AIKYA Newsletter 2018 · The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organization which...

The Youth Initiative of The Akshaya Patra Foundation

Reflections

A AI YK

NEWSLETTER 2017-2018

The way we experience the world around us is a direct reflection of the world within us. Going by this statement, to reflect the good deeds of AIKYA, the youth initiative of The Akshaya Patra Foundation and make people experience the positivity in life and joy of helping others, we present to you ‘Reflections’, our annual newsletter. In the way how a mirror gives a reflection of oneself, our magazine ‘Reflections’ helps us to drive into the future by acting as a rearview mirror.

Reflections

Social Leaders | Selfless Service

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organization which strives to fight issues like hunger and malnutrition in India, by implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in the government and government-aided schools. Akshaya Patra aims not only to fight hunger but also to bring children to school. Today Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest (not-for-profit run) mid-day meal programme serving wholesome food to over 1.7 million children from 14,173 schools in 36 locations across 12 states in India.

AIKYA also offer opportunities like Swachh Bharat internships, summer internships, fellowships and chance to be a part of rural/village development camps and other community development projects to individuals from all walks of life. In a short span of one year, AIKYA has progressed leaps and bounds. Social leaders doing selfless service is the feather in our cap. With good success in all the activities organised, AIKYA has become unstoppable.

As part of our vision to create a pan India team of youth who love to serve their society, we have started initiatives like the AIKYA Leadership Forums. The forums are the first of its kind in India and provide a platform for college students to build and hone their leadership and communication capabilities. The forums aim to mould its members into persons of high character and ethics and while undertaking community development, they also provide leadership opportunities to its members, thereby creating social leaders. AIKYA believes that creating such social leaders will be helpful in taking our country a step forward in terms of social development along with solving complex social problems at various levels.

AIKYA is the youth initiative of The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Through our social initiatives, AIKYA invests in youth who show the potential to grow into leaders of society. With the help of our large base of volunteers, we undertake different community development projects including school education, environment, and cleanliness and hygiene. We develop our volunteers into social leaders who can bring positive changes in the community.

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4ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2017-2018

Reflections

To create a global network of spirited young volunteers

To conduct activities motivated by the primary purpose of serving society by undertaking social engineering and

community development projects through social leadership

who love to serve the society

Vision

Mission


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Our Core Values

Passion

Truthfulness

We encourage our members to develop the willingness to

take appropriate personal austerities in order to serve the

society.

We believe in being truthful in all our transactions

towards the society.

We believe that working with a burning drive to make a

difference is the greatest motivation to do something

meaningful.

CompassionWe believe in respecting every living being of God’s

creation, hence compassion is an integral value we

nurture. We do not consume animal-based products.

Austerity

In order to serve society better, we believe in keeping

ourselves clean internally and externally. Hence we

abstain from consuming any substance which puts us at

risk – smoking, drinking alcohol and consuming drugs.

Cleanliness


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Our Focus

Education

Environment

Cleanliness and Hygiene

Leadership

Community Development

We focus on development of underprivileged children by giving them value based education

We conduct tree plantation drives and also create environmental awareness

We conduct cleanliness drives and also create awareness among public

through various workshops & trainingWe create social leaders of high character and ethics

We encourage our volunteers to solve social issues at the grass root level and bring in a sustainable change


Reflections

OUR

FLAGSHIP EVENTS

AIKYA conducted Swacch Vidyarthi Swacch Vidyalaya Swacch Gruha event on the 2nd of October 2017 in pursuance of the aspiration of Mahatma Gandhi for a clean India and in response to the call by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.

More than 1000 volunteers from different colleges and educational institutions enthusiastically participated in the cleanliness drive which covered more than 20 important locations in and around Bengaluru. The campaign was flagged off by Sri R Ashok, Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Ms. Sushruthi Krishna, Femina Miss India (Runner Up) and renowned actress, Sanjana Galrani in the presence of Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation and Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation. The volunteers also went to different government schools across Bengaluru to create an awareness about the importance of personal hygiene and cleanliness in school and their homes.

Swacch Vidyarthi Swacch Vidyalaya Swacch Gruha

Ÿ 20+ locations cleaned

Ÿ 1000+ volunteers

participated

Ÿ 25+ swacchata awareness

campaigns carried out


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To bid adieu to the passing year and to welcome the New Year with a joy of serving, AIKYA conducted the New Year’s Celebration on 31st December 2017. The event was graced by the presence of various guests. Inspirational talks were delivered by Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation and Sri Rakesh Godhwani from IIM, Bangalore, who encouraged our volunteers to become social leaders and contribute to the development of the society along with their self-development. It was an eventful day with a dance performance by the students of Mount Carmel College, a wonderful theatre performance by the students of Christ University and a band performance by the Folk Perfect Harmony Club. The event ended with a delicious lunch and distribution of special New Year Gifts to all the participants.

