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A Collaboration of Corporates to Nourish and Nurture Children

Before I begin to write anything, I want you to watch this video:

Well, to put it simply, each child and I mean it literally; each child possesses a dream, a dream to achieve something, a dream to change their present to something better, a dream that someday their dream will come true. But, their dreams will turn into reality only when they have access to something as basic as a healthy food and the opportunity to attend school. And, it is no hidden fact that millions of children are denied these basic necessities! 

So, why have I italicised healthy? Because it is important to understand that food may be the answer to hunger but healthy food is the only answer to ‘hidden hunger’. Yes, hidden hunger is a form of hunger that arises due to micro-nutrients deficiency in the diet. For instance, if a child eats a plate full of rice and potato, his stomach will get filled and he will no longer feel hungry. But, his diet lacks essential micro-nutrients like vitamins and minerals found in fruits, vegetables, pulses, and dairy and farm products. And, if the child continues to have such a diet, eventually he will suffer from hidden hunger resulting in ill health, impaired physical and cognitive development, and early death. 

What’s the role of Corporates? 

Nine established and renowned corporate giants: GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Nestle, Reliance Fresh, Viacom18, Facebook, Big FM PVR Cinemas and The Lalit Group of Hotels have in unison extended their wholehearted support for The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s ‘Feed the Future Now’ campaign. This campaign is aimed at garnering support from all sectors of the society - public, private, and civil; hence, it has provided an open platform for people from all walks of life to come out in full support of the issue called ‘hidden hunger’ so that together we can address it and solve it. Over the 17 years of service as mid-day meal NGO, Akshaya Patra has witnessed the impact of nutritious meals in the overall development of children which explains its motive behind the ‘Feed the Future Now’ campaign. And, the Corporates have pledged their support for the campaign from their respective realms of businesses.

Agreeing to the fact that children are the future and we have to take care of their health and education, renowned celebrities namely Shankar Mahadevan, Vivek Oberoi, Sanjeev Kapoor, and Sonali Bendre have joined hands with Akshaya Patra in this initiative. In support of the campaign, Vivek Oberoi was quoted saying, “We, as a country has had so many achievements at the global platform but hidden hunger still remains an obstacle to sustaining education and achieving one’s full potential. ‘Feed the Future Now’ aims to combat this issue and I am glad to pledge support to its mission of nourishing the future of India so that kids get a holistic upbringing, just like we all did.” 

What can you and I do? 

·         You and I can rev up the ‘Feed the Future Now’ campaign by opting to donate for children.

·         You and I can sponsor a school’s meal for the entire year.

·         You and I urge our friends and associates to contribute to this campaign.

·         You and I can suggest our workplaces to get involved with this campaign as part of Corporate Social Responsibility.

·         You and I can support this campaign by sharing our pledge for it on our social media platforms.

·         You and I can create our own micro-campaign and donate the proceeds towards ‘Feed the Future Now’ campaign.

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How Food and Education are Co-related?

Personally, I cannot concentrate even for five minutes when I am hungry. And, even if I push myself, I will end up doing a half-baked job that will require me to ultimately rework on the same thing. Least had I realised, until recently, that each day millions of children undergo incessant hunger pangs while trying to concentrate in classrooms. It made me to think ‘can right to education be achieved if we do not take care of the basic necessity called food?’ 

Many research studies have indicated that food and education are inter-related factors. While it is true that without food children cannot concentrate well in classrooms and school activities, it is also a matter of concern that with food and no education, children will turn out to be dependent citizens of the country. Thus, it is important for food and education to go hand in hand. But, one should also be mindful of the fact that food here is indicative of nutrition-rich diet. Only a balanced nutritious meal will support proper physical and cognitive development in children. Only such a meal will maintain the nutrition equilibrium in the body that is vital for children to be active and focus on learning. This is being well-understood by The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO in India that has been providing wholesome school meals for the past 17 years. With their school lunch programme, they aim to provide ‘unlimited food for education’ and achieve the vision of ‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.’ 

