5 Reasons why you need to Fundraise with Akshaya Patra

Always wanted to try your hand at fundraising? Well here are 5 reasons you need to fundraise with Akshaya Patra!

1.       Improve child nutrition – The Akshaya Patra Foundation currently serves wholesome mid-day meals to over 1.4 million children across 10,845 Government schools in India every day. You can help us reach out to more.

2.       Improve school enrolment and attendance – The mid-day meals have been proved to give children an incentive to attend school, thereby ensuring that more children are getting educated each year.

3.       Avail tax exemption – You can contribute to Akshaya Patra and save on taxes too. With every donation above Rs. 500, avail 100 per cent tax exemption under section 35AC of the Indian Income Tax Act.

4.       Transparency and accountability – Rest assured that you can rely on Akshaya Patra for absolute transparency and accountability. Akshaya Patra is also in the ICAI Hall of Fame for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

5.       Have a great time – Fundraising with Akshaya Patra is a fun-filled experience. Start a campaign, coordinate with your friends, and have a blast for a good cause!

So do you want to fundraise with us and don’t know from where to start? It’s very simple: you can use any of these fundraising ideas to support The Akshaya Patra Foundation:

• Organising an event (sports event, home brunch) or a collection (in places like shopping centres or supermarkets)
• Fundraising at schools, at work place or at home
• Creating online fundraising campaigns of your own

You can also refer to our website to get some more ideas. If you have any ideas other than these, you can also use them to raise funds, fundraise with us. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is happy to help you execute your own novel fundraising ideas by providing you with our branding guidelines, and the branding material you need. Are you still finding it difficult? 

If yes, contact us at infodesk@akshayapatra.org. Our team is always ready to help and guide you!

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Telling our story differently, How?

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO running the world largest mid-day meal programme. It caters to more than 1.4 million children in 10,845 govt. and govt. aided schools. It operates in 24 locations across 10 states in India. So, such an ever expanding organisation has to evolve constantly with the trends of how it communicates with its stakeholders, trustees, donors, beneficiaries, volunteers and well-wishers.

Here is how we move forward.  We’ll move to integrate content excellence with creative brilliance The purpose is to create ideas so effective which cross over different barriers that result in: Content that is meaningful and motivates relevant audiences, Content that drives business and marketing goals.

These ideas cater to organisation’s interests, Stakeholders’ interests as well as Public interest. Akshaya Patra stories tell about the foundation’s progress, development, activities, beneficiaries and more. And through the stories we share, we’ll provoke conversations that fuel action and reaction throughout the year.

To do the above it requires a plan that includes scope of activities, key deliverables and outcomes before getting started. We need to develop elements of an idea that get dispersed systematically across multiple channels of conversation for the purpose of creating a unified and coordinated experience using a system wise storytelling approach.

Our stories should show commitment to our cause. As it’s a huge creative opportunity we have to partner with the teams to decide what inspirations we need to push and what stories we share. The right story about Akshaya Patra will always give the right message and eventually earn the right reaction.

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Feeding the future of India

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian NGO implementing the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme across Government schools. It was initiated in the year 2000 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Initially it began feeding in five Government schools of the Bengaluru city. Witnessing the overwhelming response for the need of the programme, Akshaya Patra strategically began expanding its operations to other parts of the state and eventually to other states of India. Currently, Akshaya Patra is feeding Government school children of 24 locations across 10 states namely: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. In total, Akshaya Patra feeds more than 1.4 million children every day across the country.

These beneficiaries come from humble background but bring with them high aspirations. They are determined enough to not let their unfavourable socio-economic status come as a hurdle when it is the question of pursuing their dreams. At Akshaya Patra, each meal has its own unique story. Hence, the NGO ensures that it provides nutritious, hygienic and tasty food on each day. It also designs its menu based on the location to cater to the local palate. For example: the menu of Akshaya Patra kitchen at Karnataka will cater to South Indian palate whereas the menu item of Akshaya Patra Gujarat will cater to North Indian palate.

Over the years of implementation of mid-day meal, the Government of India along with partner NGOs has witnessed positive impact on the growth, development and regularity to school among children. Studies have also brought to fore that there has been increase in enrolment and attendance, also decreasing the rate of dropout. Mid-Day Meal Scheme has shown significant results in countering classroom hunger among children. These positive alterations during the growth years of children give them the confidence to lead a self-sustaining life in the future. It instils in them the determination and certainty of being able to come out of the vicious cycle of poverty, hunger and illiteracy.

Join Akshaya Patra in feeding the future of India and creating sustainable assets.

