The National Bal-Balika Karyakar convention 2001 held at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Washington DC, from April 19 to 22. Representatives from each region who are involved in story telling, presentation, sabha sachalan, communicating with parents and overall mandal management were invited. The theme of this KarCon was “Think different, Act Different, Be Divine.” The base of the convention was to train Bal-Balika Karyakars in implementing the vision of Pramukh Swami Maharaj for Bal-Balikas in North America.
In order to become successful Bal-Balika Karyakars, four aspects were dealt in this convention:
1. Karyakar Mission: What to do as karyakars,
2. Karyakar Drive: Inspiration to achieve the mission,
3. Karyakar Content: Satsang in daily lives should be strong,
4. Karyakar Tools: How to effectively do the seva as karyakars.
To achieve these, various formats were implemented including lectures, classrooms, workshops and discussions. Saints managed and conducted all classes and workshops. Alongwith others, they took active part in discussions, hence all karyakars achieved a lot.
The workshops were highly interactive sessions that provided in depth education and training the skills they were designed for. During the KarCon there was a total 11 hours for the workshops. The people who came for Story telling & Presentation and Sabha sanchalan were grouped together; on April 20th they had sabha sanchalan and on April 21st story telling/presentation. Active guidance in conducting all the minute aspects of Bal sabha was given. Even how to sing dhoon and conduct jaynaad were taught. Similarly members from the Workshop 3 and 4 were grouped together. Members from workshop 5 attended the Bal Mandal Management on April 20th and Communication with Parents Workshop on April 21st.
Overall, everyone enjoyed the KarCon and benefited from what they learnt. They will go back and teach others. The Regional Coordinators were enthused. There was an overwhelming request to keep the KarCon for a longer duration.