In order to address the need of providing nutritious food to school-going children and to garner support from all sections of the society, Akshaya Patra recently began ‘Feed the Future Now’ campaign. This campaign is an attempt to spread awareness regarding the criticality of hunger and hidden hunger in the development of children. It intends to advocate the right to food while providing a platform for each and every one of us to contribute towards what we all believe ‘children are the future of a society’. And, it is heartening to see that corporate giants such as GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Nestle, Reliance Fresh, Viacom18, Facebook, Big FM PVR Cinemas and The Lalit Group of Hotels, along with renowned individuals namely Shankar Mahadevan, Vivek Oberoi, Sanjeev Kapoor, and Sonali Bendre have joined hands with the NGO in this initiative. Expressing her view, Ms. Deepa Menon, Senior Vice-President (Corporate Communications & CSR), PVR Ltd. said, “Nutrition and development are interlinked. Therefore, being a socially sensitive organisation, PVR is supporting ‘Feed the Future Now’ initiative through the use of its physical infrastructure. The initiative is also in sync with the ethos of PVR Nest which concentrates its efforts towards mainstreaming underprivileged children and restoring confidence among them by investing on education, health and nutrition, skill development, and employability through our ‘Childscapes’ programme.” 

In my opinion, Akshaya Patra has opened the door to a path, on which when we walk, we can ensure Right to Food and Right to Education of millions of our young citizens. And, as we know that the nation is fast progressing towards the day when it will be a home to the youngest and largest working-age population in the world, the least we can do is participate and contribute in the endeavour of this Foundation.  Let us donate for children and give them the benefit of nutritious meals and rightful education.

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How ‘Feed the Future Now’ initiative tackle hidden hunger?

Until recently I wasn’t aware of what is termed as ‘hidden hunger’. I was introduced to this phenomenon while reading an article where Vivek Oberoi was quoted saying, “We, as a country has had so many achievements at the global platform but hidden hunger still remains an obstacle to sustaining education and achieving one’s full potential. ‘Feed the Future Now’ aims to combat this issue and I am glad to pledge support to its mission of nourishing the future of India so that kids get a holistic upbringing, just like we all did.” This led me to delve a little to know more about hidden hunger and its related campaign. 

Hidden hunger 

Hidden hunger refers to a form of deficiency that is caused by consuming food that may be filling the stomach but lack in essential vitamins, minerals, and other micro-nutrients necessary for healthy growth and development. Often times people from socio-economically challenged backgrounds are dependent on and consume food such as rice, corn, or wheat flour on a daily basis. This food may satisfy their hunger but do not provide the essential nutrients that are found in fruits, vegetables, pulses, and dairy and farm products. Eventually, this deficiency leads to the phenomenon called hidden hunger. Hidden hunger may result in ill health, impaired physical and cognitive development, and early deaths. 

Ways to tackle hidden hunger 

Provision of a nutritious diet is certainly the only way to tackle this situation. And, for this, there has to be a concerted effort from each and every one from the public, private, and civil society.

·         Since the effect of hidden hunger is passed on from the mother to the child during the prenatal stage, early intervention becomes imperative. So, nourishment of the mother throughout maternity and beyond is vital.

·         The first 1000 days i.e. conception to the two-year post-natal period, are considered crucial for a child’s development. By providing adequate nourishment during these days, we can break the under-nutrition – disease – mortality cycle.

·         Schemes such as ICDS and Mid-Day Meal are food-based interventions aimed to provide nutrition-rich meals at Anganwadi centres and schools. By increasing reachability, the potential of these schemes can be harnessed to counter under-nutrition.

·         Awareness drives about the importance of nutrition and its impact on health is a necessary step. Aggressive awareness campaigns regarding hidden hunger will have to be conducted for people to understand that eating is not enough, eating nutritious food will make a difference. 

‘Feed the Future Now’ aims at countering hidden hunger 

‘Feed the Future Now’ is an initiative of The Akshaya Patra Foundation to nourish and nurture children with wholesome meals and rightful education. Akshaya Patra is leveraging its Mid-Day Meal Programme to enrich children with nutritious school lunch. As has been mentioned earlier, a concerted effort is required to combat hidden hunger, through the ‘Feed the Future Now’ initiative Akshaya Patra is aiming to garner support and participation of people from all walks of life. 

The initiative aims to provide 5-billion nutritious meals to school children by 2020. Since hidden hunger negatively impacts overall development of children hampering motor development and cognitive function resulting in poor school performance, this initiative will look forward to building an effective and collaborative multi-stakeholder campaign so as to ensure an increase in pro-nutrition investments. It will create awareness on the problem of hidden hunger so that more and more people are educated about its impact and that they understand its influence on the nation’s progress. 