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Impact of mid-day meal on growing children

Over the years, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme has proved itself to be a supporting pillar in the overall development of children even at the grass root level of the society. The Scheme that was initiated by Government of India is being implemented by various Non-Governmental Organisations too. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one among the various NGOs. Akshaya Patra began providing school lunch at five Government schools in Bengaluru city of Karnataka in 2000. This was even before the official central mandate in 2003 by the Government of India to provide free cooked mid-day meal at all Government schools. But after the mandate was passed, Akshaya Patra partnered with the Government of India in providing cooked meals at schools. Since then, Akshaya Patra has been working in a Public-Private Partnership model to achieve the six objectives of the Central Mid-Day Meal Scheme i.e.:

• Eliminating classroom hunger
• Increasing school enrolment
• Increasing school attendance
• Improving socialization among castes 
• Addressing malnutrition, and
• Women empowerment

During the course of implementing the mid-day meal programme for 15 years now, Akshaya Patra has also conducted impact studies of the programme in association with noted research organisations. The Akshaya Patra kitchen process and operations has also become a part of prestigious institutes like Harvard Business School. Below are mention of few impact studies that clearly showcase the significance and potential of the mid-day meal programme in eliminating classroom hunger, improving child health and also increasing enrolment and concentration of children.

·         ‘Assessment of Mid-Day Meal Programme In 8 States’ by Sigma Research and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

·         ‘Impact Assessment Study Report of The Akshaya Patra Foundation - HPCL Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects (2012-13)’ by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)

·         ‘Report on Measuring the Impact of Mid- Day-Meal on Child Growth’ by Department of Public Health Manipal University

·         ‘Evaluation of the Mid-Day Meal Programme – June 2012’ by Kusuma Trust U.K.

·         ‘Impact study 2012’ by Edumedia

·         ‘Impact Assessment of The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s Mid-Day Meal Programme 2010’ by A.C. Nielsen

·         ‘Akshaya Patra: Feeding India's School Children’ by Harvard business school

A click on Akshaya Patra Impact Studies will take you to the details of each of the above mentioned studies. To support Akshaya Patra, donate online to charity.

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Happy and healthy smiles-Akshaya Patra Foundation

A child’s smile is a treat to every eye and when it reflects good health it’s even more fulfilling. Reason being this, The Akshaya Patra Foundation is on a constant thrive to provide wholesome and nutritious meals to underserved children across the country. The vision of the not-for profit clearly states that ‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.’ This vision was a result of Srila Prabhupada’s heart wrenching experience when he saw a group of children fighting with stray dogs over scraps of food in Mayapur, a village near Calcutta. More than a decade’s service has led Akshaya Patra to understand that it’s not just enough to provide food, it is more important to sustain the hopeful smiles of the young hearts.

It has been witnessed that mid-day meal is the only wholesome meal of the day for most Government school children.

Akshaya Patra understands that each meal carries a unique story with it and thus puts all its efforts in preparing and providing clean, hygienic and nutritious meal to each of its beneficiary. The Foundation also takes care of the taste factor while preparing meals for the young hearts and thus it ensures that the menu of each region caters to the local palate so that children can relish their meal. Currently, Akshaya Patra is operational in 24 locations covering all the four directions of the vast landscape. As roti (Indian flat bread) is staple to North India, it becomes an integral part of the mid-day meal served in the northern locations. Similarly, rice is staple to South Indian cuisine and thus gets its due place in the mid-day meal menu of the southern locations.

When children eat wholeheartedly it gets reflected in their health, academics and co-curricular activities. They actively participate in various activities that sharpen their abilities and skills to make them confident, responsible and self-driven citizens. Akshaya Patra by itself would not have been able to achieve the scale of feeding 1.4 million children each day. The support from Government, benevolent donors and supporters has enabled the Foundation to reach its current bandwidth of providing nutritious meal each day. The result of that can be seen in the happy smiles and determined aspirations of the beneficiaries. Stories of Hope will take you to a tour of happy smiles that challenge all odds.

Support Akshaya Patra to upkeep these healthy smiles. @ https://www.akshayapatra.org/onlinedonations


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International Labour Day

International Labour Day is also known as International Workers’ Day in some places or as May Day. It is observed internationally every year on May 1 to commemorate the 4th of May of 1886, the Haymarket affair (Haymarket Massacre) in the Chicago. In India, the first May Day was observed in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan led by Singaravelu Chettiar in Chennai. International Labour Day is observed to encourage and promote international labour associations. International Labour Day is celebrated to finish the struggle of workers, uplift the dignity of workforce, promote eight-hour work day along with promoting and creating awareness about factors like safety and welfare at work. 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation has a considerable workforce who put in all their efforts, sincerity and commitment to make sure that millions of children receive regular mid-day meal at school. The workforce at the kitchens leaves no stone unturned to prepare meals in a clean, hygienic and nutritious way so that each child can benefit from the one wholesome meal per day during their school lunch hour. The management of Akshaya Patra makes sure that safety and welfare of its entire workforce on board is always taken care of. Each employee at Akshaya Patra across all levels is scheduled for a maximum of eight hour work per day. 

