....................................................................................................Profile

 Akanksha - Bringing a smile to every face 

Today, an increasing number of children 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 of the joys of childhood. They need educational opportunities so that they can build a better future for themselves.

Akanksha tries to be the hand they can hold . Akanksha provides educational opportunities for less privileged children using the many resources available in our society.

Akanksha believes that...
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.

Akanksha Centres
Each of Akanksha's 17 centres has 60 children, a head 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 amd brought by school bus to the centre. An Akanksha centre functions each day for a few hours either in the morning or afternoon.

The Akanksha curriculum
Akanksha provides a meaningful and enjoyable education for children. They integrate intellectual development and academic learning with personality development and practical training.

Akanksh's 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

How you can help ....
Donate: Akanksha welcomes any donation(s) for their corpus.
Sponsor-a-child: For just Rs. 1,500 a child's educational expenses can be covered.
Sponsor-a-teacher: With just Rs. 30,000 you can sponsor a Head Teacher at Akanksha, or for Rs. 18,000 an assistant teacher.
Buy Akanksha products : Support Akanksha children by buying their own hand painted items. The proceeds for the sale of these products go to the children and mothers who make them.
Volunteer : Be an Akanksha Volunteer. Volunteers could be students, housewives or professionals.If you want to be a part of Akanksha and want to help the underprivileged, then contact :

Shaheen, Managing Director
Devika, Human Resource
Joyce & Neha, Social Work
Sue, Projects

Address: 42 Grant Building Annex, BhaskarraoKargutkar Marg (Behind Strand Cinema), Colaba, Mumbai - 400005, Telefax: 2040354,
email: akanksh@bom5.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.akanksha.org

By : Sharmistha Chakraborty