Corporate giants such as GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Nestle, Reliance Fresh, Viacom18, Facebook, Big FM PVR Cinemas and The Lalit Group of Hotels, along with renowned individuals namely Shankar Mahadevan, Vivek Oberoi, Sanjeev Kapoor, and Sonali Bendre have joined hands with Akshaya Patra in this initiative.

Conclusion 

Hidden hunger is a matter of utmost concern. More so, when the nation is preparing to embrace the reputation of being home to the youngest and largest working-age populations in the world. At such a watershed moment, all we can do is come together in support of providing nutritious meals to the children of India who will soon shoulder the responsibilities of the nation. Donate for children and feed the future. Let us together conquer hunger by targeting hidden hunger.

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The connection between care for children and development of society

The progress of a society can be gauged by the way it takes care of its children. Simply because children will grow up to be the caretakers of the society in the near future. Heeding to this, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a mid-day meal NGO in India, initiated a campaign called ‘Feed The Future Now’ – a social movement based on the principle that ‘every child deserves a nutritious diet, a fulfilling education, and a bright future’. The Foundation is taking forward this campaign with steadfast support from GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Nestle, Reliance Fresh, Viacom18, Facebook, Big FM PVR Cinemas and The Lalit Group of Hotels. Each of the partner corporates has pledged their support in unison to build a better future for children.

The ‘Feed The Future Now’ campaign aims to garner mass support by creating a common platform where any and every one can participate from the public sector, private sector, media and the civil society. The campaign intends to bring about a sustainable change by spreading awareness, promoting policy advocacy, and actively acting upon fulfilling the need of nutrition and education of children.

The significance of caring for the present generation

They say, ‘future is dependent in the way we deal with our present’. So, the way we treat our children today will decide the future of our society and the nation, thus making, caring for the present generation a matter of utmost importance.

Break the poverty-hunger-illiteracy cycle – This vicious cycle that has been a constant barrier to the progress of our society can be dealt only when we can create a pool of a healthy and educated generation. For instance, if we have one million children in our country and we provide nutrition and education to all of them, we will create a future generation of healthy and educated citizens. This generation will result in another abled generation and the chain will continue. Eventually, we will be able to create a new reality – the ‘economic independence-food-literacy’ cycle.  

Assets for the society – It is a simple phenomenon. As a child if I hadn’t received healthy food and education, then I would have turned out to be a dependent individual. But, since I had received care and schooling, today I am independent and am able to take care of my family. Now imagine the same by holding 3-million children in mind. What would you like them to become – assets or liabilities?

Future decision-makers - Two decades away and India will be home to one of the youngest and largest working-age populations in the world. And, it is self-explanatory that only a healthy and educated generation can potentially take responsibility of their families and the society on their shoulders. So, it becomes imperative that we provide nutritious food and schooling to our children.

Storehouse of creativity and innovation – The minds of children are a wonderland of new ideas and creativity. Their thoughts, approach, and understanding of the world have a sense of newness. And, if their talents and skills are tapped in the right way, the world will be a much wonderful place to live. But, this is possible when children are nourished with food and education, and when they are given the avenue to explore their hidden talents.

In conclusion, the growth and development of the current young population rest upon us. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is providing us a platform to influence the present and create a desirable future. So, as a way forward, let’s take full advantage of this opportunity and feed the children.

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Hunger and Development go hand in hand

As the Akshaya Patra Foundation marches forward in its endeavour to serve 5 billion meals by 2020, it has been able to ensure that over 1.6 million children across 12 states in the country are able to enjoy their right to education because they don’t need to worry about their mid-day meal, courtesy the Foundation's endeavour.

Feeding the Future 

The Foundation, along with its coalition of partners – GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Nestle, Reliance Fresh, Viacom18, Facebook, Big FM PVR Cinemas and The Lalit Group of Hotels, have been working together to building a better future for children. 

It's a movement that is hoping to gather greater support from the public and private sectors, and the civil society so that it becomes a common mission for the Government, corporates, development sector partners and individuals. Thus, Feed The Future Now aims at creating a sustained momentum for a nourished India by feeding the children. 