New Year Celebrations

• 500+ volunteers participated

• 5+ events including dance, drama,

music and inspirational talks


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As lungs are to humans so are forests to our planet earth. Hence, it is very important to plant more trees for a better environment. On the 5th of June 2018, on the occasion of world environment day, five thousand saplings were distributed in fifteen prominent locations of Bengaluru with the heartfelt support of three hundred volunteers. These volunteers created awareness about the importance of planting trees and distributed plants to general public and urged them to nurture the saplings. The event was inaugurated by Mr Suresh Heblikar, noted filmmaker and Ms. Munira Sen, Senior Director, Common Purpose in the presence of Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

World Environment Day

Ÿ 5000 saplings distributed

Ÿ 15+ prominent locations like malls,

super markets, etc. covered

Ÿ 300 volunteers participated


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Indicating the importance of true friendship AIKYA organised an extravaganza to celebrate friendship. The event started with a live band performance and continued with theatrical plays indicating the various types of friends we have, the human emotions and ways to deal with them. This was followed by a semi-classical dance performance by the students of Jyothi Nivas College. The event was graced by Sri Vasudev Keshava Dasa, Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore and Sri. Ajit Kaikini, Inspirational Speaker, who enlightened the students regarding the value of friends in life. During the event interns and volunteers were recognized and rewarded for their contributions made to AIKYA. The event culminated with a scrumptious meal. The participants showed great enthusiasm and made the event a grand success.

Friendship Unlimited - Friendship day celebrations

Ÿ 400+ volunteers participated

Ÿ 5+ events organised


Reflections

Swachata Challenge

Swachata Challenge Award Winners

Life is a race where everyone is trying to outdo another. To keep up the competitive spirit and to carry out multiple cleanliness drives, Swachata Challenge - 2018 was introduced. The challenge was to choose a street or a spot at any location and clean it up. It was held from 26th September to 2nd October 2018. Over thirty AIKYA Leadership Forum’s participated in the challenge involving more than 1,500 volunteers who cleaned over 100+ locations. The winners of the challenge were given various awards on the first young social leader’s conclave.

Ÿ 100+ locations cleaned

Ÿ 30+ ALF’s participated


Highest No. of Spots Cleaned AwardBangalore Institute of Technology

Highest No. of Volunteers Award Seshadripuram College

Best Public Outreach AwardChrist University

Best Swatchata Seva AwardFledge institute of Aviation and Hospitality

(AMBARA)


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The conclave turned out to be a platform for our young social leaders to network and connect with youth from different organizations who share similar interests.

Commemorating AIKYA’s First Anniversary, a young social leader’s conclave was held on 28th of October 2018. The grandeur and the vibes of this event were inexplicable. With an intention to guide the volunteers towards the path of leadership, an informative panel discussion consisting of noteworthy personalities like Mr Sridhar Venkat - CEO of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Ms Munira Sen - Senior Director of Common purpose, Mr Raksha Ramaiah - Educator and Youth Icon, Mr Vinayak Joshi - actor and celebrity was organised. Each member of this panel shared their views and experiences related to the questions asked, which gave our volunteers a reality check of life.

Later, a fun-filled session was organized where RJ Raaj interacted with the students and made them realize the importance of waste management. This was followed by the release of Reflections, our first annual newsletter, a presentation on the growth of AIKYA and award ceremony for the winners of Swacchata Challenge - 2018.

The conclave was attended by more than 400 volunteers, including students, working professionals, academicians from more than 45 different organizations.

Mr Arjun Vellal captivated the audience with his inspiring talk on value based leadership. An enthralling band performance by students of PES University, soothing flute performance, painting with nothing but a thread, power-packed back body skipping by limca records awardee and a mesmerizing dance performance by the students of Ramaiah Institute of Technology added a spark to the event.

First Young Social Leader’s Conclave &AIKYA’s First Anniversary Celebrations


Reflections


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OUR

INITIATIVES

AIKYA Leadership Forums

We believe in creating social leaders who can bring positive changes in the community. With this intention in mind, the AIKYA leadership forums are being set up in many colleges and universities in Bengaluru and other cities. The students belonging to the forums conduct various activities in their respective colleges and its neighbourhood localities.

The forums provide a platform for students to build and hone their leadership and communication capabilities and aims to mould its members into persons of high character and ethics. While undertaking community development projects, it will also provide leadership opportunities to its members, thereby creating social leaders. ALF’s also hosts various educational and cultural events frequently, keeping the volunteers engaged.


