How to decide which NGO to support?

 Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are nonprofit groups of people or institutions that operate on a global, national or local level independently to advance socioeconomic objectives and welfare of the people.

There are two categories of NGOs:

Operational NGOs: These groups concentrate on developing and carrying out development initiatives.

NGO advocacy groups: These groups support or advance a certain cause.

Some NGOs can function as both operational and advocacy NGOs.

Since it is difficult to personally cater to the needs of vulnerable communities, many people donate to NGOs, making an indirect yet a very important contribution to the community in which they live. With lakhs of active non-profit organisations to choose from, it is advised to exercise caution while making donations to NGO fundraising efforts if you want to direct your financial resources towards a cause.

NGOs are crucial to society because they support a wide range of issues, including education, poverty reduction, environmental protection and human rights. NGOs frequently focus on tackling certain social, economic and environmental challenges and strive to improve society. An excellent method to make a difference and support the causes you care about is to support an NGO.

Supporting the right NGO is crucial—be it the pursuit of a cause that matches with your beliefs or be it having a positive impact on the world.

How to check the authenticity of NGOs?

Since non-profit organisations cannot turn a profit, they solicit donations in order to maintain or expand their programmes and continue making an impact. If you wish to donate money, you must first get well-versed with the cause; i.e., comprehend the seriousness of the problem the NGO is attempting to solve and the impact and importance of the solution.

In order to fulfil our moral obligation to those in need, it is our duty as humans to support the welfare efforts—one way of doing this is by assisting nonprofit organisations.

Here are some justifications for your support of NGOs. 

• The cause is honourable. 

• It is a means of contributing to society.

• You have the chance to assist those in need.

• You have the opportunity to express sympathy, empathy and compassion.

• Spiritual fulfilment is the result.

There are various NGOs that work in a variety of fields. Find an NGO that promotes a cause you can get behind and that resonates with you.

Here are a few questions that will help you decide which NGO you should support: 

1.What share of your donation is utilised for the cause?

 The NGO should devote at least 80% of your donation to the subject it supports.  

2.Do you have access the outcome of your donation?

Pay attention to where your money is going, even a little bit of it. Be ready to assess the results of your humanitarian work. A good NGO will always pay attention to transparency and accountability. It will put the details of donations received and programme/administrative expenditure in public domain through annual reports and official website to ensure that donors know how their money is being spent.

3.What are the qualities of a genuine NGO?

A true NGO should uphold the policies set by the administration.  It will also provide you with a receipt for your donations. You could use this receipt as proof that you recently gave money to an authorised, registered NGO. A real NGO would always register under 80G Certification, which may allow donors to simply acquire a tax exemption.  

4.What motivates donors to make donation?

A good and successful NGO has a clearly defined set of goals, guiding ideals and ethos that motivates donors to make donations.

5.What are the characteristics of a genuine NGO?

One of the key characteristics of a genuine NGO is having a positive relationship with the donors. A genuine NGO operates with complete accountability, transparency and democracy and will constantly consider the ideas and opinions of each group member during discussions and brainstorming sessions.  

Regardless of the niche they occupy or their operational scale, NGOs play a crucial role in ensuring the welfare efforts. However, they often find themselves relying on people’s inclination to give or do charity. That’s where your support comes into the picture. You may support NGOs like The Akshaya Patra Foundation that upholds the standard of its cause, making it one of the most trustworthy organisations in India to give to. With access to the two requirements of nutrition and education, your donation to the NGO will help children realise their full potential.

Donate on ganesh chaturthi

 Akshaya Patra runs the Mid-Day Meal Programme for school children. This Ganesh Chaturthi, make an online donation and help us make a difference by continuing to serve children.

Know more: https://www.akshayapatra.org/donate-on-ganesh-chaturthi

Create stories of hope by nurturing children

 Children are the future change-makers. So, protecting every child’s dreams by ensuring quality education and health is important for the development of the country. Financial circumstances should not limit a child from achieving their dreams. Everyone should receive equal opportunities to pursue their interests and passions, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

The government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (previously known as the Mid-Day Meal Programme) is an important initiative to improve the nutritional status of children which corresponds with increase in attendance and enrolment. Society as a whole has a collective responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind in receiving opportunities to fulfil their dreams.

Akshaya Patra is an NGO dedicated to address classroom hunger and malnutrition among schoolchildren. Currently, with the support of the government, corporates, philanthropists, school authorities and well-wishers, the organisation is feeding over 2 million children every day. 

Here are some of the beneficiaries of Akshaya Patra who have clear dreams and ambitions.

