The history of Raksha Bandhan dates back thousands of years. It is one of the oldest traditions observed in India to celebrate the special bond between brothers and sisters. It is an annual festival observed on the last day of the Shraavana month (Hindu lunar calendar) which typically falls in August. On this day, the sister ties the sacred thread – Rakhi – on her brother’s wrist and prays for his well-being and prosperity by performing the ritual of tilak and aarti; whereas the brother promises to protect and take care of his sister under all circumstances, and also presents her with gifts.

Each school day, Akshaya Patra nourishes millions of children across India. Among so many children there are many siblings who study in the same school and equally benefits from the mid-day meal. This Raksha Bandhan, we bring you a small story of one such brother-sister duo who believes in ‘sharing is caring’.

Kaveri and Darshan

Kaveri and Darshan study in the same school and has the vision to serve the nation and the people. Darshan, a student of Standard VII aspires to join the Indian Army in the future; and his sister, Kaveri, a student of Standard V aspires to be a doctor. Their parents work as street vendors to support the family, but despite hardships, this brother-sister duo is determined to achieve their dreams.

When asked about the kind of relationship they share with each other, Darshan being the elder one replied promptly,

“We believe in sharing is caring. We share our food, toys, stationeries, and even sweets. Both of us love the pulao that is served as a part of our school lunch. I promise to take care of my sister at all times. I want to help my sister with her studies in whatever way I can, and want to see her achieve the dream of becoming a doctor.”

To this Kaveri quickly added,

“And, I want to see my brother as an Army Officer. And, I want to be the first one to salute him.”

Well, as is evident, they not only share things, but also share the same wish for each other!

Alike Kaveri and Darshan, there are many brothers and sisters who despite all odds always care for each other and support each other’s dreams. And, celebrating this special bond of love, care, and protection,

Akshaya Patra wishes everyone a very Happy Raksha Bandhan!

Be a part of this celebration and support the bond of siblings by providing them the access to food and education. This Raksha Bandhan donate to Akshaya Patra in honour of your sibling.

If you wish to share your special ‘Brother & Me’ or ‘Sister & Me’ story, please make use of the below comment section. We would love to hear it!

The Akshaya Patra Foundation was recently certified as a Great Place to Work by Great Place to Work® Institute. Apart from employees, our interns play a major role in making the place what it is. V.S.M. Rama Abhishek T., a student from IMT College, Hyderabad shares his experience of interning with Akshaya Patra.

Q. Why did you choose this organisation?
A. As a part of my MBA curriculum, I had read about the case study on The Akshaya Patra Foundation by Harvard Business School. Following this, I did some research about the organisation and got to know more about the humongous task it has undertaken to serve wholesome food to millions of school children. It is not an easy task to provide hygienic and nutritious meals to so many children across several locations on each school day. I have always been interested in charity services and after knowing about the service of Akshaya Patra I had made up mind that given a chance I will definitely work for this organisation. Luckily, I got a chance to apply as an intern and was selected to be a part of the Corporate Partnerships Department.

Q. How was your typical day like?
A. At Akshaya Patra, every day I learnt something new and interesting. I reported to my mentor Balakumar Rajaram and we discussed so many things which improved my knowledge. I enjoyed doing the work that was assigned to me. Besides this, the employees of the organisation were very friendly and I got a chance to interact with quite a few of them during tea breaks and lunch breaks. I must say lunch was the best part of my day… I savoured the tastiest and the best meal throughout my internship!

Q. What were the challenges you faced? How did you overcome them?
A. I faced some challenges in with respect to the research bit of my work. But, my mentor Balakumar Rajaram guided me and helped me to improve my skills in it. I am very thankful to my mentor for guiding me and supporting me at all times.

Q. Any memorable moment you had at Akshaya Patra? What did you like the most about interning here?
A. I have multiple memorable moments to mention. I worked for one of the biggest events of the Foundation – ‘Giving Every Dream A Chance’. The event was wonderful and showcased the talents of the Foundation’s beneficiaries. The event was graced by well-known celebrities and some of the big donors of the Foundation. During the internship tenure, I had visited one of the beneficiary schools of Akshaya Patra and witnessed the way children enjoyed and relished their school meals. The students admitted that the Akshaya Patra meals take care of their lunch and it also upholds their hopes. Another moment was my last day of internship when my mentor and my team greatly appreciated my work.
I really liked the work here and learnt a lot. The guidance from the mentor and the colleagues was amazing. My mentor was always helpful and gave valuable inputs that improved my knowledge and skill. I liked the work culture and friendly environment.

Q. Why do you think Akshaya Patra is a ‘Great Place to Work’?
A. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a large non-profit organisation providing meals to millions of school children. The organisation is selflessly serving the children who are the future of our nation. So, the work of anyone associated with this organisation is not just a mere job, rather each one is involved in building the path for a developed nation. Besides, the work culture in Akshaya Patra is very nice and you can enjoy while working. Here, employees work with interest and commitment, not with pressure.

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6

To apply for internship with The Akshaya Patra Foundation, you can contact us on hr.helpdesk@akshayapatra.org