“Learn through fun, be self-disciplined, and train for life”
 

Team:
Teachers: Sima Didi and Praneeta Didi
Math Teachers: Benjamin Bhaiya and Satindar Bhaiya
Education Co-ordinator: Dimple Didi
Social Worker: Vikas Bhaiya
Volunteers: Sabira, Seema, Chetan, Vishkha,Heena, Suarna, Jayshree,Manisha & Eva
Helper: Lalita Didi
Sponsor: Glaxo


Our Goals for the children:

  1. Confidence
  2. Self-discipline
  3. Preparation for a job
  4. Be the Change
  5. Service

Some of what we are learning:

  • Language
  • Values
  • Math
  • Decision Making
  • Life skills
  • Goal-setting
  • Current Affairs
  • Role plays
  • Presentations


‘Every Monday and Thursday, I am learning math and formal school English. I am learning about values. I am learning about goal setting and different types of stories. I have got so much knowledge from Akanksha. I have learnt respecting my Didis and Bhaiyas and all my elders. I have also learnt how to achieve my goals. Now in my present life, I can speak English.’’ Tauqeer

‘We do so many things at Akanksha. We are learning math, English and goal setting, decision making. In Akanksha there are so many activities also like design class, art class and drama class.’ Rohit.

‘We do many things in Akanksha. Sometimes Didi divide us in groups and then we do activities like current affairs, word finder and creative connector.‘ Triloki

Our Song
Lets start from the very beginning
The way our centre does start
When we meet we begin with
Prayers to God
When we end we think of what we learned
Do re me, Do re me
The first thing we do is assembly
Do re me
The next thing we speak and write English
Do re me, do re me
We also learn math and values
Do re me, do re me
We learn other skills preparing for life
Do re me fa so la tee
Our team works to get closer to
Our goals

Our Favorite Thinking Question:
A man walks into a restaurant and asks for a glass of water. The waiter comes with a gun to the table, and gives the man a glass of water. The man smiles, gives him a hundred rupees and leaves. What happened?

  1. He tipped Rs 100 to save his life.
  2. The man had hiccups and the trick stopped them because he got scared.
  3. The waiter is an actor or a director


Programs and Special Events:

  1. Art class
  2. Design class
  3. Drama class
  4. Computer class
  5. Mentor Program
  6. Football
  7. SLP
  8. Empowerment
  9. Traineeship Program
  10. The Mumbai marathon
  11. Sports Day
  12. The Musical ‘Once upon a time in Shantipur’
  13. Career Fair
  14. Srila’s exhibition.








Prashant Shivram Dodke, 18


Prashant Shivram Dodke, 18 has been with Akanksha for 12 years. He has studied till the 9th class. He is now a part of the Alumni Group. He has been a part of Drama, Art and Computer class. He is in the Traineeship program, as well as in the Social Leadership Program.

Prashant lives in Gautam Nagar with his parents and 3 sisters. His mother is a housewife and his father is working at the Race Course.

Sima Didi says, “The four Akanksha goals are truly achieved by Prashant.” He has got a good education foundation from Akanksha and is aware of many things around him. He has had a good time by being part of lots of different programs. He speaks good English and has started his career as a social worker at Akanksha. He is also a drama coordinator for Akanksha and assistant director for the musical ‘Kabir & the Rangeen Kurta’. He was one of the main characters for both the musicals so far and has represented Akanksha on several occasions, making presentations and attending press conferences.

Prashant has achieved and accomplished a lot through his years in Akanksha. We believe he is going to accomplish a lot more.


 


Santosh Saroj, 17


Santosh Saroj, 17 years old, goes to Marvadi Vidyalay High School and is in class 8. He is in level 8 and has been with Akanksha for 5 years. He has been a part of Computer and Art class. After completing art class he has graduated into Design class. He is also part of the mentor program with ICICI Bank.

Santosh lives in the Mariamma Nagar community with his parents and two siblings. He says that his father is an alcoholic and doesn’t do any work. His mother, Durga Didi, is a helper an Akanksha center. She also helps process products for the Art project. His younger sister also goes to Akanksha.

Santosh is an extremely hard-working, confident and responsible child. Sima Didi says he has a strong educational foundation and loves to participate in presentations. He speaks good English and also writes well. He enjoys coming to Akanksha. He is right now focused on learning about possible careers.

Santosh says that he has changed a lot after joining Akanksha. He has become more confident. Every Friday his center has a current affair session. This time he volunteered to take part in it, and he will be standing in front of his class presenting news of that week. There are many things about Akanksha that he likes and enjoys. He believes that the “thinking question” is very important and good to have. Even listening to stories like “Amazing Power” teach many skills and values. It teaches him about teamwork and positive attitude. He says that earlier he would be scared to speak up and talk in English but now he is more confident. His mentor Nirjhar Bhaiya has taught him that everyone has his or her own set of problems.

Santosh says, “When God gives problems to us, he also give us ideas to solve them. When you try to solve your own problem maybe that is the time you will get happiness. If you don’t try you will get sadness. That means that every coin has two sides. (One is bad and one is good)”