Country's future is safe 

When the future generations get good, healthy and balanced food from a young age itself, they will not only grow up to be physically healthy, but also mentally healthy. A nourished India will be a healthy India. 

It is especially important now because we are at the cusp of being one of the most powerful countries in the world. For the country to keep growing stronger, we have to ensure hunger doesn't come in the way of a good education which is necessary for ensuring the country has physically and mentally healthy generations in the future who will be able to build on the current achievements. 

Hunger, not a hurdle to good education 

A survey done in 2016 by the government had found that the dropout rate in Karnataka's government schools had come down drastically as not many are leaving due to effective retention strategies. From 2001 when there were over 7 lakh out-of-school children, by 2016 it had come down to 90,000 out-of-school children, according to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) officials.

This is perhaps a perfect opportunity to feed the future which can be done on 

https://www.feedthefuturenow.org/donate.

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A Nourished India, An Educated India

The movement of Feed The Future Now, that was launched across the country with the support of nine leading corporates in the country and the Government of India, has been taking baby steps towards its aim -- to serve 5 billion meals to children across India by 2020. 

The movement, launched on May 27 has its chief theme as 'Poshit Bharat, Shikshit Bharat'. It means that a nourished India will be an educated one. How can a child that is undernourished stay focused on his/her studies? For the child to grow into an intelligent person, he/she will require nutrients that are important for the neuronal cell (nerve cells that also make up the brain cells) growth and development are supplied in the necessary quantities, 

All nutrients are important for the neuronal cell growth and development; but some have greater impact during the late fetal and neonatal time periods. These include protein, iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, folate, vitamin A, choline, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. All these play an important role in a child's development. Hidden hunger, characterised by the lack of sufficient supply of nutrients, is quite prevalent across the country. 

This problem is class agnostic. Even the well-off are prone to this issue as a result of not eating many of the foods that supply these micro-nutrients.

As of now, this is a movement that has just taken birth. With its basis of three pillars – awareness, nutrition and education, the campaign seeks to create a rallying call-to-action and promote policy advocacy as well as a behavioural change with regards to the twin issues of nutrition and education.

While the movement has big corporates at the forefront, an individual need not feel left out. Even as corporates contribute, you too can feed a child.

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Know about 6 vegetables that has high nutritional value

Food is important for healthy growth of mind and body. This helps in stopping hunger now. Elders have always been particular about their children eating vegetables. But, children prefer to avoid them, as much as they can. But, no matter what, children need a balanced diet to be healthy. 

Potato, tomato, beans, pumpkin, bottle gourd, carrot, beetroot, etc., should be eaten regularly for a healthy life. Or, you end up with ailments that can affect your mental and physical well-being. 

By using the different seasonal mixed vegetables like spinach, beans and such others during their respective seasons The Akshaya Patra Foundation ensures that children get a balanced diet all-year-round. 

Spinach: Green leafy vegetables like spinach contain antioxidants that combat free radicals. These are absolutely necessary for one to remain healthy and help avoid ailments and physical issues in future. Like spinach, tomatoes too contain antioxidants that fight free radicals. 

Free radicals damage contributes to the development of many chronic health problems such as cardiovascular and inflammatory disease, cataract, and cancer. Antioxidants prevent free radical induced tissue damage by preventing the formation of radicals. 

Beans: Beans are a great source of nutrition. They contain lysine, an essential amino acid which helps the body convert fatty acids into energy and helps to lower cholesterol. They also contain folate, a B vitamin which affects neurotransmitters that can boost your mood. It is among the important vegetable which ensures you stop Hidden Hunger. 

Brinjal: Brinjal is rich in minerals such as potassium which is good for metabolism, and magnesium which helps to relax your muscles and can aid in improving your sleep. If you lack vitamin B and K this is a good vegetable. The skin has extra nasunin, a nutrient and antioxidant which has anti-ageing properties.

Pumpkin: Pumpkins contain essential nutrients such as folic acid, manganese, vitamin C and zinc, all known to help in strengthening the body's natural immune system.

Brussel Sprouts (mini cabbage): Not only are sprouts rich in vitamin C and K, which help to maintain healthy bones, they also contain carotenoids, essential for supporting good vision. Sprouts are a great source of vitamin C and also contain very low sodium and fat content, making them a great vegetable for supporting heart's health. 

