3. 3/ How we work and what we
do
13
3.1/ How do we work? 14
3.2/ Integral Programme 15
4/ New projects 2015
25
5/ Origin and destination of
our resources 30
6/ Promotion and awareness 32
7/ Acknowledgements
7.1/ Supporters
34
35
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
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. W e g i v e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e
to listening to the needs of
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 with
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
untouchables.
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/
8. Our Team
" H i e v e r y b o d y ! M y n a m e i s Rosa. I d i s c o v e r e d
this NGO through a workmate who is very involved in works of
charity. I began to attend Akshy meetings now and again and
met Rachel. My husband Tino gave me a surprise present with
the trip to the Centre in India and I began to fall in love with
this incredible project which is being carried out with such
scarcity of means but which has motivated me to continue
working for Akshy in any way I can"
"I am Julia and my commitment to Life has led me to lend a
hand in the Akshy projects, helping with accounts and its little
markets in favour of the neediest people in this part of India"
Hilary Lunn: " W h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e I h a v e a l w a y s
helped children in difficult situations b u t w h e n a f r i e n d
explained how her daughter wished to improve the life of dalit
children in Bihar, India, it sounded a wonderful idea and one in
which I wanted to cooperate with my translations into English"
8 Akshy
Namaste! We are Juana and Jose Angel. We were put in touch
with Akshy through our friends Diego and Pilar. We fell in love
with the project, discovering the smiles and happiness of
children who are now able to go to school every day, as well
as the loving care taken of the elderly and families. This moved
us to take action (helping with sponsorship, fairs, markets,
solidarity suppers, etc.) together with other members of Akshy,
our goal being to make a dream come true for part of the dalit
population in India
11. 02/WHERE DO WE WORK?
The Akshay Educational Centre is
located in the village of Amwan, 4
kms. from Bodhgaya, a city in
the North of India belonging to
t h e S t a t e o f B i h a r , t h e m o s t
backward state in the whole of
India, with the lowest literacy and
per capita income rates. The
population lives mainly from its
agricultural activity with no industry
or any other alternative means of
work.
The Kamal School (Lotus School)
is situated in Jaitiya, a village of
1,700 inhabitants, in the district of
Gaya, where more than half the
p o p u l a t i o n a r e " d a l i t s " o r
untouchables; among them are
some 200 children of school age.
Given the poor conditions of the
l o c a l r o a d ( i n M o n s o o n t i m e s
completely impassable) and its
distance from the main highway,
t h e v i l l a g e i s o n t h e w h o l e
isolated.
In 2016 we started to work in the
s e t t l e m e n t o f Dashrath Nagar,
situated on the banks of the river
Phalgu, a few kilometres away from
the town of Busanda.
11Akshy
Who benefits from our work?
Akshy works in India where 220 million people suffer hunger and one third of the infant population
weighs less than average. 44% of Indian children are undernourished and 80% of those between 6
and 35 months old suffer anemia. The State of Bihar is situated to the North East of India, 450 kms.
West of Calcutta and is the state with the highest population at 83 million in habitants.
It is also the most backward State in the whole of India, with an annual per capita income in
2008/2009 of 235 euros (that of all India for the same year was 646 euros). 53% of the population is
illiterate (41% men and 67% women), of which 95% are dalits or untouchables. Owing to the dire
poverty and social inequality, the State is submerged in economic chaos. It inhabitants are often
forced to emigrate to other states to earn 200 rupees per day (2 euros approx.) in temporal jobs
(harvesting, the construction sector, etc.)...)
13. 03/HOW WE WORK AND
WHAT WE DO
W e h a v e a n integral programme w h i c h c o n s i s t s i n d i f f e r e n t p r o j e c t s , s t a r t i n g
with education and health awareness and finishing with environmental awareness.
All our projects are directed to the most needed sector of the Indian society.
13 Akshy
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.
