Open doors, open minds
Grade 10 students Sahiba Bath, Kajol Gill, Joti Dhaliwal and Alisa Sohi ran Open Doors, an educational camp for kids in Grades 5-8, in July.
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They wanted to “educate and direct” kids younger than themselves, so a group of teenage girls took it upon themselves to organize a week-long summer camp in July.
Grade 10 students Sahiba Bath, Kajol Gill, Joti Dhaliwal and Alisa Sohi ran Open Doors from July 20-24, inviting students in Grade 5-8 to take part.
Each day, the 23 camp attendees were greeted with a different theme – physical education day, goal-setting day, academic day, express yourself day and a mini-Olympics day.
“We picked these themes because we wanted every child to find his/her interest and learn where his/her talents lie and discover what they enjoy and what they would wish to pursue,” explains Bath. “They were to learn that there is more than one path to a happy, successful future and present, just like more than one river can lead to the ocean.”
The 14- and 15-year-old leaders raised money at this year’s Vaisakhi parade to help fund the camp and accepted donations from campers and their parents. But instead of putting the money toward the camp, the foursome decided to donate approximately $100 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The teens hope to extend the camp to two weeks next year and know that even if just one child’s life was affected by their work this year, it was all worth it.
“Along with a lack of education, direction, and communication, we believe that youth today are taking the wrong path in life because they are not involved in anything which can keep them busy and devoted,” said Bath.
“At a young age, our bodies are filled with an exorbitant amount of energy. If this energy is not applied anywhere, the mind is left to wander because of all the free time. Like it is said, an empty brain is a devil’s workshop.”
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