by Cl. Felix Almeida sdb
KAPADVANJ-GUJARAT, MAY 13, 2015: 31 youngsters from the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh gathered together at Kapadvanj, Gujarat for the vocation 
camp. The community of Don Bosco Kapadvanj guided the process of animation and discernment for the participants. From the 6th to the 12th of May the days were filled with moments of prayer and reflection along with a lot of fun and frolic.
Right from the beginning the participants were encouraged to enjoy themselves and have a personal experience of Salesian life. This was brought about through a meticulously planned scheme for each day. Fr.Mayank, the vocation promoter of the Gujarat region, welcomed and encouraged them to make their own experience. During the camp, Salesians from all over Gujarat came over to Kapadvanj to present the many areas of Salesian work.
There were different types of activities, games and input sessions animated by many visiting Salesians. The participants were introduced to the life of Don Bosco and Don Bosco's preventive system, the problems and challenges faced by young people, youth ministry and the Salesian approach to the young. They reflected on living life with a purpose and the meaning of call and vocation, the different types of Salesian vocations – lay brothers, priests, sisters, cooperators and others who form the Salesian family. They leant about the different types of apostolates that the Salesians engage in – education, parish work, youth ministry, social work, missionary activities, etc. Besides this, they visited Don Bosco Snehalaya, Baroda where they could see first-hand how Salesians cared for children and young persons in difficult situations.
The vocation camp turned out to be a wonderful time for the participants thanks to the efforts of Fr. Mayank and the community of Don Bosco Kapadvanj, along with other Salesians who generously pitched in. The participants went back glad to have experienced the Salesian way of life and were left with much to reflect upon.