THE AKANKSHA MISSION

ABOUT AKANKSHA

WHY AKANKSHA?

HISTORY

To impact the lives of less privileged children enabling them to maximize their potential and change their lives.

The Akanksha Foundation is a non-profit organization that educates less privileged children from slum areas. Over the past 16 years, Akanksha has managed to create opportunities for over 3000 children through 62 Akanksha centres (37 in Mumbai and 25 in Pune), 2 schools and 4 Kindergarten centres.

Out of every 100 children born in India today:· 63 births are not even registered· 25 are not immunized against any disease· 16 will have no access to clean drinking water· 15 will never go to school

th· Out of every 100 kids that begin school, only 52 will reach the 5 standard.

If we believe that our future lies in the hands of our children, this presents a staggering problem.

In Mumbai alone 2.3 million children live in slums and on the streets.

Akanksha exists to give its children the education, training, and skills to change their lives

The Akanksha Foundation was started in 1990. Registered as a charitable society and trust in 1991, Akanksha has grown from an organization run completely through voluntary efforts to a professional institution with full-time and part-time staff that channel voluntary efforts towards providing educational opportunities to less privileged children.

Akanksha began with a simple idea. There were thousands of slum children who needed and wanted to be educated. There were thousands of college students who had the energy, enthusiasm and time to teach these children. And there existed pockets of available spaces located in schools that seemed ideal teaching environments. The simple idea then, was to bring together the three kids, student volunteers and spaces. Once we made this three-way connection the first Akanksha centre was born.

“In a very cost effective way, Akanksha reaches out to the under-privileged children.

It teaches them more than the regular subjects. With care and affection it helps them to assess their value systems and exposes them to a larger canvas. The volunteers while giving their time get

affection from the children. At Akanksha there is no one way street. Everyone is giving something and receiving something in

return.”Anu Aga, Ex Chairperson, Thermax India Ltd.

Board of Trustees

Anu AgaEx Chairperson, Thermax India Ltd.

Shaheen Mistri Founder and MD, The Akanksha Foundation

Srila ChatterjeeProducer, Highlight Films

Nandita DugarEx-Boston Consulting Group

Neel ShahaniHead Trader, Credit Lyonnais

Amit ChandraDirector,New Silk Route Advisors

Ramesh SrinivasanPartner,McKinsey & Co

Patrons

Deepak Parekh Chairman, HDFC

Anand Mahindra Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Arjun WaneyChief Executive, Argent Fund Limited

Sponsors of Akanksha Centres

Aditya Birla Group

Ad Astra Trust

Arisaig Partners

Aviva

All Cargo Global Logistics

Carnegie Social Initiatives (Sweden)

Chandrakant Agarwal

Citigroup N.A.

KINOE (UK)

DSP Merrill Lynch

Dhirubhai Ambani International School

Forbes Marshall

HDFC Ltd

Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd

Merrill LynchInvestment Managers

National Grid

Novartis India Ltd

Tech Mahindra Foundation

The AkankshaFund

Thermax Ltd

United Way of Mumbai

WNS GlobalServices Pvt Ltd

Zensar Technologies

AKANKSHA BELIEVES

AKANKSHA'S VISION

Akanksha believes that an early start with good basic education is the best way to help India's slum children help themselves. The organisation aspires to provide less privileged children a balanced education that focuses on both intellectual and emotional development. Akanksha centres are places to learn, play, create and experience the joys of childhood. Each centre runs in under-utilised spaces such as schools, colleges and offices after working hours, every day.

We want each Akanksha child to · have a strong educational foundation · have a deep sense of self-esteem · have a good time in a space where they can be children · grow into concerned citizens and leave with a job.

We want to encourage them to dream. But more importantly, we want to empower them to deliver on their dreams. “Akanksha's most

important gift to Slum Children is not only

Education but Hope. To see the sparkle in the

eyes of Akanksha kids is to know that goodness is

alive in the world.” Alyque Padamsee

THE AKANKSHA CENTRE

Space for Akanksha Centres

· Uses under-utilized spaces for 2.5 hours each day to run Akanksha centres · Teaches children using non-formal, innovative, fun and practical teaching methods· Employs qualified educationists to teach in the Akanksha centres· Effectively draws on a large group of volunteers to assist paid teachers and staff· Integrates children into the formal school system, (supporting them thereafter)

Many Akanksha children have never been to a school prior to joining the program. Akanksha makes use of high quality private and government aided schools, office spaces and public spaces to run Akanksha centres. Each space provides an atmosphere conducive to learning, and one that is a real change from the conditions in the slum.Sixty less privileged children study at each centre from Monday to Friday. The centre gives each Akanksha child quality time each day away from the harshness of the slum. The structured, safe environment provides them the security necessary to gain self-confidence and kindles their ambitions with a desire to change their lives.

