5. WHAT IS AKSHY?
Our Association
Akshy India consists of a group of people
sponsors, members, supporters and friends
w i s h i n g t o c o n t r i b u t e v o l u n t a r i l y t o
alleviating some of the poverty and misery in
which a large part of Indian society exists.
We are a nonlucrative NGO which has as its
main objective the improvement, by means
of our different projects, of living conditions
for the most illtreated children, women and
old people in India, known as dalits or
untouchables.
In conformity with present legislation,
AKSHYINDIA is an NGO registered on 21 of
January 2007 as a nonlucrative Association
in the National Register of Associations at the
Spanish Home Office, number 588315, CIF
V84965912, and recognized by the Spanish
Agency for International Cooperation and
Development (AECID) having its seat in San
Lorenzo de El Escorial. AkshyIndia respects
the multiplicity of traditions, cultures and
religions of India, as well as its spirituality
and customs.
How Akshy was born
AkshyIndia was started when Raquel Mason (Founder and Director) visited Bodhgaya, in the State
of Bihar, in the winter of 2005. She began to recognize in greater depth the realities of rural India,
the lack of equality existing among the castes and the needs of the population, especially of
children. In the village she visited where dalits or untouchables live, Rachel was impressed by
seeing a sick child whose name was Akshay. The poor boy looked sad, dirty, uncared for and
surrounded by misery. Rachel found a doctor to cure him. She knew its was impossible to turn
away and do nothing. She had to take action and began to realize that the only way to improve
the living conditions of these little ones was through education in its widest sense, offering them in
this way an opportunity to become adults with dignity.
Raquel began to send financial aid to cover the first needs of materials and, in the summer of
2006, a little school was opened in Amwan. In January 2007, the Akshy Association was formally
registered and, little by little, more people interested in offering their drop of water joined, all
wishing to help set up what is today the Akshy Asssociation.With the commitment of sponsors and
supporters, the team began to develop different programmes. Although our Association has grown
and new projects have arisen, we have always based our decisions on those principles on which
our NGO was founded; Akshy is a direct, humane association accessible to all those who wish to
join us.
Akshy 5
6. We give great importance to
l i s t e n i n g t o t h e n e e d s o f
individual persons, respecting
their traditions and customs,
trying to understand the difficult
conditions and circumstances in
which they exist.
We are committed to continue
supporting them regularly and
seriously, and this encourages
them to trust us in our work so
t h a t s t e p b y s t e p w e c a n
increase our projects.
We work with values: ethics,
wisdom, responsibility and
altruism which, being universal,
can be shared by all persons
regardless of their age, culture,
race or religion, and are based
on the Programme of Universal
Education.
WHAT IS AKSHY?
Objectives and Values of
Akshy
O u r a i m t o i s p r o m o t e t h e
development of the most ill
treated rural communities in
India, with special emphasis on
the untouchables, by means of
education and improving the
status of women, informing
them of their rights, defending
them, assuring and watching
that the appropriate laws are
applied.
We work to alleviate extreme
poverty, fight injustice and
assist in the obtaining of a
more equitable society w i t h
the same opportunities for this
ostracized sector of India,
k n o w n a s t h e d a l i t s o r
Akshy6
O u r a i m i s t o educate for a
meaningful life to develop the
i n d i v i d u a l ́ s p o t e n t i a l f o r
reaching happiness and personal
excellence, in turn contributing
to the welfare of others, to an
improved society and to a more
peaceful world.
The values and attitudes stated
in the Universal Education Act
and which we take into account
in our programmes are essential
to the honest character of our
project. For more information on
the programme, please browse
website:
http://educacionuniversal.org/
14. rate of literacy, dignify the
position of the woman within
i n d i a n r u r a l s o c i e t y a n d
encourage attention to the old
and disabled.
To this purpose, we have a n
integral programme composed
of different projects adapted to
t h e a r e a i n w h i c h A k s h y
o p e r a t e s : B o d h g a y a a n d
surrounding villages in the
State of Bihar (North East
India).
A k s h y A s s o c i a t i o n works
directly on its projects in the
field in India w i t h n o l o c a l
c o u n t e r p a r t , p e r s o n a l l y
developing and managing the
a c t i v i t y . I n t h i s w a y
management costs are reduced.
Each project is supervised from
start to finish, ensuring correct
handling in a part of India
where corruption is rife.
We obtain firsthand information
from direct contact with the
people and this helps us to
manage the projects correctly
and also remain faithful to our
own values.
