Imagine a space for children away from screens and distractions, solely for the purpose of becoming self-aware. That is Jikaku — an experiential camp by Unitive Perception for children aged seven to 17.
Founded in Kochi in 2012 by Rasia B J and Sachu Muraleedharan, Unitive Perception has been working in the field of mental health for adults and children. Jikaku is their latest effort to work with children.
“It isn’t just a summer camp, but a continuous and sustainable plan to bring positive changes to children. For this, we plan monthly programmes,” says Rasia.
The word ‘jikaku’ is the Japanese word for self-awareness. “We came across it when we were looking for a name for our camp for children and loved how this word sounds,” she says.
The camp is divided into two groups, based on the age of the children, 7 to 11 and 12 to 17. There are also two types of camps, a one-day camp and a three-day residential camp. This is done to facilitate different age groups better.
Mindfulness is at the core of the camp, which is explored through experiential learning and social interaction. Rasia, who has over 13 years of experience working with children across schools and government-run homes, has created the camp based on her experiences.
“Schools are a space for social interaction, but over time, they become a comfort zone where interactions are limited and predictable. We help children break out of that and discover themselves in a new environment,” she says.
“Exposure to unfamiliar settings, even briefly, can make a difference. When children move out and find it difficult to cope, we call it homesickness. But often, it is just a lack of ability to adapt. What we try to do is give them small experiences of unfamiliar spaces, so they are better prepared.”
The camp offers a variety of activities, mindfulness sessions, group games, art-based explorations, pottery, and even basic cooking. But the emphasis is not on skill-building in the conventional sense. Instead, it is on participation.
“There are interactive activities that help them develop social connections and support emotional well-being,” says Rasia.
Art, for instance, is used as a tool for discovery. “Even if a child is not interested in practising a particular art, we encourage them to try it in a group. This gives them confidence. They might even discover they are good at it. Just the act of trying something new goes a long way,” she says.
Simple activities such as clay work, hand-printing, or moulding a small object to take home are designed to create a sense of ownership. Cooking sessions, too, are reimagined. “Children often see cooking as something tiring. We try to make it simple and engaging, and also talk about what kind of food they should be eating,” Rasia says.
Parents, she adds, often report small but noticeable changes after children return home. “We get feedback that children start doing small things on their own — washing their plates, keeping their footwear properly, folding clothes. But more importantly, parents notice changes in how they socialise,” she notes.
The intention, however, is not immediate transformation. “We are just sowing seeds. It may help them later in life when they need it,” she says.
With a small team of facilitators, the camp provides children a space to learn and understand themselves, while escaping from their routine.
Jikaku’s next workshop will be held on April 20 at the Local Sustainable Living in Maradu. It will be a one-day workshop for children aged between 7 and 11. Contact: 8281209457