The YES (Youth Encounter Session) Camp is an annual endeavor by AICUF, providing an opportunity for students to engage in novel experiences and build new connections. Keeping this in mind, a group of students started their journey from college to St. Xaviers Villa, Khandala on the 23rd afternoon. It was a scenic journey with some funky music to keep us awake. Upon our arrival at the villa, we were welcomed with steaming hot tea and a stunning sunset. The whole group paused to appreciate the beauty of the sunset for a while. It was the perfect way to start our camp. We were soon allowed to occupy our rooms and freshen up. Once everyone was ready and settled, our first session began.
Fr. Vivian and Fr. Meszi conducted the sessions with the help of AICUF Trinity and the Steering Committee. As the majority of the group consisted of individuals who were unfamiliar with one another or were strangers, the introductory session turned out to be quite enjoyable. A few basic rules for the camp were laid down, but by and large a lot of freedom was given to us to explore and learn. The session began with a ‘Speed Dating’ sort of game, where we asked the person in front of us to answer a few certain questions given by the Trinity and after a set amount of time the people in front of us kept rotating so that everyone gets to talk to a new individual everytime. This was a fun way to get to know the people there. We went on to other activities where we had to divide ourselves into groups based on various criterias. These criterias ranged from shoe size to birth month to the length of hair. Despite all the chaos, we still managed to find our groups and see how we fit in. During the activity, although we didn't immediately recognize it, we witnessed the vital role that communication plays within a group. On the basis of this activity, 4 groups were created that would serve as our collective homes until the camp concluded. Each group came up with a captivating and creative group name and a slogan for which they were marked for.
After a quick and delicious dinner break, we returned for another session, called ‘Finding Your Values’ . In the session, we mainly focused on aspects of choices and why we make them. We talked about aspects of maturity and explored our own values as well as those of other members of our group. The group had students from different grades and streams which made the discussions more open and informative for everyone. The activity helped us understand the needs and priorities of people better and get to know the people in our group. The discussions were very introspective and might have led us to question our own values and choices a little. After this engaging session, we retired to our rooms for the rest of the night, though I am sure no one slept off immediately.
Khandala is a beautiful place, and the villa is built right by a cliff. We expected the cooler weather and clear skies but did not expect the wildlife to be so prominent. We were greeted by various insects and lizards, snakes even, during our stay, which scared some more than the others. The cliff and the infamous “Mushroom spot” were not only known for beautiful sunsets but also for the cool cozy morning breezes and its scenic beauty.
The next day began with the same enthusiasm, even though we almost missed breakfast. The sessions started early and we had a lot of time for group bonding and for learning new things about ourselves. We partook in activities related to trust, honesty, and portrayed truths. The session was called ‘Communication Networks’ where 5 randomly selected members were selling their values to the remaining group. Through this activity, we saw how perceived truths are different and how our values lead to different choices. This session was interactive and took a competitive turn, where we realized how we tend to defend our own values first without understanding those of others. After a short break, we went on to another session where we talked about the values of AICUF. The motto of AICUF is “We are born in an unjust society and we are determined to not leave it the same way as we have found it” A beautiful motto that led groups to discuss how and what they expect from society and what they can do to make society better. We were also told to describe what according to us is an ‘unjust society’ and what is the difference between the ‘society’ and the ‘system.’
After this session, a few students went for Mass while the others explored the place and rested for some time.
After a fulfilling lunch, we headed for another session, where we first met Fr. Henry Jerome SJ through Zoom where he gave us the backstory of AICUF which was very fascinating. We learned a lot about the organization and its workings. We also talked about the official magazine of AICUF called ‘The Phoenix’ published by the Editorial Committee and how it still has its legacy going on through the years. We then moved onto a group activity called ‘Lifeboat Essentials’ where we learned how teams work better if the group in itself moves forward together rather than one individual.
The next part of the day was probably our favorite, the ‘Photo Scavenger Hunt’ where each of the groups were given 30 tasks of pictures to click around the villa. We had full creative liberty and all groups certainly made the most out of it. The photos were based on group participation and ranged from silly to creative. After a fun time running around for pictures, we geared up for a short trip to Lonavala.
The evening in Lonavala gave us the time to explore the market and pick up a few things to take back home. Though most of us craved the food, we ended up buying random things too. All in all, it was a fun little detour from a day full of sessions. On returning, we started getting ready for the Halloween-themed ‘Cultural Night’. Everyone dressed up in costumes which were as random as possible and we danced our hearts out that night. The Cultural Night entailed a ramp walk and a group picture too. We ended the night at the Mushroom Spot watching the night sky while listening to some soft music. A moment of gratitude and sheer exhaustion was mutually felt by everyone.
The last morning in Khandala, everyone was up bright and early and all packed up. We had our concluding session called the ‘Warm Fuzzies’ where all of us divided ourselves into two groups and we passed around a sheet of paper with our names and the group wrote a few positive comments/ compliments for us. This is, by far, one of the best YES Camp traditions where we end the camp on a happy and grateful note. YES Camp was comforting; it challenged us and our values while teaching us trust and giving us new friends. After a stressful exam season, many of us needed this break where we could truly enjoy ourselves. The camp gave us scope to not only blow off some steam but also to learn things that we wouldn't in a classroom environment.
We ended the camp with a picture and a bus ride with funky music again. We returned to the same place we started from, but not as a bunch of strangers anymore.
(Already waiting for next year's YES camp)
Radhika Shete
SYBA
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