Since his parents are farmers, they cannot provide him with breakfast regularly as they have to leave to work in the fields early in the morning. The meal that Akshaya Patra provides under the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (Mid-Day Meal Programme) is a huge relief to his parents, as it assures that their son is having nutritious meals at least one time daily.

His favourite subjects are Hindi and English.

She says, “I like to read and write in my free time. Even during lectures, I try to ask as many questions as possible.”

Without nutrition, no child can concentrate on their studies that is why Akshaya Patra ensures that children like Anita receive nutritious meals every day so that they have the requisite energy to study well and perform better in academics.

Shyam walks 1km every day to reach school. Though it is a bit tiresome, he doesn’t mind because, to him, his passion is more important and the school lunch provides him the strength to concentrate on his studies. Of the food that Akshaya Patra gives, his favourites are thepla, chana dal and khichidi.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is striving to reach as many children as possible to provide children the best childhood and education that can lead to a promising future. Through collaboration with different entities such as the government, corporations, philanthropists and individuals, the organisation aims to serve 3 million children by 2025.  One can participate in this endeavour of shaping the future of the country by visiting the Foundation’s website and making an online donation.

The role of mid-day meals in nurturing a healthy world

 

The article discusses the importance of the Mid-Day Meal Programme in addressing hunger and malnutrition among school children, helping them to attain their full potential and making the world a better place to live.

Know more: https://www.akshayapatra.org/ 

The role of mid-day meals in nurturing a healthy world

 'Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow'- Jawaharlal Nehru

As the first Prime Minister of India said, childhood is the budding stage and thus requires utmost care and attention during this age. It is the pivotal period for physical, mental and cognitive development. So, when a child is born, parents do everything for their overall well-being. They give them everything they need for a better future. However, there are families who unable to provide nutritional meal to their children on a regular basis due to their financial constraints. Should the children of such parents be left behind due to their difficult circumstances? A big No! 

Here lies the importance of implementing the Mid-Day Meal Programme in schools. 

Mid-Day Meal Programme (MDM) - A source of nutrition

Mid-Day Meal Programme (PM POSHAN Abhiyaan) is a crucial initiative put forward by the Government of India to address classroom hunger and malnutrition among children in government and government-aided schools. If children don’t have adequate nutrient-rich food, it may cause long-term consequences in their life like stunting, wasting, etc. 

Through this programme, the government ensures that all children, regardless of their financial and family backgrounds, are receiving a wholesome meal at least once a day, thus, improving their academic performance. 

How MDM improves academic performance?

Studies have proved that children who receive mid-day meals have a better attention span which helps them to concentrate on their classes and perform well in their academics. Without sufficient nutrition, they will not get the energy to focus on their learning effectively. 

Mid-day meal encourages children to go to school as they are receiving hot, tasty, nutritious, lunch in their school thus increasing enrolment, attendance and retention rate, along with enhancing their nutritional status.

MDM supports girls’ education and health

The study of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) finds that girls are more vulnerable to undernutrition than boys.  The report says, 59.1% of adolescent girls are anaemic because, during the adolescent stage, girls are at the onset of menstruation. This is a crucial time in their life, and so, any nutritional deficiencies might have an adverse impact on the health of the girl, ultimately affecting the future of the country in general. MDM promotes girls’ education and their health as it motivates parents to send their children to school, irrespective of their gender. 

If girls can continue their education, it helps them to pursue their career goals, ultimately they can be the productive citizens in India.

Role of NGOs in MDM

NGOs play a crucial role in serving the beneficiaries of the MDM. Akshaya Patra is an NGO for children, currently feeding 2 million children every day across schools in 15 states and 2 union territories in India. 

With the support of the government, corporates, philanthropists, individuals, and well-wishers, the organisation has made noteworthy contributions in the implementation of the programme and is consistently seeking every possible avenue to reach out to more children in India. The organisation’s mission is to feed 3 million children by 2025.

10 reasons why NGOs are important

 The world will become a better place when one takes care of their fellow beings and helps those in need. Each day, many people or communities are facing several challenges such as poverty, unemployment, natural disasters etc. To address and solve these issues there are several government agencies as well as multiple Non-Profit Organisations (NGOs) instituted.

NGOs are a hub of like-minded people and subject-matter experts who work together for a common cause. They pool all the resources to resolve societal challenges with a systematic approach.

NGOs bring awareness to social issues to bring people together in order to work for the betterment of society. 

Let’s dive into the list of reasons why NGOs are important:

1.Ensure human rights for all

NGOs educate the public about human rights. Numerous NGOs concentrate on humanitarian issues like poverty, hunger, gender-based violence, and other forms of social injustice. They draw attention to human rights abuses and educate people about them to address all concerns of this nature. 

