The Alumni Club gives children who are 18 and have graduated from Akanksha a means to stay in touch with each other, and to be involved in Akanksha’s activities. It is a forum through which they can discuss what they are doing and provide a support system for each other through their meetings once a month. Through the Alumni club, the Akanksha teachers and staff continue to have a strong link with them, and can provide them with support as they enter the world of work or further studies. The Akanksha Alumni are seen volunteering at various Akanksha events in their spare time.

Meet Prashant, First batch of Alumni

My name is Prashant. We are originally from Jajuri village in Pune. I think my grandfather had a fight there and that’s why we migrated to Mumbai. He got a job at the racecourse and we moved to stay in a small home there. At 18, my father married my mother who was 12. Now he works in the racecourse.

I have three sisters. My eldest sister Anuradha just got married. I feel her marriage is like winning a battle. Before her marriage we had no money and lots of family problems and my father had taken a big loan that I still need to repay. I ran around a lot looking for money, no body helped in my family but I had saved a little money from Akanksha and used this up. In the end on her marriage day I felt I had really done my duty. In the marriage everyone came together and helped serve food. First my Akanksha Didis and Bhaiyas went and cleaned the community toilet that the guests were going to use. Everyone in my community is asking who those people were. It was all like a dream.

I started out in a Marathi medium school then shifted to a Hindi school. I reached the 9th standard but then had big problems with my formal schoolteacher. My mother came in to defend me one day and the teacher said that is not your mother. I felt very offended. The problems became bad and I dropped out. After that I tried to do my 10th privately with a scholarship from Akanksha, but couldn’t manage that.

This is my 12th year at Akanksha. I have great confidence in myself. I have improved in English. Infact in my community people say “this guy is awesome” and my English is the best in the community. My most special times at Akanksha were flying on Jet Airways, meeting Sachin Tendulkar and last year’s musical where I was the narrator. I felt very proud of myself, even though I know that is not being humble. Everyone felt “this is a superstar.”

I was in art class for a year, in computer class and had great mentors. I have made presentations to big companies and was on Zee TV. I ran the Mumbai Marathon and Essar paid Rs. 3000 to each of us who ran as a donation to Akanksha. It felt great to raise money for Akanksha. The social leadership program has been really special for me. When I joined I thought it would only give me general knowledge but through the projects, studying leaders and the retreats it has made me feel that I am the one who can change the world. The Ahmedabad trip was so important for me. Understanding Gandhiji’s values, cleaning our place ourself, serving food, we really actually learned not to talk but to walk. Each and every day something special happens at Akanksha.

Now I am an alumnus and am working at Akanksha. Work is fantastic. Everything is going well. As a teacher everyone calls me “bhaiya” (brother) which feels great. Being a social worker at Akanksha has made me a more responsible person, a role model for the kids.

I feel now that many people in India do “puja” (prayers) but the real puja is in serving others. I remember what Jayesh Bhai told me, that whatever you do it doesn’t matter if nobody notices. What matters is that your heart and God see who you are.

Akanksha Alumni say:

“I like the alumni programme because I share my problems and successes. In case I need help I can openly talk about it and ask for suggestions. I share things that I am not able to share at home.” - Mohar

“We meet our friends and share about our life. We also discuss possible job options and learn about different opportunities.” - Prashant