India – Camp Karma

Founded: 2013

Location: Rivergate Resort, Karjat, India

Directors: Dr. Anjay Khandelwal, Dr. Vinita Puri, Dr. Venkateshwaran N.

Partner: KEM Hospital

Number of Campers: 30-40

Camp-Karma-Logo

Camp Karma was founded in 2013, and takes place at the serene Rivergate Resort, outside the hustle and bustle of Mumbai. Despite the fact that there are over 1.5 million pediatric burn survivors in India, Camp Karma is the subcontinent’s first and only Burn Camp.

India possesses a unique social background with a blend of cultures and religions mixed with diverse socioeconomic levels. As with many societies in the world, India has struggled with a “victim-oriented culture,” where mythology, media and cultural idioms associate physical scars with bad or evil. Programs designed to break these cultural norms are mainly geared toward adolescents and adults; however, such programs do not exist for children – especially children who have sustained burns.

Camp Karma brings together 40 young burn survivors for a 3 day camp, leaving behind cultural, religious and socio-economic differences. In addition to the local counselors and volunteers, many international staff members attend camp each year, making it a truly unique experience. Effective 2019, the camp has succesfully transitioned to local management by our colleagues at KEM Hospital.