The Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM) has commenced a summer camp for the twelve Arju Centers established under its ambit. The camp, which started today, will continue until 8 July, at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung. The initiative aims to provide students with an opportunity to discover and develop their skills while promoting culture, traditions, and life skills for their future prospects.
The Arju Centers are located in twelve villages across the Mokokchung district, with two centers in each of the six ranges. These centers are part of an innovative education initiative led by AKM under the aegis of the Nagaland Education Mission Society, Samagra Shiksha, Nagaland.
The main objective behind establishing the Arju Centers was to break away from the confinement of bookish knowledge and grades, and instead focus on empowering students to develop their skills. The initiative also aims to uphold and promote culture, traditions, and foster the development of life skills for their future endeavors.
The summer camp offers a hands-on learning experience for the children, covering various fields and aspects. Delegates will be introduced to subjects such as Astrophysics, Green Audit, Livestock Farming as an Entrepreneurial Enterprise, writing skills, Mathematics, cultural activities, and a lesson on Skilling for future. The camp serves as a platform to provide exposure and practical lessons in these fields.
The participants will benefit from the rich heritage and teachings of the Arju institution, which has been a longstanding practice among the Ao Nagas. In the traditional Arju, young males were taught art, handicraft, history, village traditions, public speaking, community work, warfare, and various indigenous skills under the supervision of experienced elders. Similarly, the Tsüki served as a dormitory for girls, where they were taught handicrafts, social etiquette, songs, and the significance of religious and social events.
The revival of the Arju and Tsüki institutions in modern times aims to provide supplementary learning opportunities and impart joyful traditional and contemporary life skills to students from rural areas.
A total of 69 delegates from the twelve Arju Centers are participating in the 3-day summer camp.