The end of each school year always brings a time of reflection, celebration, and recognition. The Akanksha teachers and staff did just that on Sunday at the Akanksha Annual Day in Mumbai. While students enlivened the celebration with skits and dancing, this event focused on the dedication and hard work the adults put in over the past year to bring excellence to all Akanksha schools and learning centers.
The highlight of the day was the recognition of teachers and staff who had given five and ten years of service. Colleagues stepped up to speak about each awardee praising the commitment, friendship and unique talents each brought to the team. Included in this group was CEO Vandana Goyal who has been with Akanksha for five years. Founder Shaheen Mistri praised Vandana for growing the parts of the organization that were successful while also having the courage to change the organization for the better. Vandana challenged everyone to keep setting “big hairy audacious goals” for children and striving for excellence everyday.
A former student turned Akanksha teacher who has now started his own NGO closed the ceremony by reflecting on the role Akanksha played in shaping his life path. “If it was not for Akanksha, I would be a gangster. But now I’m not a gangster. I’m a good human being. I’m living a good life, a happy life, thanks to Akanksha.”
Akanksha currently runs 46 after-school centers and 9 schools serving 4,055 children in Mumbai and Pune. The organization will open 4 new schools for the 2012-2013 school year.