These and more are used by Akshaya Patra to Feed the Children Now. You can participate in this initiative by donating towards the Foundation and eradicating classroom hunger.

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Seasonal Nutritious Dishes Keep Children Healthy

Nutritious and healthy food is the birthright of every child. But, not all children get to have it every day. There can be varied reasons for the same. 

The school lunch provided by The Akshaya Patra Foundation to over 1.6 million schoolchildren every day ensures that the children get nutritious and healthy food containing seasonal dishes as a part of their school lunch. It also ensures they get a balanced diet and are saved from hidden hunger. 

The Foundation ensures that children get fresh and different variety of dishes in their meals. It has been observed that children like different kinds of dishes in their meals every day. This, in a way, ensures that the food wastage is less. While feeding the seasonally available food, the Foundation ensures that the children get the kind of food cooked in their region. For this, every Akshaya Patra kitchen has different menu. This is necessary to feed the children nutritious meals every day. 

As seasons change, the types of vegetables and fruits available differ. Hence, it won’t be possible to give children the same food and vegetables throughout the year. There are different types of pulses and varieties of beans that grow only during certain seasons. Hence, when they are available. The children from the region where these season fruits and vegetables are harvested can relish dishes made from these ingredients. 

India is blessed with numerous climatic zones and climatic conditions. Therefore, the fruits and vegetables grown across the country vary. This also affects the nutritional properties of all them. Keeping this in mind, the ingredients in the menu are changed. Sometimes, new dishes are introduced in the menu to make it suitable for the season. With this Akshaya Patra has been able to stop hunger now. Donations from the organisations and philanthropists form an important part of our initiative to bring a change.

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Educated Children will Build a Well-Developed India

Children are called the key of paradise. It is important to ensure that they are well-educated and healthy. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-profit-organisation, which is in the forefront in ensuring the welfare of children as it aims to feed the future now. 

It is important to educate them and ensure that they become a responsible citizen of the country. Children are the future of the country. Their actions will determine the future of the nation. To ensure that they receive proper nutrition and education, the Government of India has come up with numerous initiatives. Mid-Day Meal Scheme being one of them.

It is important that every citizen of the country understands the importance of doing their bit to ensure that children are consuming nutritious food. This is important for proper development of their mind and body. 

Children should be free of fear, hunger, preventable diseases etc., to ensure they lead a happy life. The situations in some parts of the world makes it unsuitable for children to live. Take the case of man-made preventable wars and conflicts as in Syria today that has seen children being the worst affected due to the conflicts and have been left to the forces of many a deviant ideology. 

In the month of November, when we also celebrate Children’s Day is a time for all adults to affirm that children would never have to suffer for the follies of some adults. Nor will they be allowed to suffer from hunger. This is where Akshaya Patra plays a major role. It ensures that children of school-going age need not miss school for want of food. 

It is such efforts that ensures child empowerment in India. The act of empowering children helps guide them to feel and believe that they are powerful now as well as creating optimum conditions for them to live happily. 

Support the cause. Donate today.

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Feed a Child to Feed The Future Now

For developing an individual, no matter what, starting young is the best way to do it. The Akshaya Patra Foundation believes in supporting the child's development from a very young age. 

In the process of developing as a well-rounded individual, it will do a world of good, if a child is taught the need and the importance of social service. Of course, it will ensure the person develops humility, but will also ensure that the child grows up to be a selfless individual. The child realises at a very early age the importance of feeding the future now. This can ensure that the country will not have to see future generations that suffered malnutrition when they were young. This is a message that has to be imbibed by the present generation. 

India has been ranked very low in the Global Hunger Index and it is something that needs our immediate attention. The current generations should give lessons in social service to their children so that the future generations grow up to the responsible individuals. 

This will ensure that the country will have mentally and physically healthy individuals. At the same time, it would have dealt with the issues arising from hidden hunger which is more common in developing countries. Children may be able to get a stomach full of food. But, the quality of food a child gets is what's important. That's where Akshaya Patra ensures a balanced mid-day meal for over 1.6 million school children everyday across the country. Anyone who have imbibed the quality of selflessness will definitely want to extend any help to any individual or an NGO that helps those in need. 

