"When I grow up, I will become a teacher” – Shivani Kumari (Bal Shiksha Ahara Beneficiary)

Darukhana, a place where hunger and dreams collide, is located in the less privileged areas of Mumbai. This place welcomes you with a foul smell and hungry faces. Narrow lanes, heaps of garbage and rodents are a usual sight here. The people here are daily wage workers who struggle to satiate their hunger on a daily basis. Going to bed hungry is somehow a way of life for people residing in Darukhana.

Shivani is a 6-year-old young girl, residing in a compact house with a family of six. She lives with her mother, father, younger brother, younger sister and elder sister. Their house is cramped, overcrowded and not very hygienic to live a healthy life.

Shivani is a 1st grader at East Byculla Mahanagar Palika. Her mother is a housewife and her father is a construction worker and the sole breadwinner of the family, earning somewhere between 300-400 rupees a day.

As an alcoholic he spends most of his daily earnings on alcohol, which leaves the family to fend for themselves. He takes back home barely enough to survive a hand to mouth life.

Shivani’s elder sister also works to supplement the income of her family. She quit her education to work and support the family. Her mother battles to provide even two square meals to the family and is burdened with never-ending expenses like food, house rent, travelling and medication.

Shivani dreams of transforming the situation of her family and aims to serve as a means for the family to leave their agony behind. She wants to keep the wolf from the door and ensure that her family never sleeps on an empty stomach. She loves going to school and aspires to become a teacher.

The breakfast meal given to her by Akshaya Chaitanya serves as an incentive for her to go to school every day. Since a hungry belly has no ears, breakfast meals also improve their concentration and help them excel in academics. The meal does not only provide fuel to her body but also fuels her dreams.

In a city like Mumbai, there are thousands of children like Shivani who wake up every day with a spark in their eyes and an empty stomach. Such children are anxiously waiting for us to come forward and provide a helping hand. We at Akshaya Chaitanya work towards providing hot and nutritious breakfast to underprivileged children like Shivani. Our help goes beyond nutrition as we try to open up the world of equal opportunities for the vulnerable people by creating a food-secure society.

To support and join the cause, visit www.akshayachaitanya.org