2.Ensure medical care

Every individual has the right to live healthily. NGOs reach out to people who are living in hard-to-reach places and provide medical support to improve their health. They provide free surgeries and medical checkups for those in need. Thus, they improve the quality of life of people who are otherwise deprived of good treatment.

3.They assist during outbreaks and pandemics

It is NGOs that respond quickly when there is a sudden emergency. Recently, with the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, the Prime Minister asked for the support of NGOs to implement measures to reach the last-mile people. They respond immediately with food, water and medical services. By raising awareness and offering proper health advice, they make sure that individuals are adopting preventative measures that reduce their risk of contracting the disease and help to contain outbreaks.  

4.Address socio-economic issues

NGOs are the best option to understand the grassroot of any socio-economic issue. They create awareness about combating several socio-economic challenges that stand as a hindrance to the growth of the country. 

5.They help during natural calamities

The impact of natural calamities is huge. During such times, everyone will be vulnerable to the unprecedented chaos it caused, leaving no one sure how to respond. In these situations, the government collaborates with NGOs to quickly respond to disasters and distribute aid effectively.

6.They encourage gender equality

Lack of education is mainly linked to poverty, safety etc. Compared to boys, girls are more likely to miss school. There are many NGOs that focus on the education of girls to ensure that they are receiving equal opportunities to build their future. 

7.They protect democracy

NGOs safeguard democracy by carefully monitoring the problems and supporting the government to bring about the changes necessary for the better functioning of society.

8.Supports to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

NGOs aid a nation's performance in achieving SDGs, maintaining progressive development, enhancing governance, and ultimately building a more sustainable future for all.

9.Implements Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

NGOs are the best CSR implementing partners. They have enough experts to accomplish social responsibility projects. They provide training, additional manpower and channel revenue streams to execute different projects. Through partnership with the business community, they contribute to the less visible and vulnerable population, find solutions to their problems and thus fight against all inequalities prevalent in society.

10.Protect children from malnutrition

Several NGOs work solely to protect children from malnutrition and support their education. Akshaya Patra is such an organisation that aims to eradicate classroom hunger by providing mid-day meals to government and government-aided schools. Currently, the organisation feeds over 2 million children every day.

Therefore, NGOs play a crucial role in the social, political and developmental activities. Through partnership, NGOs offer various social services, uphold everyone’s fundamental rights and encourage individuals to actively participate in such welfare programmmes.

Freedom from classroom hunger, on this independence day

 Independence Day is just around the corner. India became independent after years of British rule on 15 August, 1947; thanks to the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. As a mark of respect for their valiant efforts, Independence Day is celebrated with great passion across the country.

The occasion is celebrated in a variety of ways, including hoisting the flag, distributing sweets, delivering speeches and even making pledges. In fact, the momentous occasion of Independence Day is a good day to reiterate our commitment to social good to free people from poverty, hunger, illiteracy, etc.

Freedom from Hunger

Hunger is more than lack of food. It is a crisis that has nearly a billion people in its grip. Nearly 1/3 of the produce worldwide is wasted. This shows that there is plenty of food available around the world, but there is an unequal distribution. The challenge is to make food consistently accessible to everyone who needs it; not the lack of food.

There are numerous people and organisations that provide a ray of hope. They are doing everything they can to address hunger and malnutrition. These range from modest projects like providing food to a few hundred homeless people in the neighbourhood to large-scale campaigns by the government and NGOs that feed millions.

Addressing Classroom Hunger

Classroom hunger is an issue that The Akshaya Patra Foundation seeks to address in its capacity as the implementing partner of PM POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme). They started with the feeding of 1,500 children in Bengaluru two decades ago. Today, they have established 67 kitchens across the country with the help of government and patrons to serve hot and nutritious mid-day meals to government and government-aided school children. Their centralised kitchens are currently present in 15 states and 2 UTs, enabling them to provide for more than 2 million children after beginning one evening out of a desire to feed 1,500 children.

The goal of this initiative is to end classroom hunger in India by serving nutritious mid-day meals to children in schools. Children are encouraged to attend school with the help of a mid-day meal, which meets their nutritional demands.

When children are well-fed, their academic performance improves along with their co-curricular activities, which, in turn, allows them to pursue their dreams. This is a massive step towards improving their lives and the future of India.

With the collective effort of individuals, charities and NGOs and the government, the classroom hunger scenario in India can be altered. This is the underlying belief at Akshaya Patra.

