IASF Sponsors First-Ever Sports Adventure Camp in Kalahandi, Odisha

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The Indo-American Sevak Foundation (IASF) successfully held the first-of-its-kind Sports Adventure Camp in Kalahandi, Odisha, from November 2nd to 8th, 2024. This initiative was through a collaborative effort with Maa Manikeswari University (formerly Kalahandi University).

Empowering Underprivileged Youth Through Adventure: Led by renowned mountaineer Jogyabasa Bhoi, who summited Everest in 2011, and Prasanta Behera from IASF, the camp provided a life-changing experience for 60 middle and high school students (30 boys and 30 girls) from underprivileged families in remote areas of Kalahandi.




Expert Instruction and Challenging Activities: Alongside Mr. Bhoi, 12 experienced instructors, each seasoned climber of Himalayan peaks exceeding 18,000 feet such as Rudragira and Indrasan, equipped the students with valuable skills. The curriculum included map reading, proper use of hiking gear, rope climbing, rappelling, belaying, bouldering, and safe handling of equipment like carabiners, pitons, and harnesses. Practical experience was gained through exciting hikes in nearby mountains.

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Beyond Skills, Building Confidence: The camp culminated in a vibrant cultural program showcasing the students' newfound talents. More importantly, as highlighted by many students, "We have never experienced this. We learned discipline, time management, and friendship." The overwhelming desire for the camp to continue speaks volumes about its positive impact.





Looking Ahead: Scaling New Heights: Motivated by their success, IASF plans to invite 20 exceptional students to train at the prestigious Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in 2025. To support this next chapter, IASF welcomes contributions from passionate donors.

Some pictures captured:  Link to Google Album

Press (Odiya): Video 


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