Akshaya Patra Beneficiary – An Engineer in the Making!

Dreaming is one thing and the quest to achieve it despite all odds is altogether a different story. As children, we must have had our special dreams of pursuing a particular profession. But, over time many of us negotiated with our dreams either due to lack of resources, unavoidable circumstances, or maybe we didn’t hold on to our dreams as much as we should have. However, that’s not how Manikanta possesses his dream! And, that’s not how The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a mid-day meal NGO in Bangalore perceives each dream!

Manikanta is a Standard VIII student at GHPS School, Doddabettahalli, Karnataka. He aspires to be an engineer and does not let any challenges and hurdles come in the way of his aspiration. Manikanta hails from an economically challenged background. He is well aware of his family’s situation and the struggle his parents go through every day to support the family of six. Manikanta’s parents work as labourers and their earning isn’t sufficient to support his dream. Yet, this has not deterred this young boy’s zeal and determination to become an engineer.

An Akshaya Patra beneficiary, Manikanta says, “I love the pulav (a dish made of rice and vegetables) served at school. I love Akshaya Patra’s meals as it is hot and tasty.” He is one of the millions of children getting benefitted by the Foundation’s mid-day meal programme in schools. The programme ensures nutritious school lunch for over 4 million children in Karnataka and over 7 million children across India, on each school day.

The mid-day meal is a source of nutrition for children. It is a significant factor that brings children to school every day, provides them with the required nutrition, and allows them to get closer to their dreams. So that Akshaya Patra can continue providing wholesome meals to Manikanta and many children like him, it requires your support.

Change occurs only when you act! So, step up and actively contribute your time and resources towards this NGO in Bangalore. Your involvement will open avenues for millions of young children to achieve their aspirations and dreams.

Read Manikanta’s full story at Meet Manikanta: Our Would-be Engineer!

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My mom would feel proud to see me save lives

Wanting to make their parents proud is a dream many children nurture. Manasi Lohar, beneficiary of an NGO in Gujarat, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, is one such child. She is studying in Std V in Smt Tarabhen Modak Primary School in Surat, Gujarat. “I want to study well and become a doctor,” says Manasi, who loves reading about new things every day. The 10-year-old wants to be a doctor so that she can save people’s lives. She also adds, “It’s my mother’s dream to see me achieve big things in life. I want to make her proud.” Apart from Gujarat, Akshaya Patra also served Mid-day Meals to children in other countries.

Manasi’s mother is a homemaker, while her father works in a factory. She has an elder sister, who studies in Std VII and a younger brother in Std II. She likes to participate in various competitions that are held in school. She stood second in an essay-writing competition that was held recently to spread awareness about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission). The young girl advocates the importance of keeping surroundings clean. 

Math is Manasi’s favorite subject because she finds it challenging to solve mathematical problems. As for sports, she likes playing kho-kho and kabaddi.

Manasi relishes Mid-day Meals served in Surat by Akshaya Patra. She says it’s tasty, like homemade food. She lists the dishes that are served in her school like khichdi, varan (daal), poli (roti) and others. Of these, she says, khichdi is her favorite and adds that food is important for our growth because it provides necessary nutrients.

Mansi is just one of the many children who needs your support. Be a part of the initiative to make their dreams come true. To sponsor a child, donate online.

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Meet Sanjana – Mid-Day Meal Beneficiary Who Tops Her Class

For Sanjana, it’s just another day at school; she reaches school around 9 am, completes pending homework, attends the morning assembly and gets on with Std VIII classes for the rest of her day. Government Higher Primary School, located in Bairidevara Koppa, Hubballi, is well maintained and the students here are quite enthusiastic. A section of this school was built under the ‘Freedom through Education’ project led by Round Table India.

Sanjana Borashetti from Hubballi is not just a school topper but is also the go-to person for her classmates. She also has her own collection of Kannada poems. After school, she leaves for home that has grown accustomed to living without electricity. Sanjana and her family have been living without electricity for four years. In order to study and complete her homework, Sanjana uses a torch. “There are two torches at home. I use one while studying,” she says.

For this young girl, Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meal in Karnataka is a boon. She and her siblings have been dependent on mid-day meals for many years and Akshaya Patra, an NGO in Karnataka is glad to be making a difference in their lives. Her story gives us an in-depth understanding on why social development initiatives like Food for Education are important in nation building. To help the initiative, you can donate towards education in India by sponsoring a child for a year. To read more about Sanjana’s life and other beneficiaries, visit stories of children.

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Manthan – Ready to Conquer the Stage | Hope Stories

Life, with its many uncertainties and challenges, is made a lot better by the various forms of entertainment and the creative forces behind them – entertainers. Manthan Jikadra, a beneficiary of Akshaya Patra, an NGO in Surat, wants to be one such entertainer. This diamond in the rough, studying in Std VI in Maharana Pratap Primary School in Surat, Gujarat, dreams of to being a stage actor and entertaining a live audience with his dramatic performances.

