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Inspired by the
Minds Matter Mentor Program in New
York City, Akanksha’s Mentor
program seeks to pair each Akanksha
class 8-10 child with a mentor. The
mentor-mentee pair meet once a week
to work on matching a child’s
aspirations with his or her skills
and family reality. Mentors open the
world of careers to mentees and guide
them through the difficult adolescent
phase. Mentees in turn, offer mentors
a meaningful insight into a different
world, friendship and respect, and
the ability to bring about positive
change through service.
Typically mentor
programs are linked with corporates,
offering students the chance to go
into an office to meet with their
mentor. Some mentor companies Akanksha
works with are DSP Merrill Lynch,
Voltas Ltd., Citigroup, ICICI, The
Aditya Birla Group, The Bombay Stock
Exchange, IDFC, HDFC, Forbes Marshall
and the RPG Group.
Akanksha mentees say:
“I share my family problems and
get guidance from my mentor didi.
This is extremely important to me
because i don’t know how to deal
with problems otherwise.” -
Babita, 17
“I
have learned a lot from my mentor
programme but the most important quality
it has taught me is that of self-reliance.”
- Masrud
“
The Mentor programme has increased
my confidence and also improved my
academic result by teaching me time
management and how to prepare a time
table.” -
Ramesh
“
The Mentor Program is like a staircase
that has helped in developing my knowledge
and also how to take the right decisions.
We now realize that the programme
has changed our thinking and made
it more positive.” -
Mamta and Parvati
Akanksha Mentor says:
“The
program is definitely helping the
kids. The changes in my previous mentee
were tremendous. He was very shy and
weak in his studies when he came here.
Now he has passed his tenth and is
in college. His confidence has grown
and his attitude has changed a lot.
Earlier, he would not talk to people
– now he is seen easily joking
with everyone. It helps us to understand
kids better also. I’ve been to
his house and met his family. It has
been a great experience.“
- Rinkoo
Somani - IDFC
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