The UK Bal-Balika Mandal organised an enjoyable and educational Winter Training Camp for children from across the country between Friday 19 December and Sunday 21 December 2014 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.
Titled ‘Satsang Karo ne Karavo’, the event provided useful information and training for 55 young participants.
The first day offered an opportunity for the attendees to strengthen relationships through various team-building activities, fostering an ethos of unity and solidarity.
Sadhus delivered inspiring presentations on the importance of seva, explaining how the Guru Parampara have continued to serve tirelessly. This was further supported by recognising devotees who have sacrificed their time for seva and achieved academic success while doing so.
Senior volunteers shared their experiences during interactive training sessions, equipping the children with skills that will also help when volunteering at their respective mandirs and centres.
The emphasis of working as a team was a theme throughout the three-day programme which was reinforced with an outdoor activity on Saturday evening.
In the concluding session, Yagnatilak Swami and Tyagratna Swami delivered a motivational presentation on the purpose of seva – to please Pramukh Swami Maharaj and to establish a personal connection with him. They also emphasised the importance of practising daily Satsang to strengthen this bond.
The camp fittingly came to an end as the children put to use the skills and knowledge they had learned over the three days to strengthen one’s spirituality as well as to serve others.