Reflections

The Model of AIKYA Leadership Forums

Mentor(Head of the Institution)

Faculty Coordinator

Directors(Student Heads)

Coordinators(Students)

Volunteers(Students)

Ÿ 7+ universities

Ÿ 35+ AIKYA Leadership Forums (ALF’s) setup

Ÿ 40+ ALF’s under progress

Ÿ 80+ colleges

Ÿ 150+ academicians including principals, HODs and faculty involved

Ÿ 12,000+ volunteers

Ÿ 250+ government schools served


Reflections

Kerala Flood Relief

As the saying goes service to mankind is service to god, the volunteers of AIKYA have been serving the people in need. After the devastating floods in the god’s own country and when people were in dire need of help, AIKYA took up the initiative of bringing the former glory to Kerala by helping its people.

Our volunteers diligently worked and conducted cleanliness and revamping drives in government schools, public buildings and beaches in the flood affected area, thereby proving that actions speak louder than words. The residents of the flood-affected region in Kerala expressed their immense gratitude and thanked the volunteers for their service.


Reflections


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Tree Plantation Project

Ÿ 2000+ saplings planted

Ÿ 50+ awareness drives carried out

Ÿ 50+ government schools covered


Our volunteers planted about 2,000 saplings in various locations across Bangalore in order to increase the green cover of the city. Besides planting trees, volunteers also created awareness to the general public about the importance of tree plantation.

To bring awareness among children about the importance of protecting the planet for our future generations, many tree plantation drives and awareness campaigns were organised at government schools and teachers were also trained to educate the school children.


Reflections

Education Project

Education is fundamental to an equitable society. An excellent education equips children and youth with the knowledge, skills, values, and mindsets needed to be empowered individuals and responsible citizens. The fact that a high-quality education has wide-ranging benefits for individuals and societies has been demonstrated, time and again, by countries across the world. As a result of this, the school education program was started. Through this program, AIKYA aims to provide value based education for the development of government school children.

A building is strong only if the foundation is strong. No matter how educated one is without the moral values, all that is taught goes in vain. Therefore the school education program also covers the moral values that the students need to imbibe for a healthy lifestyle. General Knowledge is another area of focus that keeps the student’s relevant to the current trends. Over thousand volunteers were engaged in the school education program where more than fifty schools were covered. All the volunteers had a sense of satisfaction as they could impart some knowledge to the children.

AIKYA’s compelling teaching projects are developed keeping the needful children in mind. AIKYA is in complete support of the statement “Education is the backbone of our country” and focuses on providing an exemplary education to the children.

This program also includes arts, crafts, seed ball making and clay modelling which brings out the artistic side of the kids and gives them a chance to explore their hidden talents.

AIKYA has a committed team of volunteers working on the teaching modules. The teaching modules are kept contemporary and are updated when required suiting the advancements in the educational field. In the modern era, it is evident that without education making a good living becomes tough. AIKYA trains children in various fields of knowledge and thereby preparing them to face the world with confidence.


Reflections

Ÿ 1000+ volunteers engaged

Ÿ 50+ schools covered

Ÿ 3+ subjects taught – English, Computer Science, Values, General Knowledge


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Arts | Crafts | Seed ball making | Clay modelling

Other Activities


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Cleanliness and Hygiene Project

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. Being clean is a sign of goodness. AIKYA aims at creating a healthy society and sensitize the youth to work for the same.

AIKYA believes that keeping our surroundings clean is as equally important as keeping ourselves clean. To work towards this, cleanliness drives are organised in the required areas. Also, the government school children are taught about the importance of hygiene in a very playful way.


Reflections

Leadership Workshops

AIKYA creates social leaders of high character and ethics. We organise many leadership workshops where our volunteers are trained in leadership skills by eminent trainers and speakers. Empowering the leaders is another aspect that we truly believe in and hence provide volunteers with enormous opportunities to display their skills. Eminent personalities and trainers are invited to impart these skills to the students. Workshops are interactive and are designed in such a way that volunteers can easily apply the skills learnt in real life.

As we all know, leadership is ubiquitous in our daily life. From nation to business, and even in a family, leadership indisputably plays the main game. It is about creating a powerful impact, inspiration and leading the way.

Over twenty workshops have been organised training more than six thousand volunteers and empowering seven hundred leaders at various levels.

Ÿ 700+ leaders empowered

Ÿ 20+ workshops

Ÿ 6000+ volunteers trained


Reflections

Volunteer Connects

Along with this, monthly meetings are also conducted to review and collect the progress of

ALF and other volunteer committees. Talent clubs like Music club, Photography Club,

Speakers Club and Cooking Club are also set up to encourage the talents and hobbies of the

volunteers.

In order to keep the volunteers happy and establish a strong bond among them. AIKYA

organises trips and tours to different places. Volunteers refresh, re-energise in these tours

and will be ready to get back and work better. More than 500 volunteers were part of our 10 +

trips organized to places like Chikamagalur, Devarayanadurga Hills, B R Hills, Hubli,

Mangalore, Udupi, Yana, Murdeshwara, etc.


