Values

Along with its mission and vision, there are certain values that serve as the core of the Akanksha team. These values remain constant, and the Akanksha team has individually and collectively committed to upholding these values in all decisions and actions. Here, each core value is defined as what it means for Akanksha, so that it can operate from a place of common understanding as it works towards building an excellent organization that consistently delivers on its mission and improves over time.

We believe that all children have the capacity to learn and achieve, and that differences in achievement are only a result of inequity of opportunity.  We believe that an excellent education can bridge those gaps, enabling children from the most under-served, under-resourced communities to excel and achieve over time.

We understand that the basis of all great teams is respect and trust, for the unique contribution of each individual and the set of experiences, knowledge and skills they bring. We build trust amongst our team so that we can openly debate while searching for the best solutions. We commit to supporting what we collectively decide in the best interest of our mission.

We do this work because it ultimately brings us a sense of personal fulfillment. We are here as a matter of choice and not out of obligation. We create environments—in our learning spaces and offices—that reflect our belief that learning is fun and that the world is full of wonder. Knowing that the path to achieve our mission full of challenges and obstacles, we stop to celebrate small victories.

We operate with the greatest sense of urgency to reach more children with the best education we can provide, understanding that for every child we reach, there are so many more that go through life without access a good education. This sense of urgency is reflected in our daily actions, where we do not waste time with our children or in fulfilling our goals, because we know that every minute matters and presents an opportunity to act and learn. 

We know that unless the education we provide is the best, it will not provide what our children need to succeed, and we measure our success not only in the level at which they achieve but by the content of their character. We believe that an excellent education must seek to help children learn with enduring understanding and hence the methods we use in class are effective, engaging and rigorous. We commit to a cycle of continuous improvement, believing that we can always be and do better than what we do today.

Integrity
We do what we say, and say what we do. We are honest with each other, while assuming the best intent. We uphold our common set of values, and have honest conversations with ourselves and each other when we fail even as we celebrate when we succeed.