Akshaya Patra Beneficiary

Manthan diligently attends school, as he believes that education is the vehicle to his dreams. He also likes opportunities to participate in different programmes arranged in school. Recently, the young boy, the son of a father who is a teacher and a mother who runs a small-time tailoring business, took part in an elocution competition centered on the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Akshaya Patra’s delightful little blue van that delivers its mid-day meal in Surat to Manthan’s school has made quite an impression on his mind – he remembers its details vividly. About the food, he says, “Akshaya Patra food is tasty and protein-rich, which is why we like it. It is very nutritious, prepared using carrots, pumpkins, and other such healthy vegetables. The menu is different every day; sometimes there is Dal Dhokli, sometimes Khichdi.”

In conclusion, Manthan opines, “If we want to be healthy, we should eat this food. It helps in our overall physical and mental development.” The NGO’s food for education initiative is thus enriching lives of school children and powering their dreams for the future.

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Ashwini – Beneficiary with a Flourishing Dream

Food for Education has benefitted millions of children in India in remarkable ways. Ashwini Beriskar, a 13-year-old student from Surat, is an Akshaya Patra beneficiary who gets mid-day meals in her school. Akshaya Patra team, an NGO in Surat and other places in India, recently met Ashwini who shared her dreams of becoming an Information Technology (IT) professional.

Mid-day meals in Surat have been operational since 2012 and today, 337 government and aided schools in this city are benefitted by Akshaya Patra’s school lunch Programme. Ashwini is one the students who represents many others who are just like her; determined and proud of her family. Her father, rickshaw driver, is the only earning member in the family and mother is a housewife. 

As a student, she likes participating in essay contests, dancing competitions and enjoys one of the most challenging subjects – Math. And as a beneficiary, she enjoys mid-day meals provided in her school; her favourite dish is Khichdi. She says, "These mid-day meals are important because not everyone brings tiffin from home, especially children whose parents leave early for work and don’t have the time to prepare food." Then, there are students who get food from home sometimes. The rest of the days they are dependent on Akshaya Patra food. Even those who bring tiffin eat this food.”

For complete story, read at Ashwini – Akshaya Patra Beneficiary

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A Story of a Girl to Become a Lawyer

They say lawyers around the world are sentinels of justice and it is important that every country gets sincere lawyers to defend citizens’ cause. An Akshaya Patra’s beneficiary’s dream belongs here and the organisation takes pride in sharing children’s success stories.

Meet the 12-year-old Saraswathi who dreams of becoming a lawyer to protect the rights of citizens. She studies in Std VI at Kannavi Honnapura Higher Primary School, Hubballi in Karnataka. Saraswathi says she would like to uphold the most vital aspect of being a legal professional –honesty. “I want to be a good lawyer. I will not accept bribes. I will stand for justice. I will remain true to my profession,” she says.

(Full Story: https://www.akshayapatra.org/stories-of-children/aspiring-lawyer-saraswathi)

Like most children, uniforms hold an appeal for Saraswathi too. She says “The lawyer’s robe signifies their power. Wearing a lawyer’s uniform will fill me with greater pride for my profession.” The Akshaya Patra Foundation serves mid-day meals in her school and many students including Saraswathi are humbled by the organisation’s service. With smile she says, “I like the food served, since it is warm and fresh. I especially like the Pulao. The lunch makes me happy and is one of the reasons I like coming to school.”

Akshaya Patra, an NGO in Hubballi and other parts of the country, wishes all the best for Saraswathi’s future endeavours. Join Akshaya Patra in bringing children closer to happiness through mid-day meals.

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Meet Gagana, Akshaya Patra Beneficiary - Inspired to Uphold Law

When children dream big, the possibilities of witnessing a successful nation is high. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, children NGO in Bengaluru, is working towards eliminating hunger among school children – an issue that leads to school drop-out. Here’s a testimony of a beneficiary who is inspired to achieve big.

Gagana, an Akshaya Patra beneficiary, carries an ambition that can protect the rights of every individual – to become a lawyer. A 13-year-old student of Std VII at Government Higher Primary School, Jyothipura, Bengaluru, intends to be a part of illustrious fraternity of lawyers. 

“I want to become a lawyer because I want to throw all wrongdoers in jail. I would uphold the law and protect the clients’ rights. I will remain loyal to my work and not accept bribe,” says Gagana who is fascinated by lawyers working method – drawing logical conclusions and mapping issues with limited information. In the process of reaching her goal, Gagana wants to excel in studies, be independent, and also lend a helping hand to her parents. Gagana’s father is a labourer and mother works as a housemaid.

Akshaya Patra, a children’s NGO, is currently providing mid-day meals to over 1.6 million children and Gagana is one among them. Talking about the variety of menu of mid-day meals, she says, “I like all the meals served by Akshaya Patra and Bisi Bele Bath is my favourite. I also love the sweet.”  Her siblings – a brother in Std IX and a sister in Std VI – both of whom are Akshaya Patra’s beneficiaries, are encouraged by the Foundation’s programme. Gagana’s favourite subjects are Hindi and Kannada. She elaborates with a smile, “I like the way Miss Devika teaches Hindi and Kannada. She motivates us to learn and also advises us. I will work hard and score good grade.”

Here is the government case study on menu based mid-day meals.

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