Indian Cultural Centre Summer Camp

Younus Ahamed

where is the contact no ...and where is it located

Call the Indian Cultural Center and the camp has already started...so whats the fun about this now...

Its halfway into the camp...

anyways call 180 and get the number for Indian cultural Center...!!!

The feed back I have received about ICC Summer Camp is basically childrens are going there for have some fun & gossiping with frends. Development of skiil among the children is not much effective. If you think your children should learn ( proficient ) some sports & games, Public speaking, art & craft etc than better to send him / her to some professional skill development centre. Summer Camp has some negative impact I found i.e children learn some foul words from each other as children from different schools gathered in a place where dicipline is not maintained as much as it is being done in the schools.

Nisha Ananth

Thank you for the info

To the skill development of children, expecting a serious drastic change through a summer camp is absolutely ridiculous. These summer camps can only do to a certain extent. Schools are given vacation because the educationalists have found that this extreme hot condition is not ideal for any serious, studious and developmental activities. So the aim of these summer camps is to make the children attain these goals and objectives in a light manner by engaging in playful activities with other children, making new friendships, knowing different cultures, learning some new games and skills (ofcourse in amateur level) and so. So expecting a summer camp to run like military academies is again sad to say, absolutely ridiculous. The children should enjoy these camps. Let them enjoy and learn. So these camps must not have the imposed disciplinary atmosphere like certain schools.

If we are scared of our children spoil while interacting with others, it can happen at any time of their life. Let them be in the limelight and learn to manage and shape themselves. We should only help them. If we take too much care on them, they will be just like indoor plants.

Besides, these camps are only testing grounds as far as skill development is concerned. If the child is talented and interested, we can make them attend professional training centres for further practice.

ON READING MR. MANOJITK MSG. THERE IS NO WAY I CAN BE WITHOUT RESPONDING, MORE SO WHEN I HAVE MY TWO CHILDREN ATTENDING THE CAMP.

I SPOKE TO MORE THAN 50 PARENTS AND THE OVERWHELMING OPINION IS THAT THE CAMP IS INDEED ONE OF THE SORT WITH FLYING COLORS.

IN FACT, ONE PARENT EVEN TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO CANCEL THEIR TRIP BACK TO THE COUNTRY FOR VACATION, BECAUSE THE CHILD REFUSED TO TAKE OFF FROM THE CAMP.

THE EXPECTATION LEVELS OF ONE PARTICULAR SPECIFIC NEEDS NOT BEEN MET( GOD KNOWS WHAT WAS MANOJ EXPECTING) DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE CAMP IS A FAILURE.

IF MANOJ HAS ANY SPECIFIC POINTS -- WHY DONT HE BRING IT IN THIS FORUM, NOW THAT HE HAS UDSED THIS FORUM TO VENT OUT HIS MISGIVINGS... LET THIS FORUM DECIDE HOW WORTHY HIS POINTS OF CONCERN ARE.

I AM IN PUBLIC FIELD IN TOUCH BOTH EITH THE PUBLIC AND GOVT. AND THE FEED BACK I GOT FROM GOVT. DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMING--

I SEE MARKED DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN ATTIDUTE ( EVERYDAY I AM THERE TO DROP AND PICK UP MY CHILDREN) AND I GENERALLY LIKE CHILDREN AND INTERACT WITH THEM WHENEVER I SEE THEM--- I SEE DIFFERENCE EVERYDAY IN THEIR BEHAVIOUR AND ATTIDUTE.

I AM GRATEFUL TO ICC MANAGEMENT TO HAVE COME UP WITH THIS NOVEL IDEA AND DOING AN EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THE STUDENT COMMUNITY.

AND THE EDUCATIONAL TOURS BEING TAKEN UP BY THE CAMP ARE INDEED AN EYE OPENER.