One can feed a child today to ensure healthier future generations. But, the desire to help must be developed at a very young age for which parents can play a role.

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Feeding the future now, we can ensure we live in a healthy nation

For a person to live a healthy life, a proper diet is a must. It is more so in case of children who are in their growing years. A balanced diet can ensure that the immunity of a person is well maintained.

Some of the NGOs in India play a major role in ensuring that school-going children are able to get a full meal. Malnourished children experience developmental delays, weight-loss and illness as a result of inadequate intake of protein, calories and other nutrients. Anaemia, osteomalacia/rickets are among the diseases that could affect children who do not get a balanced diet. 

The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s mid-day meals supplied to thousands of schools ensures healthy and balanced diet for children. As a part of the Feed The Future Now campaign, the NGO is trying to reach 5 million children by 2020. 

Chronic undernutrition is said to plague more than 925 million people worldwide. Prolonged deficiency leads to malnutrition. Human body can easily fall prey to diseases if the body is not well-nourished. When children face malnutrition they tend to fall ill more often than those children who have a well-balanced and nutritious food. Hidden hunger is also considered to be a major reason for malnourished children. 

Well, this situation can be banished or relegated to history if you make charity donations. Akshaya Patra also ensures that every rupee you donate reaches the children. They get to eat a healthy mid-day meal from the nutritious value the food contains. The food is cooked in state-of-the-art kitchen which ensures that there is a minimal wastage of the resources. 

Perhaps it’s only a matter of time when India will be free of malnourishment among children with the numerous efforts being made. Be a part of the change, feed a child today to ensure that they remain healthy and attend school regularly.

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How Educated Children Can Lead The Country Towards Social Change

With approximately 28.1 per cent of India’s population in the age group of 0-14 years, children have a crucial role to play in the field of education and social change in India. Did you know that our country has more than 1.5 million schools with over 260 million students enrolled? 

These 260 million students would grow up to shape the society and be responsible for social change in India. Educated children have ambitions of pursuing career in fields that are vital for the growth of the society. It’s because of educated children that we are able to dream about the presence of more responsible citizens in future. 

For education to reach every child, it’s important that the children attend schools regularly. Many of these children, belonging to economically weaker sections, need a better motivation to attend schools. Therefore, Feed The Future Now – a nationwide campaign – is on a mission to feed the children with nutritious meals in schools. When schools feed the children in the premises, the children are motivated to attend and study regularly. 

A large section of children aged between 0-14 years face stunted growth due to lack of nutrition. The campaign run by The Akshaya Patra Foundation feeds the children in school premises, thus motivating them towards education. 

Educated children are better aware of issues such as poverty, illiteracy, health, hygiene, human rights and environment. Through education, they are made aware of the essential elements of survival. They learn about the dignity of social life and are able to imbibe vital lessons about social growth. 

Education widens the mental horizons of children for social change. Educated children develop the ability to reason, question and challenge the status quo. 

If you agree that educated children can bring a positive social change in India, then join hands with us in fighting hidden hunger. Support us as we observe the Hunger Action Month and strive to feed the children. Donate today.

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Volunteer Now to Feed the Future

Feed The Future Now is a nation-wide campaign that is aimed at ensuring that every child in India gets a nutritious mid-day meal once in a day. An initiative by The Akshaya Patra Foundation, it is looking for volunteers to take up opportunities to serve wholesome meals to children in schools. The core belief behind the campaign is that when we feed the children with nutritious meals, we are ensuring that our future generation is healthy enough to lead our country towards positive progress. This can only happen when people from all walks of life come together and donate for children.

The volunteers can participate in activities which are regularly conducted at various Government and semi-Government schools and the kitchens.

Help In Serving Meals

The food prepared in Akshaya Patra kitchen is served to 1.6 million children every day. The volunteers can help the NGO in serving meals to the children for a day. You can also help the staff unload the meals from the food trucks at the schools. This can be an extremely fulfilling experience as you get to witness the beaming faces of children as the meals are served to them. You can also arrange activities for them post lunch. This will make the children a break from their regular classes.

Support us online

Our hectic schedules keep us away from doing participating in various social cause. Though we feel guilty about it, we convince ourselves saying that we would have done it if we had time. But lack of time should not be a barrier. You can sign in as our cyber advocate and talk about our initiatives on your social media accounts. That could include pages and groups on social media where you can promote our initiatives.

