India Was Just A Holiday, Till She Saw The Slums, And Stayed On

It all began with a dream and a determined 18-year-old girl. The big change in Shaheen's life came when, after living abroad all her life, she came to Mumbai on a holiday. And stayed, giving up an education in Boston in exchange for a desire to try and educate others. Perhaps it was the incongruity between her life and those of slum-dwellers and their children that made her break ties with her past life. "I was curious about life in a slum," says Shaheen who signed up for a BA in Sociology from St Xavier's College. "I was keen to understand the city instead of just going from college to home." So while friends spent time over coffee in the college canteen, this girl from Connecticut was spending her spare time in slums. "It amazed me that young people had so much time on their hands while there're huge social problems that need to be addressed," she says.

Obviously, obstacles of infrastructure and finances had to be overcome before her dream realised itself. Things started looking up when she met Father Ivo D'Souza, then principal of the Holy Name School, who lent her a classroom free of charge. Holy Name became the first Akanksha centre and Shaheen's friends the early volunteers. Clothes, books and teaching materials were donated by friends and family. Despite that, the early days were tough going, but as she says, "We decided we'd just start and learn along the way." So Akanksha took its baby steps and Shaheen, keen to formalise her knowledge and ideas, took off for a one-year Masters in educational project planning for developing countries at Manchester University. Her thesis: using college students in education projects in India.

As Shaheen speaks, her enthusiasm shines through her many ideas, plans and hopes. "What's important is not so much the number of kids we can cover, but what we can give them," she says. "I don't want that to be diluted." So, Akanksha envisages 25 centres. Thereafter, it'll help other organisations in similar work in other cities. Bringing slum kids to school. Covering their municipal school expenses. Encouraging corporates and individuals to chip in by sponsoring a child, a teacher or a centre. "What are we doing with these kids in the long term?" Shaheen worries aloud. "How do we ensure a sustainable change in their lives?" And answers these questions herself by painting her biggest dream: raising Rs 8 crore for a residential college. When that happens, 200 Akanksha children will spend two years studying computers or business skills, teaching or landscaping. "We've found there are vacancies in these fields," she says. "The school will be flexible to market needs."

Initially, the cost of setting up basic infrastructure (Rs 20,000) was borne by Shaheen, her family and friends. Then help from corporates and individuals started trickling in, and today Akanksha is run on these funds. The centres, mostly located in schools and in donated office space, cost about Rs 2.5 lakh each to run. Almost half of the centres are already sponsored and Akanksha also has two trust funds now-in the UK and the US-a result of the efforts of individuals and corporates.

Meanwhile, at a Mumbai Akanksha classroom, children in red T-shirts emblazoned with yellow suns are busy learning about homophones-words that sound the same but mean different things. "Like tea and tee, didi," says 13-year-old Seema, who started learning English just a year ago. "Tee?" says Shaheen, surprised. "Do you know what tee means?" There's a pause. Till another boy pipes up, "Yes, didi, golf, we know." Akanksha's contact address: akankshafoundation@vsnl.com; phone: 022-204-0354.