July 16, 2008
Source: World Sikh News/Oswego County News
Kavan Rai used to say very little about practicing the Sikh religion, fearful her friends would make fun of her or shun her.
But after four summers at Sikh youth camps in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, she's a confident, self-assured 13-year-old.
"I used to be afraid to be who I am," said Kavan, of Vestal, in Broome County. "But not anymore. This is who I am and they need to accept me for who I am."
Kavan is one of 74 campers, ranging in age from 7 to 18, who spent this week at Camp Khanda, a Sikh youth camp at Vanderkamp in Constantia.