BHARATI PAWASKAR
Wouldn’t it be fun to see the characters from a story book hopping out of the pages and playing around in real time? In exciting fun activities combining books and playtime together, Bookworm Trust will be organizing an outdoor summer get-together where kids would pick up a book and choose their favourite character in that book and then try to step into its shoes. Wrapping brown papers or newspapers provided by the organisers to dress like the character, kids will act and deliver the dialogues. In a way the characters in the books will hop out of the pages and appear as real time persons. This is one of the attractions of Bookworm Summer Blast 2019, that’s happening on May 11 in Panaji.
It’s an effort of allowing kids a day out in the open with books and reading under the trees, games and fun activities, quizzes and running races and everything that can be done for entertainment under the open sky. Bookworm Trust, widely known for inculcating the love of books and habit of reading in children, is holding the third edition of annual Summer Blast 2019 with an expected turnout of 100 plus kids at Garcia de Orta Garden in Panaji on the afternoon of May 11.
Held in partnership with the Corporation of the City of Panaji and Rotary Club of Miramar the event is being held to bring together the community in an afternoon of collaborative art, a book fair of second hand books, library and reading activities, craft, games, face painting, fun races, kids Zumba, open mic and much more.
Recalling the earlier two editions of this annual activity for kids, Sujata Noronha, director, Bookworm Trust, shares, “We began this activity in 2016 to keep kids engaged and entertained in summer vacations and continued it next year too. But we did not get the Garcia de Orta garden last year and hence could not hold Summer Blast in 2018. But this year we are back with more lot of fun-filled activities that would keep children busy for a day.”
The reason behind Summer Blast is to let children have fun outside their homes and yet keep them engaged in books too. “We thought over this,” admits Sujata, and adds, “Knowing that summer vacation is the only time when children get to play outdoor games without any backlog of studies or exams on their mind. But we wanted them not to go too far from books too. So we combined both. Stimulating the kids to read books and to way out too during their vacations, we created Summer Blast and we must say, Bookworm has succeeded in its mission.”
Children must enjoy a free childhood, feels Bookworm team and Annalisa Rodrigues will motivate them to play games that today’s children play no more, or even know about. Children will play games of Goa like langdi or sack race which offer lot of fun. There will be second hand book fair too, where kids would be allowed to borrow books and read them.
Summer Blast camp is open for all, and not restricted only to kids. The parents who accompany the elderly who sit or stroll in the park, can also join the fun activities.
Sujata recalls how in one on of the Summer Blast camps, many older people in the park too joined the Zumba dance with the kids when invited by her. Thanks to Zumba trainer Sammy Coelho who would be taking the dance session in the park this time, kids as well as adults can shake their legs together. “We believe in inclusiveness. Since all these community activities will be conducted in the open park, we have kept the entry open to all. The children from schools in Chimbel, Kakra and Santa Cruz had joined us last time. This time too all are invited and the number may go up beyond 100-150,” maintains Sujata.
There are prize coupons for the winners in the games. These coupons can be used to choose your own price and pick up anything from the jumbo gift counter - books, toys, fun games. There will be a second hand book fair too. A speaker from the Rotary Club of Miramar will address the gathering at the end of the programme. “It will be a time allotted to total madness out there in the park and Bookworm team is sure to have a blast this summer,” concludes Sujata.