On the eve of Independence Day, there are many things for which people should be grateful. At the same time, everyone should spare a thought for those with limited opportunities. Together, it is possible to work towards a world where children are free from classroom hunger and malnutrition. Together, it is possible to ensure that the next generation is raised in a healthy environment and equipped to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

Let’s celebrate India’s freedom – Freedom from hunger.

Promise 2 million government school children freedom from hunger

 Repay India’s kindness for nurturing you by feeding school children from economically weaker sections on this day. Help the nation flourish by feeding, educating and fuelling their dreams of a better future.

know more: https://www.akshayapatra.org/

Changing Lives of Children Through Nutrition and Education

Nutrition intake, access to education, social interactions, etc., during childhood play a crucial in the development of children into healthy, responsible citizens of the future. However, many children who grow up in low-income backgrounds frequently lack access to healthy food, hygienic conditions, safe housing, healthcare and education—all essentials for survival. School feeding programmes can serve as an effective intervention to address some of these issues, thus paving way to change the lives of children and their families through nutrition and education.

A school feeding programme enhances health and stimulates the development of children and improves their attendance and concentration, thus boosting their academic performance.

School feeding programmes are in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 - Zero Hunger which calls for an end to hunger, increased access to safe and nutritious food and elimination of all forms of malnutrition, SDG 4 – Quality Education which calls for eliminating gender disparities in education and ensuring equal access to all levels of education.

School feeding and nutrition programmes can significantly impact a child's physical development and health, especially in developing nations where school lunch is often the child's first meal of the day.

In India, the Central Government runs the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (earlier known as the Mid-Day Meal Programme). The primary objective of this programme is to improve the nutritional status of underprivileged children studying in government and government-aided schools. 

This programme also encourages children to attend school regularly and helps them improve their academic performance. Additionally, this programme also decreases the dropout rates. As children’s one meal is assured, parents to worry less about their nutritional intake. 

Since children are a very important part of every nation, it is imperative that their overall development is given due importance, especially if the objective is a sustainable future for the nation in the long run. The PM POSHAN Abhiyaan grooms the current generation of children for a global world by supporting their nutrition and education.

In India, there is a provision for the involvement of NGOs in the implementation of the flagship school feeding programme. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, for instance, is the centre’s implementing partner for the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan. The NGO has been serving mid-day meals to children since 2000.

Over 2 million children are served hot and nutritious school meals every day in 15 states and 2 UTs as of today. The Foundation has positively impacted the lives of millions until now with the support of the government and its patrons, and aims to serve 3 million children by 2025. Akshaya Patra continuously strives to improve the quality of lives of children and contribute to a positive spiral of health, development and school attendance.

In the end, children are the leaders of the future, so it is imperative that we empower them by providing them with nutritious food and quality education through interventions such as the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan.

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.

World Hunger Day – Let’s rise above hunger

 World Hunger Day is observed on 28 May every year to raise awareness about the over 800 million people living with chronic hunger every day, and come up with initiatives to address this issue. 

Millions of individuals and hundreds of organisations have come together to raise awareness against hunger and work towards achieving the UN Sustainable Goal of ‘Zero Hunger’.

Instead of trying to find a short-term solution, we need to work on a strategy to address hunger sustainably. Other problems panning across different aspects of people's life can be addressed better once hunger has sustainable solutions.

 

What are some of these sustainable solutions?

People waste tonnes of food without even being aware of the fact that there are millions struggling due to hunger. A few simple ways to reduce wastage and ensure that everyone has food on their plate are to shop wisely, understand when food goes bad, order/buy smaller portions, pack and eat leftovers later, donate excess food and so on. 

Another way of achieving sustainable solution is to volunteer with or donate to a charitable organisation. It will take everyone to come together to end world hunger and no contribution is too small. Feeding just one hungry person every day directly or through an organisation can resolve hunger. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such NGO that persistently works towards fighting hunger. A contribution of ₹1,500 can feed school meals to one child for an entire year. 

The idea of ‘zero hunger’ is that when every person is well-fed, they have better chances to reach their full potential which will create a positive ripple effect on the well-being of their loved ones, their communities and their nation. 

Though hunger is one of the greatest challenges of our time, it is also one of the world’s most solvable problems. This World Hunger Day, let’s rise above hunger by feeding the needy. 

Donate online!

This World Health Day, Build a Fairer Healthier Tomorrow | Akshaya Patra

On this World Health Day, you can help the hungry by contributing to Akshaya Patra's Mid-Day Food Programme. Section 80G of the Income Tax Act allows for a 50% tax exemption on contributions.

Know more: https://blog.akshayapatra.org/this-world-health-day-build-a-fairer-healthier-tomorrow/