Shivraj Gade

Shivraj, 19, has been in Akanksha for 7 years. He has taken part in computers, sports, dance, drama, empowerment, the mentor program and the alumni club. He graduated from JD Bharda school and is now in NSS college in his second year doing a Bachelors in Commerce.

Here is what Shivraj has to say:

I stay with my maternal family consisting of my grandfather, grandmother,mother, a maternal aunt, two maternal uncles, their wives and my younger brother Sumeet. My mother separated from my father because he refused to give up alcohol and change his behaviour. One day he was drunk and came to my house he picked up Sumeet and he was literally going to throw him from the 4th floor but neighbours stopped him from doing that crime at that time Sumeet was just six month old. So after that incident my mother left my father and she came to her father’s house. My grandfather is taking care of us from past 18yrs.
 
In my childhood I was very shy and so I didn’t taken part in any extra-curricular activity in school. I used to play cricket and friends would to call me Brian Lara. My height has always been my pride because by age I was small but by height I was tall.
 
I am an introvert who is very shy and not very talkative. I don’t like to boast about my self. I am very responsible person and I don’t like to harm anybody.

As such there are big problems in our community but sometimes problems do occur, but we are used to facing them in our lives.

Professor Hemang Thakker is an inspiration for me because at the age of 25 he had achieved many things. The way he would think and guide us at every point of time and his friendly nature is what I liked about him the most. He would teach us accounts by giving practical examples. He has gone abroad for work. I want to be like him.

I have learnt many things in Akanksha like Computers, Dance and to speak in English.
Computer class used to be held only on weekends. Computer classes I have attended in my school but actually I have learned about computers through Akanksha.
 
Through Dance class I have learnt many things like how to present yourself, how to perform and always have a positive attitude towards your work. Because of Akanksha twice I was able to participate in Raell Padamsee’s Produtions.
 
At present I am part of Traineeship program and I am doing my training with the Accounts and Administration Departments. This Traineeship will last for 1 year. With this programme I have learnt many thing from the finance department like how to make a bank reconciliation statement, how to do bank transactions, how to deduct the TDS and many other things. Because of this entire thing I came to know how the corporate sector functions.
 
The Administration department is the lifeline of the office. If office doesn’t have administration department than office cannot function properly. This what I think after being with the administration department from the last three months.
 
In administration I learnt how to handle the situation. Administration department helps me to be confident towards my work and never say no to any one.
 
This Traineeship has taught me a lot and it had brought big change in my life. Now I try to behave like a professional.

My dream is to become an Accountant.