Fundraising

Akshaya Patra feeds over 1.6 million children every day across 12 states. Register yourself as an online fundraising volunteer. It can be done online or by conducting activities in your vicinity. The money collected will be used to provide mid-day meals to the school children.

Help the staff in cooking

If you are someone who loves cooking, you can opt for volunteering opportunities in any of our kitchens. Our kitchens are located in across 32 locations in 12 states in India. You may can help the staff in cutting vegetables and preparing other ingredients for cooking. It can prove to be a learning experience for you since the organisation ensures that the food prepared in hygienic conditions. Their state-of-the-art kitchen are funded by millions of givers who believe in feeding the future by donating for children.

Feed The Future Now, a campaign that aims at ensuring we live in a healthy country, also invites for donations through which can be used to serve nutritious meals to people. There’s nothing more fulfilling than getting an opportunity to feed the children either by donating or volunteering for the cause. You may choose to donate for children or pick up any volunteer opportunity as per your convenience, today.

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How ambitious classmates motivate others to think of a bright future for themselves?

Children are hungry for knowledge and we need to feed them with the right kind of information. This is why the schools have a set curriculum. Through this they ensure that the students are exposed to the kind of information they can comprehend. But how do children get the motivation to have aspirations or dreams for future?

Here’s where the term ‘peer pressure’ comes to play. Children have a tendency to imitate what others are doing around them. So when they see their classmates doing well in studies, they feel motivated to pursue the same. However, this healthy and competitive environment can be marred by the existence of one factor – hidden hunger. This makes it important to stop hidden hunger now.

When we don’t feed the children with nutritious food, we leave them hungry partially. This is why we need to stop hidden hunger now as it directly relates to the growth of the children.  When we feed the children with wholesome meals, they don’t’ feel hungry and are motivated to compete. But with hidden hunger, children don’t feel healthy and strong and can’t focus on their studies.

A nation-wide campaign Feed The Future Now is an endeavour to stop hunger now by feeding the hungry children. The campaign targets hidden hunger by taking nutritious meals to schools. When children get these wholesome meals, they feel motivated to dream big, which is otherwise not possible if the child suffers from hidden hunger. They compare their ambitions with those of their peers and develop competence.

Several times, two close friends start off chasing a common dream as they inspire each other. The top ranking students in class create a sense of standard within a classroom. Nothing motivates children than seeing their friends succeed. This makes it important to feed the hungry children.

As the campaign observes Hunger Action month, let’s pledge to encourage our children to have goals. Let’s help in creating an environment of healthy competition where ambitious children study together and motivate each other.

You can be part of this campaign by contributing your services or your money. Donate today tofeed the hungry children.

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What is Right to Education?

The year 2009 marked a major turning point in the history of education in India when the Right To Education Act, popularly known as the RTE, was enacted. This Act mandated free and compulsory education for children between six and 14 in India. This means that education is the fundamental right of every child in India. 

Education is vital for the future of the society since children are the future. The Act is significant in that it make education accessible in various ways. For instance, the Act provides that “no child shall be held back, expelled or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education.” 

India also suffers from the challenge of school drop-outs – a problem which is also addressed by the Right To Education Act. School drop-outs are given special training in order to bring them up to par with the students of the same age. 

A nation-wide campaign Feed The Future Now an initiative of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, addresses the problem of school drop-outs by serving wholesome meals in schools. This encourages several children to come back to school and regularly study. The campaign is taking the future of India – the children – closer to the right to education. 

In the year 2011, the right to education was extended till Class X (16 years) into the preschool age range. This means now most of growing-up years of the children in India can be invested in education. The Feed the Future Now campaign, thus calls people to donate more for child education. 

Children are the future and right to education is a step towards this future. Donating for child education is an investment in our own future. If you choose to donate for child education today, you are contributing towards right to education for children. Join Feed The Future Now campaign.Donate today.

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If you contribute towards feeding a child with nutritious meal today, you are indirectly building a bright future for the nation.

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A colourful platter can make a meal-time enjoyable for children. The Akshaya Patra Foundation ensures to provide appetising and healthy meal to our beneficiaries every day. The children are delighted to see their food coming in various colours. The chart will help pick the food you need to consume to stay healthy.