions on Prayers, Advices & Principles of Quakerism, History of Quaker Work in Sohagpur, AVP, Quakers and Christianity, Compassion, Peace Makers, and Friends World Organization. Young Friends very much valued and appreciated these classes. For some it was the first time to learn specifics about Quakerism. It was an entirely new way of thinking especially for those from Karnataka and Nepal . We had three "Home" groups that met four times to discuss what they were experiencing in the classes. Their feedback showed how much they were amazed to learn these things for the first time. Many said that they wanted to continue discovering more about Friend's practices.
In the afternoon we had four work sessions. The road from the main gate to the Meeting House, about 400 feet, had become rough and curved over the years. Participants first made two straight lines for the borders of the new road. Then they leveled the newly marked road by filling the pits and gaps with baskets of stone fill. They worked cooperatively in a long queue passing baskets of stone fill. Young Friends, Rasulia staff and other participants together watered the new surface to make it easier for a mechanical roller to level the new road.
On the last day of the work camp Young Friends each claimed one of the holes, which a machine had made on both sides of the road, to plant their own tree. Each Young Friend and other participants mixed manure, black soil, and water to make ready the hole for planting a tree. They planted 6 Palm, 4 Gulmohar and 20 Ashoka trees.
Worship united us in spirit each day before breakfast and dinner when every one came together in the Meeting room. During this time different groups of students led the worship in different languages that always included singing, Bible reading and praying. Games and cultural programs, which included songs, drama and story telling in different languages, also preceded dinner each day. Then worship concluded each day during "epilogue."
It was a joy to see how willingly the Young Friends and others always worked as a group with laughter and good humor. Even though they were tired from the hard labour they kept working to see that it was all completed before the end of this camp. There was a glow of happiness when they completed the road and planting which normally would have been impossible in such a short time.
We lived together at Friends Rural Centre, Rasulia for one week as a family. Every one worked joyfully for food preparation, serving the food and cleaning plates afterward. We became closer even without knowing each other's languages, and sometimes this created good humor and laughter. Our closeness was especially evident when Young Friends left Rasulia in tears about losing each other. Clearly, Young Friends hope to meet again. Organizers were moved to create an opportunity to continue Young Friends Study -cum-Work Camps regularly.
Devdas Shrisunder Nalini Titus
Trustee Chairperson
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