Each year, 14th November is celebrated as Children’s Day in India as a tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. He who was very fond of children and advocated for their education and development. Several organisations and educational institutes conduct awareness campaigns and programmes on health, rights and education of children. This Children’s Day, celebrate with Akshaya Patra.

Let’s rewind few years and reach those days when we attended the school assembly to celebrate Children’s Day. Inspiring speeches by principals and teachers with the emphasis that childhood is the best phase of life… motivating plays and activities stirring our confidence ‘I will work hard and do everything to reach my goal’ and evoking the desire ‘I want an amazing future’… Now, fast forward the years to reach the present when you are reading this blog. Take a moment to ask a simple question to yourself, ‘Have I achieved what I aspired for as a child?’

There are so many of us who wanted to do something totally different from what we are actually doing today. It’s not our failure; rather as they ‘life happens’ and we put aside our dreams to address something that was the need of the hour. But, deep within the desire remains! Well, here is an opportunity to fulfil your dream!

So many dreams and more… do you identify with any of them either completely or may be slightly? Well, these are also the dreams of 18,02,517 children who are the beneficiaries of The Akshaya Patra Foundation. And, you never know, some of them could be from your own neighbourhood too! The fact is, the progress towards these dreams is possible only when children get a chance to attend school!

School meal is a significant intervention in supporting education of children belonging to challenging socio-economic backgrounds. It is the provision of this meal that opens up the gates of school for millions of children. Akshaya Patra has been relentlessly striving for the past 19 years to provide this much-needed school meals to children. Presently, the Foundation serves freshly cooked, nutritious school meals daily to 18,02,517 children studying in 16,856 Government schools and Government-aided schools across 51 locations of 12 States and 2 Union Territories. Your support for food for education on Children’s Day will ensure that millions of children eat healthy, study well, and step closer to their ambitions.

This Children’s Day, stretch your arms to reach a child who has the determination and willpower to fight all odds to reach school and progress towards their ambitions; all they need is a little support for their school meals. Your choice to donate for children will ensure they receive their daily share of nutritious meals, regular schooling, and also make them a part of Akshaya Patra’s child-centric initiatives such as scholarship programmes, talent development programme, and school and student transformation programme.

This Children’s Day, live your dream by empowering children to reach their dreams. Support food for education.

September – a month dedicated to fight against hunger crisis is also known as
‘Hunger Action Month.’ All September long, Akshaya Patra runs an annual campaign
focusing on awareness and encouraging people to end classroom hunger
by donating mid-day meals for children in India.

Life can’t be full on an empty stomach! This Hunger Action Month, we wish that all children in India could have a fulfilling life – studying, playing, and enjoying healthy meals with their friends at school.

Let’s hear from Jinal, a Standard III student from Ambaypura Primary School, Pratapura, Gujarat and one of the Akshaya Patra beneficiaries, to know how one mid-day meal on every school day helps her to pursue education and strengthens her aspiration to become a teacher.

Little Jinal is a lively girl who always has the brightest smile on her face. It’s difficult for one to know that Jinal lost her parents and is staying with 2 younger siblings at their extended family. Facing obstacles at such a young age, Jinal still tries her best at school and is inspired to become a teacher in the future. Every day, Jinal enjoys Akshaya Patra’s school lunch with her friends. She especially likes rice and dal a lot! This wholesome mid-day meal is the only one she has and it motivates Jinal to study and continue to work towards making her dream come true.

Akshaya Patra’s efforts:
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian NGO based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The NGO has been the implementing partner of the Government of India’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme since 2000. It provides free, nutritious, wholesome mid-day meals to schoolchildren. Present in 12 states of India, The Akshaya Patra Foundation feeds 1.76 million children in 16,788 Government and Government-aided schools on every school day.

We understand that with an empty stomach, children cannot concentrate on their studies and school activities, which hinders their ability to learn, grow, and develop. Thus, every September Akshaya Patra holds its annual Hunger Action Month campaign to raise awareness and encourage participation of the society to help eliminate classroom hunger.

You can help us:
You can help millions of children like Jinal from challenging backgrounds to follow their dreams by sponsoring their mid-day meals in the Hunger Action Month. One wholesome and freshly-cooked meal can provide children with nutrition and energy to study and take part in school activities. Parents will also be more confident to send their children to schools.

Your donations will not only fill children’s plate but also their hopes and dreams