Feed children- Let them learn and grow

 Summer vacation is about to end. The schools that are vacant right now are soon going to echo with the voices of students and the sound of school bells ringing. Rendering of poems, the scent of new textbooks and rustling of the pages are going to fill the classrooms and corridors with activity. The children are preparing to go back to school. 

The majority of children in government and government-aided schools are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Even though the kids love being on vacation, they also miss their classmates, school activities, and mid-day meals they receive in school.  

So it is really important to ensure that no child is denied their right to receive education due to their financial limitations, family background, or any other issue and it is equally important to provide children with nutrient-rich food which is essential for their physical and cognitive development occurs during this school-going age.

Education-The cornerstone of the country’s development

The importance of education is much more than one can imagine. In this fast-changing world, education plays a crucial role in the development of society.

The purpose of education is to guide one to understand themselves, to connect with their fellow beings, and to be tolerant. Children must receive a formal education for developing social skills, thinking critically and acquiring other expertise to achieve their goals. This happens only when they go to school.

Schools are the foundation for building a nation that thrives in every sector, and so it is really important to bring children back to school. PM POSHAN Abhiyaan is one such effective programme launched by the Indian government to encourage children to continue their education in the face of any obstacles that could prevent them from finishing their education.

PM POSHAN Abhiyaan

The Government of India is on track to address several challenges that we face as a developing country. One such challenge is classroom hunger. To address this, the government launched a scheme called PM POSHAN Abhiyaan with the goal of enhancing children's nutritional profiles.

The PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (previously known as the Mid-Day Meal Programme) plays a major role in bringing children back to school. There are many children who struggle to have one nutritious meal every day because of their family’s financial limitations. So, Mid-Day Meal (MDM) acts as an incentive that encourages parents to send their children to school. 

Akshaya Patra, an NGO that runs on a public-private partnership model, strives to end classroom hunger and help children pursue their education and aspirations. So far, the organisation is providing hot, nutritious, safe and tasty mid-day meals to over 2 million students across the country. The image of a room full of well-nourished children is what motivates the organisation to work consistently to reach out to as many children as possible. With the support of the government, corporates and individuals, Akshaya Patra strives to feed 3 million children by 2025.

Feed the children. Keep them smiling.

School: HPKGS Hubballi

“I enjoy eating Dal and Pulav that are served on some days in school by The Akshaya Patra Foundation as part of their Mid-Day Meal Programme. I also like the other dishes that they serve.”

School: Panvel Mahanagar Palike School 

School: Prathamik Vidyalaya, Naglai Station, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

Akshaya Patra’s dream is to nurture all the children with nutrient-rich food. With the support of the government, numerous companies and philanthropists all over the world, the organisation has made significant strides in the number of beneficiaries. Consider providing a contribution to help us achieve our mission of feeding 3 million children by 2025.

School – where children explore, dream & discover

 Every student's education at school helps in the discovery of their individual passions and interests. In a sense, school sets the way for children to design their career paths and rungs on the ladder to a prosperous future.

Why Schooling is Important for Children?

School is the primary source of education for a child. It gives children the ability to learn about many things, including people, literature, history, math, politics and social science. 

A school is also responsible for the overall development of children as this is where they learn about cultural diversity and moral values like honesty, respect, integrity, harmony and so on. It is also the first step to higher education and consequently, a good career and quality life.

School helps children socialise

Children have the opportunity to interact with other children of the same age-group by going to school. While some children just interact with their classmates, others develop lifelong friendships. Socialising and meeting new people also extend their horizons in terms of knowledge. 

School keeps children engaged

Being idle all day can be really boring and exhausting. Going to school keeps children active and teaches them other valuable skills, in addition to keeping them active.

School makes children vocal and instills confidence

Schooling instills confidence among children and they become more vocal as they have new ideas and thoughts about various topics. School teaches children to question and understand everything rationally. 

School contributes towards overall development

The days when learning just involved memorising historical events, cracking difficult math problems, and memorising sonnets and poems are long gone. Today, education is a child's first step in life, where he or she learns a lot more than merely memorising facts. One of the many things a school gives a child is the ability to develop and refine their interests. Other things include learning the basics of manners, becoming proficient at multitasking and enhancing their social skills.

Apart from the above advantages, schooling trains children to live a civilised and cultured life when they grow up. Schooling brings self-discipline among children and makes them responsible. School enables children to read, write, speak and express themselves adequately and shapes their personality.

To ensure that children get the best of everything in terms of education, growth and more, as they come back to school for a new academic year, supporting children from backgrounds with limited resources through NGOs like Akshaya Patra, can go a long way. Every donation made towards the NGO guarantees nutritious mid-day meals to government school children every day, thus allowing them to focus on their academics and other co-curricular activities. 

These meals simultaneously aim to improve the nutritional level of children and enhance their enrolment, retention, and attendance at schools. Akshaya Patra’s 67 kitchens cook and deliver the meals to over 22,000 school across 15 states and 2 UTs. 

Make ‘Back to School’ memorable for children and help the future generation fulfil their dreams and keep their hopes alive.