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. Raj Vardhan, a student from Jindal Global Law School, Bengaluru shares his experience of interning with Akshaya Patra.

Q. Why did you choose this organisation?
A. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a very reputed non-profit organisation which is known not only in the city but across the whole country. I thought it would be a new challenge and a new experience from which I can learn and benefit.

Q. How was your typical day like?
A. Every day was a new challenge for me. As a part of my job, I had to establish relationships with various corporates in the city and organise as many meetings and leads with them. This would cover most part of my day, and at other times I would research about CSR activities of different corporates and potential donors.

Q. What were the challenges you faced? How did you overcome them?
A. Since I had already done an internship at Akshaya Patra before, the environment and my job here was familiar, hence, I did not face any problem or difficulty. Even if I did face any problem in my work, my mentor, Mr. Balakumar, was always there to help me.

Q. Any memorable moment you had at Akshaya Patra? What did you like the most about interning here?
A. I might sound cheesy, but, my whole time at this wonderful organisation was a memorable one. I truly enjoyed interning at Akshaya Patra as everyone working here are extremely warm and kind. I got the opportunity to attend one of the meetings with a corporate which was a totally new experience for me, and I would consider this opportunity as one of the best things about the internship. Also, Akshaya Patra taught me many values that would certainly be helpful for me in the long run.

Q. Why do you think Akshaya Patra is a ‘Great Place to Work’?
A. The cause and the work environment at Akshaya Patra is extremely positive. The people of Akshaya Patra are very kind-hearted and are always willing to help each other. The impact this Foundation has on the lives of millions of children across the country is incredible and according to me that’s why it’s such a great place to work at.

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6  Part 7

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

Released on World Indigenous Day, ‘The First Learners’ gives us an insight into what education means to children living around the forest regions of Odisha.

Watch it here:

Akshaya Patra’s documentary, ‘The First Learners’, releases on the same day that UN has declared as International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. That is 9th of August. Through the eyes of two beneficiaries and heads of the schools, the film takes you on a journey to the forest and tribal belts of Odisha. The film also gives an insight into the role of education in bettering the lives of children by expanding their ideas and preparing them with a holistic outlook towards their future.

Indigenous People’s Day opens dialogue for global awareness of tribes around the world. The film which features tribes from Odisha addresses their simplicities, complexities and living pattern. Here are the two children whose stories underline the film:

13-year-old Laxmi lives in a quiet village in Odisha and often has to balance between helping out her single mother and receiving an education.

12-year-old Bishnu resides in Jaraikela. Despite dropping out of school for a while, he decided to go back to complete his education.

Tribal children often face difficulties with attaining education due to lack of awareness, and the need to help the family sustain. Despite a progressive change in the trend, the tribal community still lags in literacy rates, in comparison to the general population. Statistics have shown that the female literacy rates in India have gone up greatly, in the last 60 years. However, there is a need to create more awareness among the tribal population about the policies and development schemes made available for them.

Providing mid-day meals to school children whose families live hand-to-mouth has not only led to a growth in school attendance but also growth in awareness on the importance of education despite career choices.

In 1973, the State Government of Odisha set up a school in Ficrochundi forest (Rourkela Division) to make education accessible to children living in the forest area. Ficrochundi Project School with 56 students is an example of why decentralised kitchens are ideal in schools that are surrounded by a tough terrain. In such schools, Akshaya Patra works with Self Help Groups (SHGs) to cook meals at the premises; SHGs usually work in initiatives that cater to development, awareness, leadership and involvement for the benefit of society. The First Learners documentary gives you a visual summary of what a decentralised kitchen is and why it is set up.