At 66, Diwan Chand Turned His Home into a Place of Learning

In a remote village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district, Diwan Chand has quietly created something extraordinary. At 66, he opened the doors of his home to children in his community, transforming it into a space filled with curiosity, play, and possibility through CAMaL Ka Camp.

A former panchayat secretary, Diwan Chand served his village for over a decade. Even after stepping away from formal roles, his belief in education never faded. “It’s something that’s always mattered to our family,” he shares. His three daughters are teachers, and his son is preparing for a state government role, a reflection of a household shaped by learning and service.

His connection with schools runs deep. Years ago, Diwan Chand adopted a local government school and continues to volunteer there whenever support is needed. So when he learned about P&G Shiksha & Pratham’s CAMaL (Combined Activities for Maximised Learning) Ka Camp, it felt like a natural next step.

CAMaL Ka Camp is a remedial learning programme run during school breaks, designed to help children strengthen foundational skills and catch up with their grade-level learning. By hosting the camp at his own home, Diwan Chand created a welcoming learning environment for children from the neighbourhood, where learning feels accessible and enjoyable.

The programme builds children’s foundational maths skills through stories, songs, role play, games, and play-based activities. Diwan Chand brought his own creativity into the classroom, making simple teaching aids such as charts, abacuses, and number diaries. Activities like number jump for recognising numbers and number circle to understand place value quickly became favourites.

“Children lose interest quickly,” Diwan Chand explains. “But these activities keep them engaged. They learn while they’re enjoying themselves.”

Keen to keep learning himself, Diwan Chand completed Pratham’s Digital Readiness Course through the Education for Education (EfE) volunteer initiative. He learned to use tools like Gmail, Google Maps, Translate, Lens, and even AI, weaving digital confidence into his everyday life and teaching.

Google Lens has been a particular delight. Surrounded by the rich plant life of the mountains, he now uses it to identify the flora he encounters on his walks. Google Translate has also found its way into his lessons, helping children grasp concepts more clearly when language becomes a challenge.

Working so closely with children has stirred memories of his own school days. “I can’t go back to my childhood,” he says, “but being with these children helps me remember it.”

He recalls a time when learning often came with pressure and reprimands. CAMaL Ka Camp offers something very different. There is no homework and no fear of getting things wrong. Just space to explore, ask questions, and discover.

Through his generosity and commitment, Diwan Chand shows what community-led learning can look like. By opening his home, he has created more than a classroom. He has built a place where children feel safe to learn, and where education is rooted in warmth, dignity, and joy.

Donate now to help more children bridge the gap and unlock their potential through joyful learning camps.