MOBILIZING RESOURCES IN SOCIETYAkanksha operates with the belief that each of us has a responsibility to improve the situation in which our children live. Akanksha encourages people to think about what they can do - give money, time, expertise or space. Akanksha then finds a concrete way to match their contributions with Akanksha's needs.

Akanksha Social Work It is the social worker who maintains the link between the parents, the community and Akanksha. They recruit the children: the poorest kids, kids with single parents, first generation learners are given priority. Besides ensuring that children attend Akanksha and formal school regularly, and trying to control dropouts from the system; the social worker monitors parental involvement, educates parents on health, hygiene, AIDS, against physical abuse and parental neglect, etc, through monthly parents meetings. The Empowerment Program, conducted by the Social Work team at all the adolescent centres educates children on dealing with alcoholism, substance abuse as well as issues related to sex and sexuality. The Social Workers are in the communities every single day and are respected Akanksha representatives in the communities; they catalyse social change amongst the parent community just as an Akanksha centre strives to do that with the children.

"At Highlight, we are often questioned about how we manage to have so many noisy kids in our office. It has been three years, and I am happy to say a few grubby fingers on

cushions have been our only grouse! There is a very special feeling in being able to make even a little difference in so many lives, and if all we do is allow them a few hours to be children every

day, I believe we have done well." Srila Chatterjee, Producer, Highlight Films

Office Space

Space for Akanksha programmes

Voltas Limited

King George V Memorial - Art

St. Stanislaus School Art

Dawnay Day AV GroupAkanksha Teacher Fellowship

RPGMentor Program

Bombay International SchoolLearning to Lead

Mentor Companies

DSP Merrill LynchVoltas Ltd Novartis India LtdICICI BankHSBCYes Bank

Computer ClassSterlite Foundation

OTHER AKANKSHA PROGRAMMES · Medical Education project for parents and children, including routine check-ups and

treatment for all the children· General Awareness Programmes instructing the parents and children on aspects such as

hygiene, sanitation and family planning· Value Education and self-esteem· Field Trips, outings and Summer Camps to encourage learning through recreation· Computer class· Art for Akanksha· Empowerment programme· Drama club· Sports Programme· Dance Class

The Mentor Program seeks to pair each Akanksha class 8-10 child with a corporate mentor. The mentor-mentee pair meet once a week to work on matching a child's aspirations with his or her skills and family reality. Mentors open the world of careers to mentees and guide them through the difficult adolescent phase. Mentees, in turn, offer mentors a meaningful insight into a different world, friendship and respect, and the ability to bring about positive change through service.

The Learning to Lead Programme seeks to identify those children from Akanksha who have the potential for leadership and excellence and instill in them a sense of purpose and determination to succeed, by providing them with intensive academic and leadership opportunities. Through this, we believe that we would be creating role models who effect change in their lives and in the society in which they live.

The Social Leadership Programme, inspired by Gandhiji's words “Be the Change that you Wish to See in the World”, encourages older Akanksha students and alumni to “Be the Change”. Through a curriculum that focuses on giving them an understanding of social issues and builds social leadership values, this program helps them take the initiative to be the change agents in their communities. Students learn to bring about changes first in themselves, then in their families and homes and finally in their communities.

Seema Kamble is a first generation learner from a single parent home. Her mother works as a domestic helper and cleaner in a school in Worli. Seema started off as an extremely irregular student at Akanksha. In her years at Akanksha, she developed very strong internal values and work ethics. After graduating from Akanksha, she completed Junior College with 70%, stood 2nd in her second year of college. She has graduated in Commerce with a first class. She has done a year of teacher training and conducts tutions for children in her community. She is computer literate and is an HR Executive in the Akanksha office.

“My name is Seema and I am 20 years old. I have studied in Akanksha for last nine years. I have learned so many things in Akanksha that it is difficult to list. I have learned to be courageous, confident, to believe in myself and never give up. I remember a time when I used to be irregular at my Akanksha center and Didi used to pull me out from my house. But now I tell other people to be regular at Akanksha, whether its students or volunteers. I have got lot of opportunities in Akanksha and each time, I have learned a lot. The thing that I want to change about myself is to control my emotions, and to always smile. My mother and my Akanksha Didis and Bhaiyas have always been my source of inspiration and always trusted me and that I can “make a difference”. My dream is to complete my graduation with a very good percentage, get a good job in the field of Public Relations and to get a new house for my family.”

