July 16-23, 2006
Houston, TX
Between
July 16 and July 23, 2006, 137 balikas and kishoris from various
parts of North America gathered in Houston, TX to attend the
2nd annual Balika-Kishori Training Camp. The theme of the
camp, Saat Sameliya- Many Talents, One Goal. Satsang, reflects
how our exemplary Gurus have encouraged the developments of
talents with one united goal in mind: to further one's Satsang.
After
a rigorous application process which included written essays
and letters of recommendations, 106 balikas and kishoris between
ages of 11-17 were accepted for training. Balikas and Kishoris
who had attended the training camp in 2005 reapplied this
year for an intermediate level of training. Of these applicants,
31 balikas and kishoris were chosen.
To
further enhance their skills, attendees took writing and public
speaking classes and two talent-development electives for
six full days. Available electives included dance, arts and
crafts, music, and multimedia. Specialized trainers in these
areas came from across North America and volunteered their
time to teach and create a formal learning experience.
At
the end of the last day of classes, a graduation ceremony
was held in which each attendee was given a certificate along
with several memorabilia gifts to commemorate their efforts
throughout the training. The camp ended with an outing to
Moody Gardens, in Galveston, Texas.
By
the inspiration and grace of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the
second annual Balika-Kishori Training Camp was another successful
milestone for the development of the Balika-Kishori Mandals
in North America.
Photo
gallery
