It’s that time of the year again. Final exams are underway and children across the country are frantically studying to move on to the next class. This is a hugely important time for children, especially those from low income families studying in Government schools. This is a chance for them to show their parents that they made the right choice in sending their children to school instead of earning money for the family.

But their success in school hasn’t come overnight. Many children attending Government schools have suffered severe malnutrition because of the hard conditions they live with at home. Often their parents barely make enough money to feed their child even one square meal a day, and the results are obvious in stunted physical growth, low energy levels, poor ability to concentrate and assimilate information, poor language and social skills, and more.

Driven by hunger and the lure of Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meal programme, many children enrol in school to enjoy at least one healthy, filling meal in the day. Over time, regular access to this nutritious food has helped the children overcome their problems to a large extent, and allowed them to start performing well in class.

The good food that all the Akshaya Patra beneficiaries enjoy when they attend school has helped over 1.4 million children across India become healthier both physically and mentally, and attend classes regularly too. This combination of good health, regular attendance in school, and personal determination has gone a long way in preparing the children to excel in their final examinations.

We’re rooting for them for their examinations and for all their success in the future too!

Raise the cricket fever to the next level by taking part in #TicketToCheer supported by ESPNcricinfo, foodpanda and freecharge! This initiative undertaken in aid of Akshaya Patra gives cricket fans an opportunity to buy a ‘ticket to cheer’ for their favourite team in the World Cup, and use their passion for cricket to support a child’s mid-day meals for an entire year.*

All it takes is four simple steps:

• Select your favourite team and match
• Choose the number of tickets, and contribute to the cause (Each ticket is valued at Rs. 750, enough to feed one Akshaya Patra beneficiary for an entire year)
• Receive your Ticket to Cheer for your selected team and match
• Share your personalised Ticket to Cheer on social media

#TicketToCheer is a fabulous chance for fans to come together to support their favourite teams and celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship on social media, and change the life of a child at the same time. In addition to this participants can also avail of a 100 per cent tax exemption on all donations above Rs. 500!

So log onto #TicketToCheer right now to support your team, and help feed a child for an entire year!

*The initiative provides an opportunity for fans to express their support for their favourite teams, and underserved children through social media. However it does not provide access related to the ongoing cricket world cup.