AND CERTAINLY IF MANOJ HAS CONCERN THAT HE PAID MONEY-- LET US ALL AGREE NOTHING COMES FREE AND WHAT IS TO BE SEEN IS WHETHER THERE IS VALUE FOR MONEY -- AND IN THIS CASE WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS MORE WORTH FOR THE MONEY WE PAID-- OUR CHILDREN HAVE GOT IN TERMS OF KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, ATTITUDE AND APPROACH AND ALMOST EVERYTHING.

Ramin / Judi - Appreciate yours feedback too in this forum - At least people are reading things and understanding the ground realities.

Ramin - I am indeed happy to hear that at least you are happy with the outcome of the camp activities.

Regarding yours positive feedback, I just wanted to say that I am in touch with many other parents and other departments too and the feedback received are not so overwhelming per se. However, what i propose is to seek ICC management to have a feedback sheet send to individual parents with detailed and proper paremeters indicated in it and ask all the parents to fill the form judiciously. After receipt of all those feedback form, let the results be made public. Right.
Regarding yours statement that one parent cancelled theirs overseas trip bcos of this camp, I can advise you that i know at least 3 parents (details can be furnished if required) who has stopped sending theirs kids to camp and has allowed theirs kids to stay back at home, which thye found out more useful.

Just to let you know that I have discussed the concerns with a very high official of ICC also and the conclusion we arrived was that " THIS PROGRAMME IS JUST A TIME PASS" and for the kids hose parents donot want them to be at home during the summer season.
Also to let you know that
ICC initially planned to bring a very good dance teacher from India, who is well renowned in India level - visa and air ticket was all aranged, but last moment that teacher could not come because of her personal reasons. so a stop gap teacher has been arranged, performnance of which are well known to parents who monitor the improvement of the kids on regular basis..
Similarly on swimming front the people who are there near the pool are there just to ensure that no one gets drowned (commendable approach), but not to teach or develop swimming capabilities.
The similar situation is for other activities also (not for all though).
Now I do understand that expectations level may be different from parents to parents (like here you expected much less). I expected more as that is what was explained to us prior to registration - that is was what was propaganded to us initially. Even when intercated after 7 days of commencement, management still ensured that all will be fine soon.

Ramin - I am happy that you see marked changes in children attitude. best wishes for that.
My children has already an excellent attitude - we parents, his school school teachers and all my friends were always appreciative about that. But I have never send him to summer camp to learn or improve attitude.

Regarding money --- i think we all understand that nothing comes free in life. I myself is associated with many associations and organisation in Doha, so i know the commercial exposure of these kinds of events.
Bottom line is -- are you getting the return of yours investemnt w.r.t. money and time and energy.
I myself is not receiveing what I am getting out of this based on certain expectations.
My kid has gone to summer camps earlier also (where it was more of fun and time pass). there we were inclined to acknowldge what we have received.
but here, something different was told in the begining and facts turned out to be different. Thats the concern and point.

Responding to Judi - Yours child was feared with water and now she has cleared the fear and now ready for swimming and all.. That is indded good happened to yours child. Again this is the fact as against the expectations.
My child is a good swimmer since last 4 years and I was told before registration that there will be a very good swiming instructor, so i assumed that my child improve his swimming abilities (correct his deficinecies may be) during this 6 weeks programme.
The fact remained as on date is that the persons near the swimming pool is there just to protect that no kids get drowned (which is commendable attitude), but the provisions for further training and all are not there, shishc is in sharp contrast to what has been told. those are my grievances.

What in the world is happening here...lets not fight over this alright...

Lets keep it clean...

I have been reading the entire conversations...going on in here...

I think it needs to be understood on this scenario:

When a parent gets his kid involved in a Summer Camp, it isnt for the primary reason of meeting new children, making new friends, or gettign away from the TV or the Couch...it is on a much wider platform to actually see the Kid develop something new, learn something better from the experts, and more importantly, Engage in something that could bring out some talent in him/her.

Mind you, whilst there is nothing that comes free...I think, it also needs to be remembered, that the money that is going for a summer camp is heaps and that money isnt coming free at all for the parent.

Whilst there may be cases For and Against the Decision on whether the Summer camp is beneficial or not cos every parent would have had different expectation levels, different ideas, and totally different reasons to send their child to the camp, the point of concern is whether the camp has been able to function properly...