T o t h i s p u r p o s e , w e h a v e
a n integral
p r o g r a m m e 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
m a n a g e m e n t c o s t s a r e
r e d u c e d . E a c h p r o j e c t i s
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
m a n a g e t h e p r o j e c t s
correctly a n d a l s o r e m a i n
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
on 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
of 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
w o r k o n p r o j e c t s
favouring development and
the health of the community in
w h i c h t h e y l i v e . T h e s e
children, once taught to read
and write, will contribute to
improve the living conditions
of those around them. For this
reason we place very special
e m p h a s i s o f t h e education
of girls. T h e y a r e t h e
future mothers who will be in
charge of transmitting to their
s o n s a n d d a u g h t e r s t h e
i m p o r t a n c e o f a t t e n d i n g
s c h o o l a n d r e c e i v i n g a n
e d u c a t i o n . I n t h i s
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
who have no protection.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 i n t e g r a t i o n ,
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, t h u s b r e a k i n g
d o w n t h e v i c i o u s c i r c l e
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:
t w a s s t a r t e d i n 2006.
The boys and girls attending
o u r s c h o o l a r e t h e f i r s t
g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e
" u n t o u c h a b l e " c a s t e t o
become literate in Amwan.
T h e s c h o o l i s l o c a t e d i n
o u r 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
children attend the Akshay
School in 7 different classes.
We teach up to 5th Grade, the
end of the primary cycle in
I n d i a , a n d f o l l o w t h e
c u r r i c u l u m o f s u b j e c t s
s t i p u l a t e d b y t h e
Government.
Kindergarten for the town
of Kareni
We have opened our frontiers
and this year have assisted in
t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a
kindergarten for the Kareni
children who after many years
living with their parents in
refugee camps in Thailand
have been forced to flee and
are now returning to Burma.
T h e i r t o w n s h a v e b e e n
destroyed, they have to start to
r e b u i l d t h e m . T h e
kindergarten give the parents
the opportunity to walk the
miles they have to go to work
on the land, knowing that their
children are in a safe place.
INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
The Kamal Infant Center,
in the vilage of Jaitiya:
Opened in 2013 and as of
today has 38 children in two
c l a s s e s . T h e s c h o o l i s
i n Jaitiya, a r u r a l v i l l a g e
distant from Bodhgaya where
more than half the population
b e l o n g s t o
the "untouchables". With this
Infant Centre our idea is to
e n c o u r a g e a n i n t e r e s t
i n education b o t h i n t h e
children and the parents in
this isolated village. With
regular daily classes imparted
by two teachers, parents
b e g i n t o r e a l i z e t h a t o u r
project is serious and they
become more interested.
Primary Education Project
Akshy15
Education in Dashrath
Nagar:
A study group was started,
called Saraswati, attended by
the children of the slums of
Dashrath Nagar. Classes are
given for six months to show
the population the importance
o f e d u c a t i o n . B e i n g
nomadic families, itinerants,
traveling to and from their
respective villages in other
p a r t s o f t h e d i s t r i c t , i t i s
impossible to give continuity
to their children´s studies. By
means of this Study Group it is
hoped that we can impress
upon them the importance of
education so that in the future
these children can be sent to
school.
We have two 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.
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
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l o b s t a c l e s
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 families
of "untouchable" girls allow
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
the housework or prepare
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
t h e m t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r
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
p u p i l s a t v a r i o u s s c h o o l s
i n Bodhgaya. They are now
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
19. Medical Attention and Preventive Care
19 Akshy
INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
It is also of vital importance that the children
have access to qualified medical attention.
Since their families cannot afford to pay for a
doctor and medicines they have resort to
witch doctors or rural medical men with no
q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a n d t h i s o f t e n c a u s e s
an aggravation of the illness even to the point
of death.
We have a nurse who provides first aid and
also explains to parents how they should
administer the medicines to their children.
We finance visits to qualified doctors and the
relevant medicines, vaccination campaigns,
every day sickness care and first aid, as well as
giving informative health talks in school hours
t o s t r e s s t o p u p i l s the importance
of hygiene o r t e l l t h e m a b o u t c h a n g e s
during puberty and other typical matters of
adolescence.
