By Kerry Markey | Director, Grassroots Development & Media Relations
Dear Friends,
I have some very exciting news to share!
The Akshaya Patra Foundation has accomplished the significant milestone of serving one billion meals to school children in India from the program’s inception. To commemorate this momentous occasion legendary singer and brand ambassador Shankar Mahadevan composed and sung a special song written by Javed Akthar and performed it live at the celebration in Bangalore on August 5th. The music video accompanying the song was also released and can be viewed at the link below.
Akshaya Patra’s leadership has called this occasion not only a time for celebration but a time for introspection into what has been accomplished over the last 11 years and what should be accomplished in the years to come. The organizations goal is to serve 5 million children by 2020 but there was also talk of diversifying the mid day meal program to address other challenges, such as safe drinking water and sanitation. While our core focus will remain the mid day meal program we have pledged to find ways to address these other concerns in the communities we serve.
One of the most interesting remarks at the celebration came from Mohan Das Pai who spoke of Akshaya Patra's desire to end its program by 2030. “We hope and pray fervently that by 2030 we do not have to run this program”, said Pai. “We want to see an India where there is not hunger, every child has a home, every child has great parent, every child has an education, every child has food on the table, every child has great career, and every child gets all the love and care that the child is due.”
This milestone could not have been achieved without the unstinting efforts, devotion, dedication, support and perseverance of the Akshaya Patra India team, compassionate donors around the world, like YOU, and the Government of India. Lets continue to work together to reach our goal of feeding 5 million children by 2020 and make poverty history!
All the best,
Kerry Markey
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