Five Reasons Why You Should Invest in Education

‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ – these wise words of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of The United States of America, are timelessly true. Education is the most important tool for the pursuit of knowledge. School education in particular, is of paramount importance in shaping young hearts and minds and securing a bright future for them. Keeping the flame of education alive, though, needs collective effort and significant investment. One way to invest in education is to donate to charity, towards organisations that work towards it. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO that supports the cause of ‘food for education’, serving nutritious mid-day meals to over 1.6 million children across India, strives to keep the light of education burning in the lives of its school children.

Why, you ask, is investment in education so important? Here are five reasons for it:

To secure the future of children

Children are the future and they deserve a tomorrow that comes with financial, physical and emotional security. Education is a means towards this end. It boosts future prospects, encourages their dreams and empowers them to pursue them. Without it, job security and quality employment are difficult to come by and the scope for advancement is limited.

Education breeds gender equality

The world and all the wonderful opportunities it presents, is for both, men and women to inherit. Education plays an important part in freeing people from the shackles of restrictive, outdated mindsets. As the popular saying goes, ‘if you educate a girl, you educate the entire family’. Well-educated adults, thus, challenge traditional gender roles and help create a fairer, more gender-equal world.

A tool for nation-building

If a nation has to progress – economically and socially – education is the first necessity that needs to be met. A well-qualified workforce is a formidable asset that attracts and multiplies investment in the country, leading to more jobs, higher incomes, better standards of living and greater prosperity for the nation. It also leads to a rise in a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A sense of pride develops among citizens when a nation progresses impressively and provides them with great motivation to strive for its further development.

Leads to a healthier population

Education brings knowledge of health and hygiene. Healthy practices in daily life are adopted by well-educated people, since they are made aware and convinced of the rationale behind them. Be it everyday practices, issues related to maternal and child health, or general awareness about steps to take to ensure a healthier future – education is greatly instrumental in teaching people about the same.

It gives back to the giver

Donating to charity benefits the donor as well – it avails them income tax exemption. Under sections 35AC and 80GGA of the Income Tax Act 1961, every donation upwards of Rs 500 made to a registered non-profit organisation, is eligible for 100% tax exemption. Isn’t it wonderful, the fact that investing in education avails tax benefits for the one making the donation?

Education, thus, is the need of the hour and Akshaya Patra is striving hard to ensure that no child is deprived of it due to hunger. So, make the decision to the cause of ‘unlimited food for education’ and make a donation towards it now.

This Summer, Connect with Children and Gift Them a New Academic Year!

When you were in school, how did your summer vacation begin? It would probably begin with you saying goodbye to your friends and classmates but with an expectation that you would see them again. The holidays are fun and exciting but it is also nerve-racking to go back to school for the next level. While this is the norm, there are many children in India who do not get the opportunity to return to school. In other words, they drop out of school due to economic instability.

What causes children to drop out of school?

In this article, we have highlighted two issues (among many factors) that cause a child to drop out of school. While majority of children drop out due to migration, there are children who drop out of school due to financial difficulties in the family. 

(i) Migration: Also means relocation. For example, if and when the family moves to a different city or town on work prospects, they get their child enrolled in a school. After the work contract is complete, the family may decide to move to another town in search of income. This directly affects the child who is (not in all cases) forced to drop out of school before completing the academic year. In another scenario, although the child has completed the academic year, he or she does not get the opportunity to return to the same school. 

(ii) Financial Security: One of the main reasons for a child to drop out of school is because they would like to look out for other prospects; prospects that can help their family financially. School lunch programme has proved to stabilize these families as one meal is guaranteed for the child. Mid-day meal encourages children to continue education while their one square meal is taken care of.

These issues can affect children during the learning phase and in the future. According to MHRD report for 2014-15, the dropout rate for primary level was 4.34 per cent. Although there has been a drastic decrease in drop out and increase in enrolment rate, we need to change the situation for 4.34 per cent of children. To resolve these issues, the government has brought into effect several schemes and one of them is Mid-Day Meal Programme. Working along with government, Akshaya Patra’s Food for Education initiative has been reaching out to millions of school children every day. This NGO in Karnataka began its mid-day meal operations in Bengaluru in the year 2000. In 2016, the Foundation completed the serving of 2 Billion mid-day meals and this milestone was acknowledged by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. 

You can show your support by donating to charity and sponsoring a child for a year! By contributing to Akshaya Patra, you will also receive 100% income tax exemption.

On This Day of Happiness It’s Your Turn to Make a Child Happy!

Do you feel good after helping somebody? We’ve heard of many stories of happiness – helping the elderly cross the road, giving up seats for those in need, donating books to a family, and many more! Most stories are about finding kindness in strangers and many such incidents teach us the meaning of inner joy.

International Day of Happiness 2017 is here which aims to create a happier world together. As we celebrate the day of happiness on March 10, 2017, we would like to highlight two important actions that can give you abundant happiness! In her book ’10 Keys to Happier Living’ Vanessa King talks about 10 different actions that you can take to live a happier life. These actions, in short, are called Great Dream; G stands for Giving and M stands for Meaning.

We believe every child deserves to be happy and experience the innocence of childhood. As an NGO in India providing mid-day meals to school children from government schools and government-aided schools, we have made a difference by serving over 2 billion meals in the last 16 years. Today, we would like to elaborate on Vanessa King’s book and talk about the two actions that can help us build a happier society by immersing in the feeling ourselves.

