This week, we focus on the girl child. She is often neglected, underestimated and relegated to the background. She is expected to give way to her brothers, even if she is smarter by a mile. Often, when the family faces a financial crisis, she is the one expected to drop out of school, and fend for herself. Akshaya Patra has played a crucial role in the lives of many such young girls. By providing them with a free mid-day meal at school, we’ve given them their aspirations back. We’ve helped feed many a young girl’s dreams. Here are a few inspiring stories of young girls who with a little help from us, beat the odds and get educated every day.

Meghashree
Tough, intelligent and mild-mannered, Meghashree is someone who knows her goals. She wishes to become a Software Engineer someday. She has a single mother who struggles to send her three children to school, and Meghashree knows only too well the importance of studying hard and getting a scholarship. Even at her young age, she does not want her mother to feel burdened by her dreams, or with the responsibility of providing for her. She says that the mid-day meal provided at school eases the pressure on her mother a bit, and gives her the energy to keep going.

Shyamala
Her young shoulders carry the burden of her whole family. After Shyamala’s mother died, she started cooking for her father and brother, but sometimes, she has to ask her aunt for food. However, her father ensured that the children are enrolled in school. There they have a filling, nutritious mid-day meal every day. Her dream is to get a stable job and look after her family.

Suchismita
“I want to be a Police Officer when I grow up and throw all the thieves in prison”, exclaims Suchismita, when asked about her ambition. She comes from a family of limited means, and school is a way of out her current situation. The teachers like her for being sweet natured, and say that she has a keen interest in Social Sciences and English. For Suchismita and her sibling, the food they provide at school is a huge blessing, and her favourites are soya bean and matar paneer!

It is heart-warming stories like these that push us to redouble our efforts to provide food for education to children in need. Help us raise awareness and support for our cause by sharing this article and our other work with your friends and family.

Dear Aunty/Uncle,

How are you? I am fine, thank you. My name is Rani. I am studying in the 10th standard. We do not know each other, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for changing my life forever.

I come from a small village outside Bangalore. My parents moved to the city to find work, leaving behind their farms. It was not easy at all. My father found work on a construction site and my mother works in other people’s houses. Even I had to do small-small jobs to earn money. There was no other way. How would we eat otherwise? I thought moving to a big city meant that I could go to school. But it looked like an impossible dream.

Then one day, we heard about this school that feeds children. I begged my parents to consider sending me to school now. After all, their burden would be reduced, right? After much pleading, they finally agreed. And I started going to school. My first day at school was the happiest day of my life. I’ve never missed a single day of school since then.

At school, I asked my teacher, “Who is sending us this food?” The teacher told me that it was you, and many more people like you. She told me that you made a special contribution to help Akshaya Patra make this meal for me. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you, and to Akshaya Patra. That is why I am writing you this letter today, to thank you. I cannot imagine my life without this meal and without this school.

Please keep up the good work. I will also send you letters from time to time, telling you about what is happening in my life.
Yours sincerely,
Rani