20 Nov ; The weeklong National Children’s Assembly & Integration Camp concluded here today at the National Bal Bhavan. On this occasion a valedictory programme was organized wherein participating children were felicitated and prizes, mementoes and certificates distributed.
The theme of this year’s National Children’s Assembly & Integrationwas: “Promoting Gandhian Values of Bonding for Truth, Peace & Non-violence”. The theme was chosen so that the values which are being progressively eroded may be revived and the children may be motivated to create a world which is not torn by differences of border, region and religion. An International Conference of Children on the same theme was also organized from 14-16 November, 2008 at the same venue.
Children from different parts of the country as well as other countries: Russia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Kyrghyztan and Vietnam participated in both these programmes. Children took part in varied workshops of Dance, Drama, Music, Mime, Puppetry, Science, Toy Making and Creative Writing. A Mass Painting Competition – which revolved around various aspects of human rights and also on Gandhian Values – was also organized during the weeklong Assembly & Camp. This programme was organized in collaboration with Human Rights Commission. Around 500 children participated in this programme. Children made beautiful paintings showing multifarious dimensions of human values and rights. The topics given were ‘Pollution Free Diwali’ for age group 10+ to 13 and ‘Hygiene, Sanitation & Health’ for 13+ to 16.
Shri Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, had inaugurated the National Children’s Assembly & Integration on Children’s Day i.e., 14th November.
The National Children’s Assembly and Integration Camp is an annual feature of Bal Bhavan in which children from all parts of the country and abroad participate. This camp not only promotes national but international integration, amity, brotherhood and goodwill amongst children of our country and children from our friendly countries who wish to know about the culture of India. This year’s Children’s Assembly has been special as it is having the participation of over three dozen new Bal Bhavans which have been opened recently in different states.
National Bal Bhavan is a creativity resource center for children within the age group of 5-16 years. It has been catering to their creative needs for over fifty years. Founded by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1956 it is a realization of his dream of an out of school activity center for children. Throughout the year Bal Bhavan organizes numerous creative and innovative programmes at local, state, zonal, national and sometimes even at international level.