Community Living Camp-“KISSA”
Date : 26th March 2024
Venue : CICS College of Teacher Education
A Community Living Camp was organized to provide educators with a transformative
experience that can positively impact their lives. By bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds," KISA" fosters collaboration, innovation, and community enrichment. Living in a shared environment helps participants—especially students—build confidence, a sense of self-efficiency, and emotional intelligence. Through teaching and interaction, participants learn to manage their emotions, empathize with others, and form stronger interpersonal relationships.
This experience also deepens their understanding of diverse cultures, promoting empathy,
tolerance, and inclusivity. Ultimately, community living encourages social exploration and
helps nurture socially responsible individuals.
Planning of the Camp :
As part of the curriculum, " KISSA" Community Living Camp was organized on August 12
15, at our college by the CICS College of Teacher Education. The camp was designed to bring together teacher trainees from diverse backgrounds to share experiences, develop new skills, and foster a strong sense of community.
Our camp coordinator, Mrs Myrtle provided steady guidance from the beginning, helped form duty-based groups to ensure smooth execution. One of the first tasks was selecting a name for the camp, and after discussions, the camp was officially named" KISSA "– to keep ourselves.
Budgeting and overall planning were done accordingly based on this theme.
Leaders were appointed for each duty group to manage specific responsibilities. Mr. Azjer and Ms .Fathima were chosen as student co-ordinators. Leader's meeting was held where roles and duties were equally divided among the group heads. Discussions covered everything from food arrangements to programme scheduling, making sure that every aspect of the camp reflected the shared dreams and ideas of the participants.
Day 1 : 12/08/2024
Our community living camp began with much anticipation and enthusiasm. Inaugural session was from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The camp was officially inaugurated by our respected Principal, Dr. Shylaja C V. A welcome address was delivered by our camp co-ordinator, Smt. Myrtle Victor who set the tone for the day’s events.
The camp song was introduced and beautifully presented by Dhanushre, Anusha, and Amana Khadeeja & Zeefa Mariyam. The official camp name and logo were unveiled by our Principal, Mrs Shylaja C V. Felicitation was done by Ward Member of Ward 21, Olavanna Gram Panchayat, Smt. K Shyni, K. The closing of the inaugural session was gracefully felicitated by Ms. Ritu R. Krishna, our camp Co - coordinator. Additionally, a vote of tanks was given by Mr. Mohammed Azjer.
The inauguration concluded at around 11 a.m., followed by an elegant dance performance by Radhika and her team, which left everyone in awe with its grace and artistry.
Session1 was “Laugh, Act, and Play” – Act-O-Matic Workshop was conducted by the
immensely talented Sri Anurag Edachery, a facilitator at the Padavu Children's Creative
Theatre in Kannur. The session was warmly introduced with a welcome speech by Ms
Dhanusree M. This engaging and interactive workshop sparked joy and curiosity among all participants. It was a truly liberating experience, as the "inner child" of each person emerged through play, creativity, and self-expression. The session was not only exciting but also deeply enriching, leaving everyone energized and inspired.
Next Session was Shadowgraphy "Darkness is beautiful once we learn to play with shadow."
This section, centered on the artistic expression of shadows, was conducted by Dr. Sherin V. George, Head of the Department of Psychology at St.Joseph College,Devagiri. The session began with a warm welcome speech delivered by Smt.Dhanusree. Dr. George captivated the audience with his creative and artistic presentation of shadow art, skilfully using only his hands to form a variety of imaginative and striking images. Adding a touch of wonder, he also performed a brief magic show. It was a delightful and memorable experience.
Day 2 : 13/08/24
The day began on an energetic note with an aerobic session led by Mr. Vipin.P, Physical
Education teacher at GMHSS, Calicut University. Lasting for an hour, the session was both
active and highly engaging. Mr. Vipin’s enthusiasm and energy kept everyone motivated and involved throughout. The next session was an engaging and imaginative experience titled "Teaching and Learning through Puppetry", led by Shri Krishna Kumar K.A., a talented creative artist. He introduced the concept of puppetry, emphasizing how even non-living objects can be powerful metaphor expressing emotions and telling beautiful stories. Participants were divided into groups, with each group learning to create different types of puppets. Later, we were challenged to put up a puppet show using our creations. The session was not only creative and thought-provoking but
also filled with humour and fun.
Then we had a small gardening session at the evening.
Hypnotism Session :
One of the most fascinating sessions of our camp was on Hypnotism—an exploration into the hidden depths of the human mind. The session was conducted by Dr.Sathyan, a skilled psychologist and hypno therapist. For many of us, it was the first time witnessing hypnosis in real life, and it was both shocking and captivating to see how participants responded so intuitively. The session began with two volunteers, affectionately referred to as the “two sisters,” and quickly became a significant learning moment for everyone present. The experience was so immersive, it felt like we had taken a brief but profound mental journey—or as we joked, a "one-day nap.
Day 3 : 14/08/24
Then came Day3 of KISSA, which was a day of trip to visit Sargalaya craft village, sand banks, Kadalur lighthouse and Thikkodi lighthouse.
Visit to Sargalaya – The Craft Village:
As part of our camp experience, we had the opportunity to visit Sargalaya, the renowned craft village. Nestled in a serene and artistic setting, Sargalaya showcased the rich heritage of traditional Indian crafts and artisanship. We explored a wide variety of handcrafted items, observed live demonstrations by skilled artisans, and gained insights into the dedication and creativity behind each piece. The visit was not only visually enriching but also deeply inspiring, giving us a newfound appreciation for the beauty of handmade art.
Visit to Kadalur Lighthouse:
Another memorable part of our camp was the visit to the Kadalur Lighthouse. Standing tall
against the backdrop of the sea, the lighthouse offered breath-taking panoramic views of the coastline and surrounding landscape. Climbing to the top was both exciting and rewarding, as the cool sea breeze and scenic beauty made it a truly refreshing experience. The visit not only offered a moment of calm reflection but also sparked curiosity about maritime history and coastal navigation.
Visit to Thikkodi Lighthouse :
Our journey also took us to the Thikkodi Lighthouse, a serene and picturesque spot located
near the coast. Surrounded by coconut groves and the rhythmic sound of waves, the lighthouse stood as a silent guardian of the shore. The peaceful ambience, combined with the natural beauty of the area, made it a perfect place for quiet moments and scenic photography. The visit offered us a deeper appreciation of coastal life and the vital role lighthouses play in maritime safety.
Day 4 : 15/08/2024
The final day of our Community Living Camp, KISSA, 15th Aug 2025, it was also India's
Independence Day. The flag hoisting ceremony took place at 8 AM. Our chief guest was Mr. C Sasidharan, a recipient of the National Award to teacher-2013, the General Secretary of the Kerala Basketball Association. Our junior also joined us for the occasion.
From 9:30 to 11:00 AM, we had programmes dedicated to Independence Day. The juniors
participated in a patriotic song competition, while we presented various creative works from each group. Our team presented a tableau on the thought-provoking topic. We also had a separate patriotic song competition among ourselves.
After the programme, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast. The rest of the day was spent immersed in camp activities. Smt. Radhika, from the National Science group, was honoured as the Best Camper.
The camp ended up with a camp review and good memories.