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All Stories
Explore 15 authentic stories from students, parents, teachers, alumni, volunteers, and staff who form the heart of Akanksha Education Fund.
A Mother's Dream
Rupali, Parent
When my husband passed away in 2004, my world fell apart. I was alone, with no one at home, and I had to learn how to be strong for my children. Through all the struggle, I held onto one belief: education would be their way out.
A Grandmother's Light
Vimal, Grandmother
I have seen the changes in this family like a slow sunrise, turning darkness into light. When I look at Om and his siblings, I don't just see children; I see the future that we dreamed about but never had.
The Code That Connects
Jayshree Oberoi, Sr. Director, Multiply Initiative
From a drought-stricken village in Maharashtra to the forests of India and classrooms of Boston, Jayshree Oberoi's journey is one of courage, integrity, and an unshakeable belief that every child deserves to be seen.
Everyone Calls Me Didi
Dhanalakshmi, Teacher, Akanksha Foundation
My name is Dhanalakshmi, but by now, even I respond more to 'Didi' than to my own name. For over two decades, her classroom has been a place where presence, noticing, and small kindnesses build the kind of humans no grade can measure.
They Still Call Me Their Adopted Mom
Chitra Vishwanath, Senior Program Specialist, High School — Akanksha Foundation (22 years)
Chitra Vishwanath has known Sajida and Sabiha since they were toddlers. Today one works in marketing, the other in climate tech — and they still call her their adopted mom. A story of 22 years, 100% pass results, and the quiet, persistent work of changing minds.
As Long as I Am Walking, I Will Show Up
Nalini Panday, Volunteer, Akanksha Foundation (22 years)
A young barista at Starbucks recognised Nalini and insisted on giving her his employee discount. He was an Akanksha student. That quiet act of pride — earned through 22 years of her showing up — is why Nalini Panday keeps coming back.
My Degree Was Not a Degree, It Was a Revolution
Tejashree Jadhav, Alumni, K.C. Thackeray Vidya Niketan, Pune
Born into a family where her very existence was political, Tejashree went from a malfunctioning school in Pune to graduating from Whitman College in the US — with Akanksha beside her every step of the way.
It Is Never Too Late
Divya Daulat Gajare, Office Helper, Akanksha HQ
At 40, after a 24-year gap, Divya returned to school — attending night college after a full day of work and household duties, proving that education has no age limit.
The Teacher in Me
Durga Nilkanth Tambe, Hindi and Marathi Teacher, Grades 1–3, Lakshmi Nagar School, Khar West, Mumbai
I started as a helper — shy, underconfident, unable to take an auto alone. Akanksha didn't just give me a job. It gave me a degree, a classroom, and a dream I never thought I could have.
My Work Is My Temple
Rakesh Ghone, Senior Manager, Social Work Department, Akanksha Foundation
I don't feel like I need to go to a temple in my old age. My work gives me my happiness. For 19 years, this community has been my faith.
Born on the Pavement, Standing in Utah
Salman Sayyed, Alumni, Akanksha Foundation
I was literally born on the pavement. People use that as a metaphor for struggle, but for me, it is a location you can point to on a map.
The Anger That Built a School
Shalini Sachdeva, School Founder & Principal, Akanksha
My life in schools began with dogs. In ninth grade, I was angry at cruelty, at neglect, at how easily people looked away. Years later, I realized that same anger was really about children — and the wasted potential we had normalised as a nation.