PROMOTING EQUALITY AMONG INDIA’S URBAN CHILDREN

More than imparting knowledge and improving results, AKP’s focus on education is about shaping the fabric of communities, breaking down barriers and creating the conditions for a brighter future. Across India, near popular tourist destinations in Jaipur and Delhi, AKP has been supporting schools that do pioneering work in multiple ways.

At Deepalaya School in New Delhi, which educates children growing up in the city’s slums, AKP sponsors 50 students, covering the cost of education, uniform, books and food and contributing to other infrastructure needs such as renovating the school playground. This school was chosen because it takes a holistic approach to children’s wellbeing. Once a month, doctors visit to provide students and their families with a medical check-up, and there are also opportunities for vocational training in computers and electronics.

Meanwhile, in the rural areas outside the Rajasthan city of Jaipur, many schools have been identified by the government as requiring refurbishment and improvement. AKP worked with a local NGO and community advisors to identify schools’ needs and then address them. At Kacherawala Primary, renovation work included improving drainage, rebuilding the roof, renovating the toilets with improved water supply and washing units. One of the most impactful elements was the installation of solar panels so that the school now has an uninterrupted supply of electricity, transforming the quality of students' education.

Our flexible approach can be seen at the nearby Digantar and Hansraj schools, both of which offer a progressive education for underprivileged children. The schools aim to help make society more equitable, and so they run innovative programs that include a democratically elected student leadership to help break down gender stereotypes within the community. With AKP’s support, these schools have enhanced their range of practical and creative classes to include sewing, plumbing, carpentry and other useful trade skills and have received support with practical needs such as books, clothes and meals.