WHAT WE DO
How we work
Aware of the fact that the
future of a country depends on
its schools, our mode of action
i s a l w a y s f o c u s e d o n
education. We believe that
this is the best way for those
m o s t i n n e e d t o r e a c h a
m i n i m u m s t a n d a r d o f
wellbeing which could be
perpetuated in time.
Firstly, we develop the area of
child education. In addition to
providing schooling, food,
medical attention, emotional
support, e t c . f o r t h e m o s t
vulnerable children, we also
work on projects favouring
development and the health
of the community in which
they live. These children, once
taught to read andwrite, will
contribute to improve the
living conditions of those
around them. For this reason
w e p l a c e v e r y s p e c i a l
emphasis of the education of
girls. T h e y a r e t h e f u t u r e
mothers who will be in charge
of transmitting to their sons
and daughters the importance
o f a t t e n d i n g s c h o o l a n d
receiving an education. In this
connection, Akshy ́s education
p r o g r a m m e a t t e m p t s t o
convince the children of the
importance of developing
b e h a v i o u r a l a n d healthy
habits which will endow them
with the dignity due to them as
human beings.
We believe, therefore, that the
care and education of the boys
and girls will not only dignify
future generations but will give
a position of greater relevance
to women and also teach the
c h i l d r e n t o v a l u e t h e
importance of respecting and
assisting the old people and
those with discapacity.
The relevance of our project is
s o c i a l a n d f o r c o m m u n i t y
integration, deriving from
education as the instrument of
change.
The establishing of schools
creates a strong bond between
t h e p o p u l a t i o n a n d o u r
Association, at the same time
giving rise to a trust in us which
draws us nearer to the women
and old people. This also
allows us better access to their
problems, to see more easily
their needs and so be able to
act by laying down a base or
structure which will make it
possible for both the women
and their children in the future
to enjoy improved social and
e c o n o m i c o p p o r t u n i t i e s ,
p e r h a p s b e i n g a b l e t o
generate their own source of
income, thus breaking down
the vicious circle of poverty.
As will be explained in later
chapters, our prime objectives
are to improve the conditions
of the dalit boys and girls
through education, raise their
14Akshy
15. The Akshay School, in
Amwan, Bodhaya:
It was started in 2006. T h e
boys and girls attending our
school are the first generation
of the "untouchable" caste to
become literate in Amwan.
The school is located in our
E d u c a t i o n a l C e n t r e
inaugurated in 2012 where
various different programmes
are developed. At the present
t i m e a r o u n d 1 5 5 c h i l d r e n
attend the Akshay School in 7
different classes. We teach up
to 5th Grade, the end of the
primary cycle in India, and
f o l l o w t h e c u r r i c u l u m o f
subjects stipulated by the
Government.
The Kamal Infant Center,
in the vilage of Jaitiya:
Opened in 2013 a n d a s o f
today has 38 children in two
classes. The school is in
Jaitiya, a rural village distant
from Bodhgaya where more
t h a n h a l f t h e p o p u l a t i o n
b e l o n g s t o t h e
"untouchables".
With this Infant Centre our
i d e a i s t o e n c o u r a g e a n
interest in education both in
the children and the parents
in this isolated village. With
regular daily classes imparted
by two teachers, parents begin
to realize that our project is
serious and they become
more interested.
INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
Primary Education Project
Akshy15
We have three primary education schools. The children ́s ages range from 4 to 12 years old. In the
Centre as well as the official subjects, they learn to express themselves, to take part in the
programme of ethical values, have an opportunity in the plastic arts, value the environment and
grow up with dignity, In our Environment programme we include different activities for the children
so they become aware of the importance of living in surroundings free from plastic rubbish and filth.
They are also taught the importance of not wasting but taking care of their natural resources.
Shanti Niketan School:
In 2017 we opened this little
infant school in the village of
N a u t a p u r . I t h a s t w o
classrooms with 35 pupils.
The project was initiated on
the request of parents from
the village since, being close
t o A m w a n , s o m e o f t h e
children who live there come
to our Akshay Educational
C entre and parents were
b e g i n n i n g t o r e a l i z e t h e
importance for their children
of receiving education. These
parents have undertaken to do
all maintenance and cleaning
of the classrooms as well as
having previously carried out
the work involved in making it
suitable for a school, viz. our
NGO provided the materials
and they did the work.
16. INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
i n t h e i r s t u d i e s b y d a i l y
s e s s i o n s i n t h e A k s h a y
Educational Centre.
It must be mentioned here that
the secondary education of our
g i r l s r e p r e s e n t s a t r u e
challenge if we bear in mind
the traditional obstacles of
child marriages and work in
the home.
