Ajjimane camp brings village life alive for city kids

Mangaluru

The Ajjimane camp, organised at Balavikas English Medium School in Peraje near Mani, offered 211 children from over 40 schools—including those from Mumbai and Bengaluru—a beautiful glimpse into the past. With the theme “Ajji-Mane – Once Upon a Time, in a Village Without Cellphones,” the camp recreated life in a 1990s coastal Karnataka village.

Children made toys using natural materials, visited the historic Atrabailu D Ramdas Rai Guthu House, and enjoyed playing rural games in fields and gardens. They fed hay to cattle, swung on coconut fronds, slipped on banana leaves, and played with mud—simple joys of traditional village life.

“We made a 1990s village theme based on childhood village life in coastal districts,” said Supriya D, the school’s head teacher. “We aimed to bring together children from urban areas to give them a sneak peek of village life,” she added. On the first day, Prapulla Rai from Mani helped children understand the lifestyle, games, and songs of earlier times.

They also met skilled artisans like potters, basket weavers, and coconut shell craftsmen. Activities like cutting jackfruit, making papads, roasting cashewnuts, and building sheds with jackfruit leaves kept the children engaged and excited.

To encourage reading, magazines such as Balamangala, Tunturu, Chandamama, Mayura, and Mangala were introduced during the camp.

The Ajjimane camp left the children with lasting memories and a deep appreciation for the simplicity and joy of rural living.