Along with this Akshaya Patra follows the minimum wage act while remunerating its employees. The Foundation also organises health camps, sports day, annual day, staff outing and other important safety related seminars and talks. Aside regular wage, employees are recognised, appreciated and felicitated for their contribution to the Foundation in its endeavour to serve children.  

At Akshaya Patra, each employee is valued and their skill is respected. On International Labour Day, Akshaya Patra pays gratitude to all the employees of the organisation in particular and the entire workforce of the world in general.  

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National Geographic Channel to feature Akshaya Patra in Mega Kitchens

Mega Kitchens is one of the most popular series in the National Geographic Channel and The Akshaya Patra Foundation is proud to have been selected to get featured in this series. In an episode titled ‘Akshaya Patra - Shiksha Ka Mahabhog’ the Foundation’s kitchen will be telecasted on Monday, 27^th April 2015 at 9 p.m. (IST) in the NGC Mega Kitchens. It will be a documentary on how Akshaya Patra cooks millions of meals every day to feed children so that they continue coming to school and receive rightful education.

With the mid-day meal being taken care of children has the opportunity to concentrate in their academics and also excel in co-curricular activities. This series will give an inside view to Akshaya Patra’s kitchen operations and processes. Click Akshaya Patra - Shiksha Ka Mahabhog to get a sneak peek into the episode.

Click here to view more Akshaya Patra videos. 

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Akshaya Patra supports women every day

International Women’s Day was just celebrated on the 8th of March. The Akshaya Patra Foundation aside from providing the mid-day meal programme to Government school children also works for other social causes in different ways. One cause that is very close to Akshaya Patra is equality of women and men.

Akshaya Patra works to provide equal opportunity regardless of gender in a few ways. Through the mid-day meal programme Akshaya Patra feeds every child attending school, irrespective of gender. Very often only boys in low income families are encouraged to study, while the girls have to sacrifice their dreams. However with the mid-day meal parents are only too happy to send their daughters to school too since it reduces the burden to feed them. This way Akshaya Patra provides both food and education to both boys and girls.

Akshaya Patra also supports women through employment. With kitchens in 23 locations across the country which employ women in different capacities, Akshaya Patra provides women with economic independence as well as self-esteem and local standing. Two of Akshaya Patra’s kitchens are also decentralised which are primarily run by women self-help groups.

Akshaya Patra also provides additional support by serving the mid-day meal at local Anganwadis to pregnant women, lactating mothers and infants. This way Akshaya Patra ensures that they meet their nutritional requirements in this delicate period of their lives.

Support the programme and make sure more girls are fed and educated every day. Donate here.

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A Compassionate Akshaya Patra Beneficiary

Nausheen is a student of class nine in the Zilla Parishad High School in Telangana, a beneficiary school of the Akshaya Patra mid-day meal programme. Though she is so young she is already a very emotionally mature and compassionate young lady. She does extremely well in class and already knows what her ambition is. "I want to become a lecturer. I love Hindi language and I want to become a good teacher to my students," she says.

Part of what Nausheen also loves about school is the Akshaya Patra mid-day meal. "I love the khichdi (rice and lentils) served by Akshaya Patra,” she exclaims.

Nausheen’s older sister, Afreen, also studies at the same school in class ten. Her sister lives with an ailment of the hand that prevents her from being able to move the limb. This affliction has caused her so much upset that often she refuses to eat the Akshaya Patra lunch provided at the school in case her classmates make fun of her.

Nausheen, at such a young age, has already taken on the responsibilities of helping her mother and sister with their chores, with compassion.

On hearing Nausheen and her sister’s story we were moved to take assurances from the teachers of the school that efforts would be made to make Afreen more comfortable. We hope that she has the opportunity to feel happy and settled, enjoying Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meal served hot on the school campus.

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Akshaya Patra wins Platinum at AVA Digital Awards 2015

Receiving yet another prestigious award The Akshaya Patra Foundation was recently conferred Platinum in the AVA Digital Awards 2015. Akshaya Patra received this award for the film ‘The Possibilities’, under the category of ‘Video for web/nonprofit’.

About 2,500 entries were submitted to the contest across 18 countries. From these entries about 15 per cent are awarded the Platinum award, which Akshaya Patra is proud to be included in. These Platinum winners are decided based on excellence in quality, creativity and resourcefulness. The submissions were evaluated by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals’ judges who analysed each entry to see if it would prove to be a benchmark for the industry.

The AVA Digital Awards has been conceptualised to recognise and honour creative professionals in the realms of concept, direction, design and production of the media that is used in digital communications. These awards pay tribute to the audio-visual and web industries, and highlight the extensive journey that both these industries have travelled over the years.

Aside from the Platinum award, there is also the Gold award which is conferred to the participants whom the judges feel have exceeded the high standards of the industry.

It is an honour for Akshaya Patra to be awarded this prestigious Platinum position.

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