RE:Ms. Shaheen Mistry
by Sriram K on Apr 11, 2007 12:13 PM Permalink
dear jonas,
i work at akanksha in mumbai. if you want to want to send clothes and related items, please contact us and we will refer you to organisations as we do not distribute clothes.
RE:Ms. Shaheen Mistry
by Jonas DSouza on Apr 11, 2007 03:29 PM Permalink
Thank you. I will make my own contacts. At the same time, may I know what is it that you accept and/or distribute ??
Keep up the great work Shaeen.. I'd like to contribute and be a part of your remarkable work in any form or manner that i can.. let me know if you have a website for online contributions..
RE:Do they accept donations
by Sriram K on Apr 11, 2007 08:17 AM Permalink
dear suresh,
please check http://www.akanksha.org/donate.html for online donation options from UK and USA. if in india you could send us a cheque at the address given on the same page. you please address to Shaheen Mistri
I salute your noble work and kind intentions. One way to solve the shortage of teachers is inviting and using the retired proffesionals. Indian retirement age is 55 (that i know of) most of these people still have few good working years left in them. If you can present (sell) them your case their experience would be an immence asset to your organisation. Before you approach them though you should expect these things...They lack motivation, They hate to travel, They may not like to work.. So you should've all the answers to these. I also have few questions.
My parents are both retired teachers (that's why) and i think they still can contribute. How do you enroll these kids. do you conduct class exams for them.. are these exams recognised by the educational board. would they graduate like other school kids. Please let me know..
RE:Involve retired proffesionals
by Sriram K on Apr 11, 2007 08:24 AM Permalink
dear jn,
the main program of akanksha is the akanksha centers which are supplementary to the formal school system. see http://www.akanksha.org/methodology.html it is a classical after school program but the entire process is done in a setting full of fun and joy - as learning should be. we are not recognised by any educational board. thank you for the questions. we support the children through their formal school/college system. while the experience of retired people is valuable, the real challenge will be to motivate indian youth to take up teaching as a vocation. teaching is an intense and high energy profession, and so the burst of youth is essential to be coupled with the wisdom of experience.
RE:Involve retired proffesionals
by Joe on Apr 11, 2007 08:34 PM Permalink
Thanks sriram,
I want to know how your org works? I mean daily schedules. Do you guys go to these shcools on a regular basis and take some classes for these kids. So it's not like a regular 9 to 5 school. In other words these kids are already in some school and you send these teacher to go to these public schools to teach. Am i correct. If so do you have any arrangement with the school authority to take these classes. Do you do anything other than taking these classes to the kids. Where can i find somemore information regarding this..
RE:Involve retired proffesionals
by Sriram K on Apr 12, 2007 07:53 AM Permalink
dear joe,
the akanksha centers run after or before the school. the link to the school system is still being strengthened. the kids come to the centers 5 days a week for at least 10 years. each center runs for 2.5 hours a day and has 2 teachers and a very systematic curriculum. do check http://www.akanksha.org/whatwedo.html for a more in depth understanding of the work. do write to website@akanksha.org for continuing this thread.