Giving

According to Action for Happiness movement, ‘Giving’ means ‘doing things for others’ and has been described as “Helping others is not only good for them and a good thing to do; it also makes us happier and healthier too. Giving also connects us to others, creating stronger communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone. And it's not all about money - we can also give our time, ideas and energy. So if you want to feel good, do good!”

Meaning

Action for Happiness movement describes it as to ‘be a part of something bigger’. In Vanessa’s words, “It might be our religious faith, being a parent or doing a job that makes a difference. The answers vary for each of us but they all involve being connected to something bigger than ourselves.”

Combining two of Vanessa’s suggestions for a happier life, Akshaya Patra urges you to give children a happier life. We believe two things should not be robbed from childhood – food and education. To ensure this, Akshaya Patra began Food for Education programme in the year 2000 and today, we are the world’s largest NGO-run feeding programme.

Sponsor a child today and tell us what happiness is for a child because it’s your turn to make a difference. Your donations to our charity will give you a 100% tax exemption. However, you are also welcome individuals to volunteer in our kitchens and schools.

Charity donation – A Noble Endeavour Paired with Tax Benefits

The financial year-end is around the corner – an event that causes much anxiety to a majority of us. Why not round it off with a noble deed that will benefit you in more ways than one! We’re talking about charity donation. Giving back to society is one of the best ways of expressing your gratefulness for all that you have received and share some of your good fortune with those who are in need of assistance to better their lives. This is the perfect time to make that essential difference to the lives of your young friends who are beneficiaries of The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Its Mid-Day Meal Programme ensures that over 1.6 million children across India stay away from classroom hunger, with a nutritious, wholesome, unlimited school lunch every day. You can avail tax exemption with your valuable contribution to the cause of ‘unlimited food for education’.   

The NGO role in India is one of vital support to the government in helping fight the pressing challenges facing the country. Akshaya Patra too fulfills its role in social betterment, in partnership with State and Central governments in India. A donation made to the organisation brings it a step closer to achieving its important mission of feeding 5 million children by 2020. It also helps you avail tax exemption in India, as Akshaya Patra is registered under section 35AC of the Income Tax Act 1961. Therefore, every donation upwards of Rs 500 is eligible for 100% tax exemption under Section 80GGA.

In a bid to scale up its efforts to feed a larger number of children across the country, Akshaya Patra needs the collective support of all of you urgently. The Foundation has undertaken ambitious efforts to expand its reach across India. In December 2016, we laid the foundation of our first high-tech mega kitchen in Telangana at Khandi. Once operational, this kitchen will feed over 1,00,000 children in the region from the next academic year. In the same month, the Foundation also initiated the process of setting up 11 new kitchens in Uttar Pradesh. These kitchens will be established in the districts of Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur, Etawah, Kannauj, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Rampur and Ballia. This will take the number of Akshaya Patra’s beneficiary children in the state to 13 lakh, from the current 2,11,680. This will lead to an increase of a whopping 10,88,320 children that will be nourished by the Foundation’s meals!

In order to expand and grow sustainably, Akshaya Patra relies on the large-hearted backing of generous individuals who are as zealous about eliminating classroom hunger as the government and the Foundation are. Not only does ‘food for education’ ensure that India’s children – its future – are nourished well and have their stomachs full, it also positively affects attendance and enrollment. The Mid-Day Meal Programme is an incentive with that comes with triangular benefits for children, on their health, education and nourishment! The impact of supporting this cause on your life will be doubly large – not only would you have the pleasure of having contributed to secure the future of the nation’s children, you would also beget a wonderful advantage in return – that of 100% tax exemption in India!

NGOs Role in Bridging Social Justice - A Universal Right

In his message for World Day of Social Justice, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of UN, said: "With exclusion and inequality on the rise, we must step up efforts to ensure that all people, without discrimination, are able to access opportunities to improve their lives and those of others." After the UN adopted the declaration in 2007, the world has been coming together annually to recognise and celebrate World Day of Social Justice on February 20. The day supports gender equality, rights of indigenous peoples and migrants, and peaceful co-existence. 

We, at Akshaya Patra – an NGO in India, believe social justice is a universal right and every person should be given equal opportunity and a fair chance. Here are three aspects we would like to observe on this important day.

Social Equity

Social injustices negatively impact humanitarian efforts of spreading peace, upholding of rights, equality, and others. In the times of Information Age, where every economy is an active participant of nation building, it becomes an important decision for each one of us to ensure fairness prevails. What does that mean? Remove casteism treatment and support every individual – be it in the field of education or employment, consider their ability and skills and not their background. If not, empower them as they deserve a fair chance.

Gender Equality

Until a few decades ago, women belonged to an isolated community. The concept of gender equality sprang as people began to discuss the oppression faced by women and why women were the victims of basic rights. Today, in most countries, men and women have achieved their dream and continue to empower the disadvantaged class. Akshaya Patra supports gender equality and believes in constructing a society where both the gender groups are given the same rights and opportunities.

Sustainable Prosperity

It means sustainable development of earthy beings – not just humans but environment as well. With basic needs, knowledge and abilities, we are responsible for ensuring our surrounding is protected. And all of this starts with teaching children about sustainability. To safe guard the environment from obstruction, we must take action now and spread awareness.

Mid-Day Meal Programme by Akshaya Patra brings children together – for better health, for education and for equal opportunities. Keeping out discrimination, the programme also promotes socialization as children sit together for lunch. Playing the role of an NGO, thus, helps the economy in nation-building; an inclusive goal India is heading for.

Akshaya Patra accepts charity donations and these donations are tax exempted in India. You can support Food for Education by sponsoring a child’s meals!