This August was truly exciting for the 60 children who are part of HEAL’s Catapults to Cameras programme 2026.

While the regular workshops have been a window for them to look at wildlife differently, 15 August 2026 marked a major milestone: the first time all 60 children from six batches across 10 villages in Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur came together as a growing community of young champions for wildlife!

The day was filled with games, photography, conservation storytelling, and interaction with the HEAL team from Kolkata.

A particularly special moment came when the OG boys from the award-winning documentary film #CatapultstoCameras took centre stage. These boys who now act as mentors to the younger participants shared their own stories of trading catapults for cameras and how it changed the way they see the world – switching from harming to observing and appreciating wildlife and now championing wildlife conservation.

The excitement continued on 29 August 2026, when Nimesh Sumati Ji from Caring Friends, one of HEAL’s supporters, joined us at the field site in Jhargram. He spent the day with all 60 children, sharing stories, taking part in group activities and games, and, much to the children’s delight, entertaining them with his signature magic tricks! It was also an opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from his immense experience of working with communities.

Across both days, what stayed with us was the growing joy of discovery, empathy, and exploration that these kids from traditional hunting communities are experiencing as they click photos and venture on nature adventures to understand wildlife without the urge to harm them.

A catapult may have once been their introduction to the wild but today they are erasing that history, one click at a time.

We are grateful to the Rao Family Trust for supporting this year’s Catapults to Cameras programme, and to the Paschim Medinipur Forest Division for providing the venue for both events