Children’s dreams know no bounds. Some aspire to be astronauts or pilots, others envision becoming doctors or movie stars. Regardless of race, caste or economic background, all children in their heart of hearts dream of achieving something great. Sadly not enough children in developing countries receive the opportunity to actually make their dreams come true.

At The Akshaya Patra Foundation we work tirelessly to ensure that children are given the support they need to be able to attend school and achieve their goals. By addressing their need for food, Akshaya Patra also helps address their need for education. Through this programme we at the organisation have seen children blossom before our eyes, and revelled in the enthusiasm of young athletes, police officers, doctors, teachers, actors and much more.

This International Literacy Day we appeal to you to join with us so that you can be a part of these magical journeys too. Support a child’s meals for a year or more, and keep a child in school. Remember every child you help educate is another dream coming true.

Welcome to my summer project blog. I’m Jayati Sharma, a twelfth grader at Basis Scottsdale, a high school in the U.S. After having organised a benefit concert for the organisation, I’m conducting a research project with The Akshaya Patra Foundation, the largest NGO-run mid-day meal program in the world.

My main objective is to learn more about the noble organisation and to find ways to contribute to it further, while also focusing on certain nutritional aspects that make the program so successful.

What you’ll find in my blog posts are my thoughts on my travels: kitchen visits, interactions with schoolchildren, and interviews with a host of individuals working within the organisation. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I already am and find the cause just as uplifting and inspiring.

To read some of the posts and get a sense of Akshaya Patra’s real-world impact, please visit my blog: Akshaya Patra Summer Project 2015

Jayati