Akshaya Patra - Annual Report 2015

THE MAKING OF A DREAM
Dreams know no boundaries and so does the child. Childhood is the most endearing stage of human life
and their dreams are a reflection of their free-spirited nature. And when a child is determined to make
the dream a reality, it is a fine example of the human spirit prevailing over boundaries that the world sets.
As an organisation that provides mid-day meals to 1.58 million children every day across the country,
The Akshaya Patra Foundation gives countless children the opportunity to overcome the limitations
of hunger and focus on what they can achieve as individuals. It gives them the opportunity to dream.
The zeal and aspiration of each beneficiary is a demonstrable proof of how mid-day meal sets forth
for a generation of healthy, educated, hopeful and self-sustaining children. We felt when mid-day meal
is coupled with a structured guidance relevant to each aspiration; it will further strengthen the belief
and determination of the beneficiaries to achieve their dreams.
So an expert set of mentors, a dedicated team of Akshaya Patra and a group of passionate creative
professionals all came together for one common goal – to provide a learning ground for the dreams of
three deserving Akshaya Patra beneficiary children. Each child went through a mentorship programme
created exclusively for them, where they were tutored by the mentors in their field of interest. And their
progress was documented to create three inspiring short films and photo-journeys. At the end of the
programme the three children presented their honed skills to an audience, for the first time, giving them
an insight of what the future holds for their dreams.
The children shined through their mentorship programmes, proving without doubt that when opportunity
meets will, the possibilities are endless. Their achievement further validated that food and education are
indeed the basis for children to dream and pursue.
So what you will see in the following pages is an account of Akshaya Patra’s efforts and advances in
ensuring that ‘meal’ which is the vital element towards fulfilling a dream, is made available to children
in an unlimited way. You will also be taken through the personal and inspiring journeys of these three
talented and strong-willed children, as we attempted to bring their dreams alive.