The fact that girls can have
access to secondary education
is extremely important since,
while being really hard to get
them to the primary level,
access to a secondary school
signifies a drastic change and
efforts which must be given
their full due..
V e r y f e w f a m i l i e s o f
"untouchable" g i r l s a l l o w
t h e m t o c o n t i n u e w i t h
secondary studies once they
complete primary; they have
t o t a k e c h a r g e o f t h e
h o u s e w o r k o r p r e p a r e
themselves for marriage.
With the support we provide for
secondary education, the girls
and their families accept a
short delay in marrying them
wich in turn enables them to
continue their learning procces
fot a few more years.
Secondary Education Project
Akshy 16
W e f i n a n c e Secondary
Education for those children
who wish to continue once
they have completed Year 5
Iin the Akshay School and
when their parents agree. With
our help they have access to
more advanced studies.
At present we are paying
secondary education for 21
pupils at various schools in
Bodhgaya. T h e y a r e n o w
mixing with boys and girls from
all different castes. Their
academic life is in different
surroundings but they continue
t h e i r e d u c a t i o n i n ethical
values and environmental aw
areness as well as support
20. INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
This project is designed to meet
our objective of reaching out to
other sectors of society as well as
to the children, in such a way that
the Akshay Educational Centre
act as a pilar of support for the
weakest members.
I t i s d i r e c t e d t o t h e a d u l t
c o m m u n i t i e s o f Amwan,
Nautapur, and Amway Colony
who have been abandoned by
t h e i r f a m i l i e s a n d e x i s t
u n p r o t e c t e d i n s u b h u m a n
conditions.
T h e precarious economies o f
t h e f a m i l i e s i n r u r a l a r e a s
together with the fact that they
b e l o n g t o t h e "untouchable"
caste, p l a c e t h e m i n a n
atrociously vulnerable position.
When families have nothing to
s p a r e , i n o r d e r t h a t o t h e r
members can survive, the old and
disabled are separated from the
f a m i l y c i r c l e , r e l e g a t e d t o
isolation and extreme poverty.
W i t h o u r p r o g r a m m e w e
guarantee that they can have a
roof over their head, a meal each
day, be clothed and attended by
a d o c t o r , i n s h o r t h a v e the
minimum necessary for survival.
We build or repair their huts so
they have a roof, give them doors
so they feel safe, bunks so they do
not have to sleep on the ground
c l o t h e s s o t h e i r b o d i e s a r e
covered and, in winter, blankets to
keep them warm.
T h e primary and secondary
pupils help in developing this
programme by attending to
the old and disabled. In this w
a y t h e y learn solidarity,
respect for older and weaker
persons or those with physical
impediments, to be generous
with their time, to open their
hearts and be kind.
"DadaDadi" Project of attention to the old and
disabled
Akshy 20
In addition they also receive
medical care and medicines
when they are ill and aid with
cremation
expensesatthetimeof death.
Twice a month they come to
our Centre where we give
them a special meal.
W e listen to them and stay
with them so they can tell us
their needs. They also join our
students in celebrations held
in the Centre.
22. INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
The Water Pump Project
T h e shortage of water o r
contaminated water are the
m a i n c a u s e s o f g a s t r o
intestinal problems in the
population.
Many villages have to share
a water pump among over
200 inhabitants.
We build water pumps i n
rural villages of this area and
s h o w t h e p e o p l e h o w t o
maintain them.
Our plan is that they have
clean water t o d r i n k , f o r
personal hygiene or cooking
a n d s o avoid Illness a n d
gastric problems.
22Akshy
23. INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
T h e g r o u p s a r e mixed,
married women and young
adolescents together so that
they share space and activity.
Women from different castes
also join and this is a fine
opportunity for encouraging a
f e e l i n g o f u n i t y a n d
i n t e g r a t i o n a m o n g t h e m
regardless of the caste to
which they belong.
The women ́s course lasts for
six months on an everyday
basis and when completed
and the final exam passed
they obtain a diploma. They
all learn to make clothes for
their family.
L a t e r t h e y c a n t a k e a n
advanced course where they
are taught other techniques,
s u c h a s t e x t i l e p a i n t i n g ,
embroidery, making uniforms,
bags, purses, tablecloths etc.
all of which give them the
o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e c e i v e
payment for their work a n d
s o h e l p i n t h e d o m e s t i c
economy.
