Book a bench to bring children back to school with Akshaya Patra

Remember those whispers during classes, those notebook games, those little help when the teacher asked you a question, quiet attack on the lunch boxes… those were the good old school days with our bench mates! 

Even after so many years of graduating from school, the memories are so fresh as if it happened just yesterday. We still smile and feel overwhelmed about those days. And, more often than not, bench mates were a strong motivating factor for us to go back to school the next day. But little did we know then, that for millions of children coming to school acts as a ray of hope for a better future.

In view of this, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a charity for children strives each year to bring back as many children as possible to school. The Foundation is one of the oldest mid-day meal NGOs in India with a history of 18 years in service of children. Presently, the Foundation provides freshly cooked nutritious meals to 17,62,133 children of Government school and Government-aided schools in 42 locations across 12 states in India. The beneficiaries of this NGO hail from socio-economically challenged backgrounds and for them the mid-day meal bridges the distance from their homes to school.

Studies reveal that mid-day meal is a strong incentive for parents to choose school over labour for their children. This meal programme has also positively impacted the enrolment rate, attendance, health, and performance of children. By bringing children back to school day after day and year after year, the mid-day meal programme promotes continuous schooling. Regular schooling and nutritious meals empower children to become resourceful and independent citizens of the country in future.

With the objective to ensure continuous schooling of its beneficiaries, each year Akshaya Patra conducts the ‘Back to School’ campaign. It is an attempt by the Foundation to garner support from all sections of the society. ‘Book a bench’ through this campaign and support health and education of at least three children among millions of children. Online donations in support of this campaign will instantly ensure a year full of nutritious meals and goodness of learning for many deserving children.

Step forward and support Akshaya Patra, the charity for children that has left no stone unturned to bring more and more children under the ambit of the mid-day meal programme. ‘Book a bench’ now to witness a brighter, better, and transformed India!