Reflections

Corporate Volunteering

AIKYA’s volunteer base also includes working professionals from various multi-national companies. Many organisations, as a part of corporate social responsibility, have participated in the activities that AIKYA has organised. A lazy boring weekend can be turned into a blissful day with AIKYA.


Ÿ 5+ corporate engagements organised

Ÿ 1500+ corporate volunteers enrolled


Reflections

AIKYA

IN OTHER CITIES

Delhi

Volunteers from AIKYA's Delhi chapter have conducted visits to various government schools in and around the city. The volunteers conducted many events in these schools in a very creative way to enhance the learning of children. The volunteers performed street plays in these schools based on the theme - importance of education. They also organised various events like singing, band performance, storytelling, etc. which was not only soothing but also kindled the young minds. Each and every event organised had a positive message at the end which was a big motivation for the kids. At some schools, basic science experiments supervised by the team of IIT Delhi and origami classes by NIFT, Delhi were also conducted which were extremely fun-filled and gave a lot of learning to the children. Other than education, many visits were based on the theme of health and hygiene, environment, cleanliness, etc. Our volunteers also took part in the tree plantation drives which were organised at government schools.

On the 2nd of October 2018, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi our volunteers from Delhi in association with a few artists from Artisans painted vivid picture of the freedom struggles of India's famous freedom fighters on the walls of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, GTB Nagar, Delhi.


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Painting Activity


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AIKYA Youth Night

Subsequently, a four-piece band named Shiddit gave a swaying gig. In addition to it, various volunteers and performers associated with AIKYA were felicitated with certificates of appreciation and AIKYA goodies. The event ended with a beautiful duo by our chief guest and a wholesome dinner arranged for the audience and guests.

An evening embarked on a journey to strengthen the idea of leadership that AIKYA aims at. It started with the introduction of honourable chief guests and the cynosure of the event - Ms Jasmine Kaur and Mr Ashish Chauhan. Further, it proceeded with a beautiful visual representation on Akshaya Patra’s initiative featuring Sanjiv Kapoor. Subsequently, a theatre group named Darakht presented “The Park“, one of the most celebrated plays by Manav Kaul. Having witnessed a fantastic representation of life on stage, the audience experienced a different paradigm and positive outlook on life by Onkar K. Khullar, aka Digital Gandhi.

The event advanced with fun interactions with the audience leading to various talent shows by youngsters like singing, beat-boxing, etc.


Reflections

Ahmedabad

AIKYA in association with Times of India and The Speaking Tree conducted a tree plantation drive where more than one lakh saplings were planted at Bhat, Ahmedabad. Around 100 volunteers took part in this event.

In another event, around 1000 saplings were distributed by the volunteers of IIT Gandhinagar. AIKYA Gujarat has also organized few social awareness programs in schools to bring a positive change among the students.


Reflections

AIKYA’s Vishakhapatnam chapter had organized a notebook distribution drive at Muslim Primary School, Thatichetlapalem which benefited around 200 students. These notebooks were made out of recycled paper.

Along with notebooks, steel plates, glasses and shoes were also distributed to the students. This event was graced by the president of GITAM, Sri. M.V.V.S. Murthi, GITAM’s pro-vice-chancellor Sri Sivaramakrishna and Sri Nishkinchana Bhakta Dasa, President of Akshaya Patra Visakhapatnam.

The distribution program was aimed at catering to the basic needs of the school children.

Visakhapatnam


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Internships Opportunities

Vikram SimhaStudent – Reva University

I thought, that I have just applied for an internship. Little did I know, what life had in store for me was a joy ride. AIKYA is one of the best things that happened in my life. Super happy and proud to be a part of the AIKYA family.

Apart from volunteering, AIKYA also offers social internships and fellowships to young minds who have a have immense interest to work on such social development projects.

I am ecstatic that I met some beautiful at heart people. This internship was an experience of a life time. I take this opportunity to thank everyone at AIKYA for making me a part of such great initiative and nurturing me.

I am very happy to be associated with AIKYA. They are doing a great job in creating social leaders and addressing community issues at the root level. I thank AIKYA for giving me the opportunity to serve and learn. I will intern at AIKYA every year.

Student – BMSCENischala Prasad

Nikhil KrishnaStudent – BITS Dubai

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Reflections

What our volunteers say

Impact

20,000+ Volunteers

100+ Organisations

involved

50+ Events organised

6,000+ Volunteers

trained

200+ School visits

organised

700+ Volunteers

empowered75,000+

Volunteering hours

……..and still counting


Reflections

Rajajinagar Ward No. 10

#72, 3rd Floor, 3rd Main Road, 1st & 2nd StageYeshwantpur Industrial Suburb

Bengaluru – 560022, India

The Akshaya Patra Foundation

Phone: +91 80 3014 3400 / 8970000408Contact us: [email protected]

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