The Sewing Centre Project 'Women United Mahila Ekta
Silae Khendre'
Akshy23
This project is available for
all women adults, young girls
a n d a d o l e s c e n t s i n t h e
villages of Amwan, Nautapur
and Amwan Colony to learn
a trade (even have their own
workshop in the future) or
simply learn to sew or make
clothes for their families.
The workshop is also a place
where they can meet, chat
a n d a n d s h a r e t h e i r
experiences and problems.
The women who are illiterate
have some basic classes first
so they can follow the course.
27. ACHIEVEMENTS 2017
Boarding Schools
Sometimes the poverty in these families
is so terrible that we have to take actions
going beyond our normal work. This
was the case of two children whose
families could not afford to keep them,
given the extreme poverty in which they
live, not even being able to feed them.
We managed to get them, with the
consent of their families, into a private
boarding school where they now have
schooling, meals, a bed and tutorial
support. T h e r e h a s b e e n a n
outstanding positive change in these
children both in their physical aspect
and their general attitude; they have
adapted very well to the studies.
Akshy 27
Shanti Niketan School
In 2017 we opened this little
infant school in the village of
Nautapur. It has two classrooms
with 35 pupils. The project was
i n i t i a t e d o n t h e r e q u e s t o f
parents from the village since,
being close to Amwan, some of
the children who live there come
t o o u r A k s h a y E d u c a t i o n a l
C e n t r e a n d p a r e n t s w e r e
b e g i n n i n g t o r e a l i z e t h e
importance for their children of
receiving education.
These parents have undertaken
t o d o a l l m a i n t e n a n c e a n d
cleaning of the classrooms as
well as having previously carried
out the work involved in making
it suitable for a school, viz. our
NGO provided the materials and
they did the work. Support and help in applying to join government programmes
The Government of India has a study programme with grants for attending boarding schools for which
students can apply although access is difficult. This State programme is for children from rural areas
with academic potentials; the curriculum is in English and they can study there up to Year 12. Owing
to the lack of information as well as the complicated bureaucracy involved, very few Dalit boys and
girls apply or benefit from them. We have a project whereby we prepare the children academically
to pass the entrance exam as well as assisting with all the prior paperwork etc. they need to file
their applications. If they are admitted we then take care of their wellbeing and watch over their
studies too. This year two boys were admitted to Class 11.
28. ACHIEVEMENTS 2017
Preventive Health Care
183 children from our schools and those in
Secondary education have received specific
medical attention when necessary, including
medicines and specialists.
Hygiene female materials were share out
w i t h t e e n a g e s t u d e n t s a n d w e m a d e
workshop with them.
23 students have received vaccination of
Hepatitis.
DadaDadi
16 old people abandoned by their families or with no family, widows or disabled, have
been given assistance through DadaDadi project. They have received from us twice a month
enough to food to cover basic needs.
We have repaired the roofs of their dwellings with tiles instead of straw to avoid Monsoon
rains seeping in. They were given a bed each so they did not have to sleep on the floor, as
was the norm up to now..
They have also received from us blankets and clothes in winter in order to prevent them
against low temperatures.
Akshy 28
As usual in this programme, all of them have
received support from our oldest students.
We have taken all the necessary steps so that
those taking part in this project collect all pensions
due to them from the Government.
Through us they have also received free medical
attention.
We have talked to these people too on the
importance of hygiene to avoid illness.
29. ACHIEVEMENTS 2017
Otros
We had a special handout of
blankets to the people in to
our DadaDadi project.
Similarly we gave jumpers
and scarves to 240 children
in the different schools as
none of them had suitable
warm clothing and winters are
hard.
Akshy 29
Projecto for Women
The women taking part in
t h e Microcredits Project ( a
total of 120) have continued to
use the money they saved for
buying seeds or doors for their
dwellings, for paying medical
bills, repairing roofs or starting
small businesses without
h a v i n g t o h a v e r e s o r t t o
moneylenders. The project is
open to different groups of
w o m e n i n a l l t h e v i l l a g e s
where we work.
After attending a Sewing
Course f o r 6 m o n t h s , 2 0
w o m e n h a v e g a i n e d t h e i r
S e w i n g C e r t i f i c a t e w h i c h
allows them to work for others.
A group of 18 women has
also completed the Beauty
Course during which they were
taught how to use henna, to
prepare brides (hairdressing,
m a k e u p , e t c . ) f o r t h e i r
weddings. Thanks to our
course and its certificate they
can now earn money doing
this type of work in the village
when there are weddings or
special celebrations.
Similarly we held a signature
workshop in which the village
women were taught to write
their names so they can sign
when opening a bank account
a n d t a k e p a r t i n t h e
microcredit programmes.