I have worked with this same ICC Camp last year and I have to tell you that, it is not about getting the children the same kind of discipline that happens in the schools, it is more that has got to do with in the limited levels of discipline that has been set for the smooth functioning of a Camp, whether Child has been able to have fun in the envrionment, and mind you parents, that Fun for a child if given to his / her choice would only to have to make new friends, and do what they enjoy doing YAPPING all day long with friends, we were also kids at once, lets not forget...we only wanted to pass-time ... but is that what a Summer Camp is all about...

I dont think so...

The camp has been designed to address a few areas of interest in the field of Music Arts and Play that the children at this age would normally enjoy doing...A Camp bears within it the responsibility of ensuring that the child takes something out of the camp at the end of it all, and that surely isnt just making friends or learning to swim...it has got to be much more and thats where the Camp sets the expectations of the parents...

If the kid were to learn a specific hobby then the kid could have gone elsewhere or had a privatised learning forum, but this is a camp, which has so many activities on offer...no body is asking the child to learn studies or do homework...no no...but surely the child has to be more productive and more energetic that at the end of the camp the child feels that he hasnt wasted his time here by just meeting new friends...which he could have at a Birthday Party...

In this camp, I think there was a lot of uncertainity as to what is going to happen on a given day, where the child needs to go, which class, where is the class, what he or she would have to bring, what in the end is the child gaining if the proper instructing mechanism isnt followed...trust me there is a lot of fun in learning something new, and actually getting to sit in a class in which that activity interests you, so the question is did the teachers of the camp actually put it in them to get the class to order and get the children to learn something... rather than get in the class and while away time like we all used to do when OUR class teacher didnt turn up, make that class into a damn Fish Market...LOL!

So people, I think it is with that in view that the camp needs to be addressed...

the situation where the girl learnt swimming and got over her fear of getting into the pool is brilliant but then these are the one off cases in which the camp has succeeded in a SINGLE ENTITY rather than the OVERALL Development...did the child go there only to learn swimming, its a big thing for the child and the parent alright, but was that the only motive, nothing else...this I think again is something that Parent or the Child needs to answer...

Thats why, lets not see as to how many parents felt the right way and how many the wrong way...this is to be seen whether the Child has justified his parents paying rather whether ICC has justified the patrons in paying QR 1000/- of hard earned money in the right way...

I personally from what I hear, the answer will be a NO!

Well stated man.
Appreciate

well Sarat, that is precisely the point

we shuld see the overall development...and I am as one of the parent really say it is well accomplished by the camp...

by the way I am sure you too have your children attending the camp so you can see it for yourself.

Manojit

I have nothing personal against you... only surprised to know that you rightfully claim that you are in the thick of things happening in ICC --- certainly astonished at that.

still you have not come out with anything specific on the negative issues.. all you are saying and writting is general sermons without bringing the actual issue you claim to be facing.

i think you should do an honest introspection of your writtings.....
it is always very easy and simple to point fingers at anything and everything.

let us be posivite

be a honest person; you wanted your children to become the best most proficient in every sphere in these six weeks --- which you have not achieved in the whole of your child's schooling.

if you are honest and follow up on every day and every aspect of your child's growth in schooling, as you claim now you are doing in skill development of your child, possibly your child need not be put in any camp, because he/she would already be the best and a prodigy.

it is high time we should stop writting just for the purpose of writting--- writting without honesty means absolute idiodisity and lacks any credibility.

every honest parent knows and are keen that their child should be one among the best if not the best-- and they know how to achieve it.

what one learns much greater by being together and learning things/skills together inculcates the knowledge much more than being seperate.

summer camp in general and in particular means that the child gets to learn generally all skills--- let us be honest and clear--- no one can become proficient in any specific skills in the given 6 weeks 3 hrs schedule-- unless the child concentrates only on one specific thing.

we as true and honest parents are very happy that we find overall development in our children and that is the purpose for which we send our children.

if you are sitting on a illussion world, and think that your child would become the world's no 1 in every sphere in these six weeks, i am being candid-- either you are not being a practical parent or really you dont have your child in any camp and wrtting just for the purpose of writting.

