ABOUT AKANSHA

“Akanksha”, or Aspiration is a non-profit organization that educates less privileged children from Mumbai’s slum areas and provides them with vocational opportunities. Over the past 10 years, Akanksha has managed to create opportunities for 1000 children who study in Akanksha centers.  A centre can be based in a school after school hours, colleges, offices and other existing spaces. Akanksha does not invest money in brick mortar. We use existing under-utilized space.

We believe that an early start with good basic education is the best way to help Mumbai’s slum children help themselves. We aspire to provide them balanced education that focuses both intellectual and emotional development.

Volunteers are an important part of the programme and over 250 volunteers spend time teaching at Akanksha. Volunteers comprise school and college students, housewives and professionals. For each volunteer, Akanksha is a unique learning, as well as a giving experience.

Education at Akanksha is non-formal but structured, creative, innovative and targeted towards developing each child holistically.  The progamme develops in each child a sense of dignity, integrity and the self-confidence to take on the world.  Thus, in its own way Akanksha is helping mould its children to be socially responsible citizens.

Akanksha’s vital aim is to integrate the children into the formal school system. For this the teachers counsel the parents on the importance of education and the necessity of going to school. We reimburse parents for the children formal school expenses like fees, books, uniforms, etc. The children therefore attend the formal school as well as the Akanksha school. We provide them with the additional support that they need to keep them in school and monitor their progress. 
 

AKANKSHA BELIEVES

• Good education accessible at an early age is the best way to help less privileged children help themselves.
• A balanced education must focus equally on a child’s physical, mental and emotional development.
•  It is important to instill dignity and self worth in children if they are to become good citizens.
• Children need a physically and psychologically healthy environment to work and play.
• Volunteers can play a vital role in their educational programmes.

These beliefs from the base of our educational philosophy and curriculum. Established in 1991 as a registered charitable trust, Akanksha today has 17 schools, 850 children and over 300 volunteers.
 

WHY AKANKSHA?

Today an increasing number of children are born and live in one of the numerous slums spread all over Mumbai. Trapped in a daily cycle of forced work and physical and emotional abuse they grow up without experiencing any part of childhood. They need someone to show the joys of childhood, they need educational opportunities so they can build a better future for themselves. Akanksha tries to be the hand they can hold and the opportunity they can take.