The Akanksha Alumni Program The Alumni Program is a link that helps us to reach out to our alumni to help and support them with additional life skills even after they have graduated from Akanksha. The alumni students meet once a month and discuss career opportunities and other professional skill upgradation programmes. They also help each other and provide emotional and social support. Last year we had 25 alumni in our programme. Some of them also volunteer in other Akanksha activities.

VOLUNTEERS

CORPORATE SPONSORS

Volunteers form the backbone of all Akanksha activities. Over 300 individuals annually volunteer their time at Akanksha. Volunteers are school and college students, housewives and professionals. The Akanksha volunteers add energy, creativity and compassion to each Akanksha centre.Volunteers help in many ways such as:· Assist in teaching the children at the Centres· Help at the art class and other vocational training classes· Collect and donate materials for the centres· Conduct workshops for our kids· Make worksheets and other educational aids for Akanksha· Organise special events for the children· Lend a hand with administrative tasks in the office

For every volunteer, Akanksha is a unique learning, giving as well as receiving experience.

The Akanksha Sponsor-a-School scheme enables corporations to adopt an Akanksha centre. Besides financial support, sponsors are encouraged to get involved through direct volunteer teaching, celebrating special occasions with the children, mentoring, purchasing artwork done by the children, providing advice in areas like finance and marketing, making donations in kind, etc. Each corporate employee has an opportunity to develop a relationship with a group of children at their centre.

AKANKSHA SCHOOL PROJECT

The Akanksha Schools Project represents Akanksha's first effort to work within the formal school system in the Municipal Corporations of Greater Mumbai and Pune as well as the Private Aided Schooling System. It is an effort by Akanksha to extend its activities in the field of education, leveraging our experiences from 15 years of work with less privileged children to improve the quality of learning in the formal school system. Specifically, we hope to provide inputs in the fields of teaching, extra-curricular activities, community support and infrastructure that will significantly enhance the learning opportunities for children in these schools.

“Akanksha is a rare testimonial to Human Spirit and initiative by the citizens of Mumbai. Having developed and sustained a

methodology that reaches out to over 1,500 underprivileged children, Akanksha provides hope where there is not much to hope for and even less to dream. Due to their

endeavours we are confident that thousands of underprivileged children will at least have a future. DSP Merrill Lynch is proud and privileged to work closely with this outstanding

organization across a number of initiatives. Akanksha has helped us in our endeavour to be socially responsible and we are grateful to them for the association.”

Hemendra Kothari, Chairman, DSP Merrill Lynch

Sumeet Gade: Exposure to drug abuse, gambling and alcoholism and innumerable other negatives in his community have not deterred Sumeet. He has not only abstained from them but also resisted them completely - even helping and advising others in his role as a full time social worker at Akanksha.

He has spent seven years as student at Akanksha centers, and now at the age of 19, he is clear about his aspiration and spends his time working hard at achieving his dream. Sumeet is a Social Worker in Akanksha.

“My dream is to graduate from the best college in social work and I am working hard to do just that. I am currently studying at the Parel night college and working in the social work department of Akanksha. I am also managing the 'Social Leadership Program' Pragati project in the paediatric ward of the Bombay Hospital.

My biggest achievement was when I stood second in my college in the last exams and scored 63 per cent. I really learnt a lot from our visit to Manav Sadhna and am impressed by their community based projects. I think I would be able to do well in social work because we stay in the community and are aware of the day to day struggles that our community faces, my own background and my single mother's struggle have also helped me understand the need for empowerment and other social issues better.”

REACHING MORE CHILDREN

Akanksha began when a group of college students got together and started teaching a few children in a slum in Mumbai. Over the past 16 years the organization has expanded from 15 children in one centre to over 3000 children today in 62 centres, 4 Kindergarten centres and 2 schools across Mumbai and Pune.

The scope of Akanksha's work has grown significantly in the past few years and the future holds even more promise. Akanksha plans to offer a greater number of opportunities to our children. The focus will be on improving the quality of teaching and learning happening across centres. The existing centres will continue to provide Akanksha students with increasing opportunities to learn in multi-faceted ways, expanding programs like the Mentor Program, and focussing on vocational education for the older children.

At the same time, we are reaching out to more children both through our centre model and by working within formal schools, both municipal and government aided.

Mumbai: Voltas House 'C', T.B. Kadam Marg, Chinchpokli, Mumbai 400 033. Tel: 23700253 / 23729880 Email: admin@akanksha.org

Pune: The Akanksha Foundation, 102, HEMOPAL, Next to Joshi Wadawala, Wakadewadi, Bombay Pune Road, Pune 411 005.

Tel: 020-25821000 / 28521001 Email: akanksha_pune@vsnl.net

www.akanksha.org