Volunteers are enthusiastic, committed and creative individuals who believe that they can make a difference. Over 300 people volunteer their time at Akanksha every year. Volunteers are school and college students, housewives and professionals. The Akanksha volunteers add energy, creativity and compassion to each Akanksha center.

Here are some thoughts from Akanksha children, staff and teachers.

Volunteers get involved in varied ways. They:
• Assist in teaching at the centers
• Mentor children
• Help at the art class and in other programs
• Collect and donate materials for the centers
• Conduct workshops
• Make worksheets and other educational aids for Akanksha
• Organize special events for the children
• Assist with administrative tasks in the office
• Help at medical camps

We are looking for volunteers who share our vision and believe in the potential of each of our children.

Working at Akanksha has taught me the value of patience, not to get disheartened with the bad days. I learn from the fine bunch of dedicated teachers. I learn to keep laughing in times of stress and to look forward to a better society, city and country if we look after our children.
Amrita Didi

The children embrace you with their words and make you feel like a family. It has been a wonderful experience
Bhavya Didi

Akanksha is a place where each child and volunteer come in with an 'Akanksha', a dream. I came here with a wish to be able to make a difference and saw that there is a huge potential in these children. Akanksha aims at building a strong and powerful 'India'.
Neelima Didi

Mother Teresa had said - loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty. To me Akanksha endeavors to abolish these same unwanted feelings by empowering these kids by building their foundation in the English language, thus bridging the great divide between the privileged and the underprivileged.
Maya Didi

My first experience of Akanksha was the summer camp. We learnt acrobalance and juggling, but we also played games involving teamwork, strategy and creativity. It was extremely hot - but lots of fun. At the end of it I requested to volunteer at a center. During these four months, I have been energized, made to laugh and extremely impressed by you kids, by Sima Didi and all the other Didis and Bhaiyas. We have worked in some difficult conditions, like the leaking roofs during monsoons, mosquitoes and noisy gas trucks. But somehow we manage to get through our work! My country, Australia, lies thousands of kilometers across the ocean from here, but I feel that I will be taking a piece of Mumbai back with me now.
Jemma Didi

I believe that Akanksha is providing children with a well-rounded education which will help open countless opportunities for these children. Akanksha is creating a firm foundation from which these children will grow up to become strong, intelligent and caring individuals.
Chandni Didi

I never thought that this would give me the satisfaction and happiness that it has. The innocence, naughtiness and the unconditional love of the children brings out the child in me, and gives me inner strength to love them and teach them so that they are also able to stand up one day and say "I'm also a respected member of the society"
Ashima Didi

The children in Akanksha and the whole organization itself inspires you to make a difference and in the process those children end up making a difference to your life. Something similar happened to me. I try and put a smile on the faces of these kids and a smile comes on my face. I love the idea of coming to Akanksha. The kids make you feel nice about yourself. I feel as though I am doing something whenever I come to volunteer.
Neha Didi

Akanksha has made me more humble. I am genuinely happy spending time with the children and knowing that I have helped them. When I started teaching at my centre, I noticed that some students learned at a precipitous rate while others struggled with the most basic concepts. For me, it has been very humbling to realize how a child's demographic information almost exactly transforms him or her as a student. I sometimes catch myself viewing my better students as naturally smarter because they are faster learners. I, as a teacher, have to occasionally remind myself that the weaker students are less privileged and that is the main reason for their underperformance.
Vikram Bhaiya

I love being around kids, love the mischief, the fun and the fact that it is combined with the entire learning process. The fact that I am a part of this process means a lot to me.
Tarini Didi

"I feel that this work will lead to great results in the long run. Its planting orchards for the future which will lead to great - fruit bearing trees."
Mohd. Reza

The thing which really touches my heart is the quality of unadulterated love that one receives from these children.
Alka Didi

I have been a part of Akanksha for several years. Now it is a part of me. I have a lot of friends there, little ones and big ones and I enjoy being with them.'
Ruchira Didi

Akanksha is a great initiative! However, I feel that we have to learn from the Akanksha endeavor and do our bit as there is so much more that needs to be done!
Sandeep Bhaiya

A social revolution is surely on the cards.
Aniket Bhaiya

I believe that Akanksha is helping the children grow in many ways. First of all Akanksha is giving the children a strong educational base necessary for their independent growth. Secondly, Akanksha is helping them to develop their personality, realize what they are and what they can be. Thirdly, Akanksha is helping the children learn basic moral values which would help them blossom into good individuals.
Jananvi Didi

What do we need to succeed in a practical world? Communication skills, people skills, confidence, discipline and discontentment with the status quo.

Being a volunteer at Akankha's unique programme allows me to help underprivileged kids. It helps me to understand and implement all the above-mentioned things. What better way to make a difference?
Sameer Bhaiya

I think what Akanksha does is fantastic. These kids are great - they're smart, sweet and they want to learn. Akanksha provides them with resources and opportunities that they may not typically be exposed to due to their background. It's a joy to come in and see their smiling faces every morning. It's heart-warming to see them saying prayers and singing patriotic sings in unison.
Priyanka Didi

Akanksha helps in encouraging and rearing untapped spirit in less privileged children. It is a unique and beautiful effort to help these unique children to be strong and make them proud individuals in today's world.
Shyam Bhaiya

When I opened the door to the Akanksha office, I saw a vibrant and cheerful place. It did not take me long to realize that it was the same spirit that was embodied in everyone who works here. It was my first visit to the center, where I saw the confidence in the voices of the children, the happiness on their faces and the pride in their eyes that made me realize that I never would want to leave.
Deepti Didi