Social Organisations

About Akansha
Future Plans
Projects
Ways to Help
Akansha Shop

MORE ABOUT AKANKSHA

AN AKANKSHA CENTRE

Each of Akanksha’s 17 centres has 60 children, a head teacher, an assistant teacher and regular assigned volunteers who supplement the services of the paid staff. The centres are located in school and college classrooms, offices, basements and any space that is loaned cost free by any institution. The children are collected by the head teacher from their respective slum and brought by school bus to the centre. An Akanksha centre functions each day for a few hours either in the morning or afternoon.

An Akanksha centre gives each Akanksha child some time each day from the harshness of the slum in a structured , safe environment where they can gain self-confidence and be shown love and dignity.

THE AKANKSHA CURRICULUM

Akanksha provides a meaningful and enjoyable education foe children. We integrate intellectual development and academic learning with the personality development and practical training.
Activities include:

Interactive reading and writing
Music, dance and drama
Art and creativity
Number readiness and mathematics
Basic geography, history and science
Exercise and sports
Health and hygiene awareness
Value education
Vocational classes, such as tailoring, art, gardening and computers

THE AKANKSHA VOLUNTEER

Akanksha taps the mutually beneficial relationship between the slum children and school/college students by supplementing the services of the paid teachers with voluntary help.

Volunteers are students, housewives and professionals.

Volunteers add life, energy, creativity and compassion to each Akanksha centre.

Volunteers enable Akanksha children to receive individual attention and care.

For each volunteer, Akanksha is a learning, as well as giving experience.

FORMAL SCHOOLING FOR THE AKANKSHA CHILD

One of our most vital aims is to integrate Akanksha children into the formal school system. For this, the teachers counsel parents on the importance of education and the necessity of getting a school degree.

Akanksha gives the parents the choice of school, and if this is a private school, reimburses parents for fees. For Akanksha children integrated into government schools, Akanksha reimburses school expenses such as books, uniforms and transport.

Children integrated into the formal school system continue to attend Akanksha each afternoon. In this way we can provide them with the additional support that they need to keep them in school, and monitor their progress.

THE GIRL CHILD

Akanksha has always endorsed the belief that the education of the girl is one of the greatest importance in the overall development of the family.

Over 60% of Akanksha children are girls.

Special attempts are made to counsel our teenage girls on important issues such as family planning.

Vocational courses for girls encourage Akanksha girls to learn a skill.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AKANKSHA CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Akanksha believes that learning extends far beyond the classroom. Akanksha children are taken on both educational and fun outings, and participate in workshops ranging from drama to origami. They interact with children from other schools in competitions, perform at special events, participate in sports and have distinguished speakers come into school to address them.

Vocational training is imperative for our teenage children, and a range of in-house courses and links with other institutes provide opportunities for Akanksha children to develop a skill.

Akanksha reaches out to the community through monthly meetings with parents where issues of healthcare, sanitation, family planning and other awareness topics are discussed.

Back to Previous Page Back to Akansha Index