Ramin
You keep on asking about honesty and all.
u keep on advising be an honest person...
are u sure you are honest to urself to be precise...or u r arguing just for arguing's sake.
Are you the person behind arranging this summer camp?
when we have discussed that some parents are happy and some parents are unhappy, why are you being so personal in holding the grounds of ICC for this and making personal comnenets.
People all over the world will be happier if you are happy with the situations...best wishes for you and yours kids..
but donot please seek honesty parameter of others, thats not the ethics in public debate.
Hope my last words of wisdom will guide you properly now.

i am no way concerned about your honesty ... it does not matter to me yes possibly it matters to the society and community.

what i am trying to drill into you and which you refuse to accept is the fact that you are not being personal in your opinions and write thing generally accuasing.

in the same tone that you had asked me, do you have anything personal against ICC or anyone there?
why are you keeping on harping with the negative approach that everything is bad?
also the entire thing was started by you , mind that... if you genunienly had issues on the camp. dont you think that the right forum for that is Summer camp officials and ICC. why you brought some vague and unfound issues in this forum... and still you have not come out with the actual issues-- and talk generally only.

the way you say that we, some parents have a closed mind and say things are not bad as you claim. the same thing applies to you also.

at the end it all boils down to make one think that you want to score something personal against someone -- god knows your intentions... thats where i told you be honest.. levelling unfound and unclear general charges against an organization, which is trying to serve the community in general with noble intentions.

Thanks for your comments mate, was looking forward to them! The glass shall always remain 'half empty'.... as expected.

Regarding your 'best wishes from all of us here', I guess the wishes seem to originate from a single source only, 'coz you seem to be the only person out there crying hoarse to voice your pre-meditated negative feelings.

Likewise, just because you have your conclusions ready doesn't mean everyone out there would agree to them...so please refrain from imposing your views onto others and let people be best judges for themselves!

As rightly pointed out by RaminDoha, you seem to be fighting a lone battle against someone in ICC. Well, in that case, your stand is not baseless and one must agree that you are a doing an excellent job of spreading personal ill-feelings against a well-organized event!

Having read all your previous comments, I really do feel that you've been actually beating around the bush all the time. It's time you come out with specific issues and rather than bringing them out here in this forum, it would serve you better if you highlight these to the ICC officials who might be in the right position to help you with your worries.

Expectation Levels - let's be honest mate! What did you expect to get in return for 500-700 QAR and 6 weeks of 3-hour outings of the kids? Surely, they cannot be churned out into Gary Kasparovs and Amitabh Bachchans! Maybe you keep very high and impractical expectations, suggest you have some introspection on this! It is better to have 'limited expectations' from 'limited investment (500 QAR)' and be happy from the outcome rather than having 'unlimited expectations' from a 'limited investment' and worry! Got that buddy?

Last but not the least - Regarding being happy - well friend, it is a state of one's own mind - suggest you listen to Bobby Mcferrin's number "Don't worry, Be Happy".

Wishing you a HAPPY week ahead, my friend!

"A Candle That Lights Another Looses Nothing" - friendsforever7174

http://yadiin.blogsp...
As a child I used to participate in summer camps when little child . There were a lots of different levels among them Now I send my preschooler to this ICC camp .
The first week was chaotic and my child refused the idea of going there again .
Then she went and it became for her better and better .
She is only five -I do not expect her to learn to swim -but she is making attempts of placing her head underwater .I can see that someone is teaching her about it .I learn the name of more and more Indian child -as my one is making friends with them .I do not know too much about how the lessons are performed -but when she comes home she is very active -she wants to do sports -or coloring ,singing .
For me every minute that she spends not in front of the telly is a victory .It is affordable - and they get snacks and field trips without having to pay anything extra .
My child likes going there though she is not Indian though her English needs to be improved .I think nice people are making the camp and my view on the Indian teachers have improved a lot .