Preventive healthcare. We hold talks and
p r a c t i c a l workshops f o r t h e v i l l a g e
c o m m u n i t i e s w e v i s i t i n w h i c h h e a l t h
representatives inform them of how to prevent
illness o r h o w a n d w h e r e t h e y c a n
r e c e i v e f r e e t r e a t m e n t . T h e y a r e
given information on the most common of
their illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea,
dehydration, sunstroke, burns, tuberculosis
and VIH.Furthermore, talks and informative
activities are arranged with regard to
p r o b l e m s c a u s e d b y c h i l d
marriages, alcoholism, undernourishment,
t h e i n a p p r o p r i a t e c a r e o f b a b i e s o f
pregnancy.
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
C e n t r e a c t a s a p i l a r
o f support f o r t h e w e a k e s t
members.
I t i s d i r e c t e d t o t h e a d u l t
communities
o f A m w a n , N a u t a p u r ,
and Amway Colony w h o h a v e
been abandoned by their families
a n d e x i s t u n p r o t e c t e d i n
subhuman 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
areas together with the fact that
t h e y b e l o n g
t o t h e "untouchable" caste,
place them in an 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
e a c h d a y , b e c l o t h e d a n d
attended by a doctor, in short
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
t h o s e w i t h p h y s i c a l
i m p e d i m e n t s , t o b e
generous with their time, to
open their hearts and be kind.
"DadaDadi" Project of attention to the old and disabled
Akshy 20
I n a d d i t i o n t h e y a l s o
receive medical care and
medicines when they are ill
a n d a i d w i t h c r e m a t i o n
e x p e n s e s a t t h e t i m e o f
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
o u r s t u d e n t s i n
c e l e b r a t i o n s h e l d i n t h e
Centre.
22. INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
The Water Pump Project
T h e s h o r t a g e o f w a t e r
or contaminated water are
the main causes of gastro
intestinal problems in the
population.
Many villages have to share
a water pump among over
200 inhabitants.
W e 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.
O u r p l a n i s t h a t t h e y
have clean water to drink,
f o r p e r s o n a l h y g i e n e o r
c o o k i n g a n d s o avoid
Illness and gastric problems.
22Akshy
23. INTEGRAL PROGRAMME
T h e g r o u p s a r e
mixed, m a r r i e d
w o m e n a n d y o u n g
adolescents together so that
t h e y s h a r e s p a c e a n d
activity.
W o m e n f r o m d i f f e r e n t
castes also join and this is a
f i n e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r
encouraging a feeling of
unity and integration among
them 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
an advanced course where
t h e y a r e t a u g h t o t h e r
techniques, such as textile
painting, embroidery, making
u n i f o r m s , b a g s , p u r s e s ,
tablecloths etc. all of which
give them the opportunity to
receive payment for their
work a n d s o h e l p i n t h e
domestic economy.
The Sewing Centre Project "Women United"(Mahila
Ekta Silae Khendre)
Akshy23
T h i s p r o j e c t i s a v a i l a b l e
for all women adults, young
girls and adolescents in the
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.
T h e w o m e n w h o
are illiterate have some basic
classes first so they can follow
the course.
27. ACHIEVEMENTS 2016
Boarding school
Sometimes the poverty of these people is so extreme that we feel we must take action going beyond
our normal work. This is the case of two children whose families could not take care of them with such
dire straits, not being even in a position to give them sufficient food. With the consent of the parents
w e h a v e p l a c e d t h e m i n a private boarding school where they study, have their meals,
accommodation and support classes from a tutor. We have seen an important positive change in
them, physically, also their behaviour and the way they have settled into the school.
The Saraswati Study Group
A study group called Saraswati was
started in slums of Darshat Nagar.
Classes are given for six months to show
t h e p e o p l e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f
education. Since they are nomadic
families, travelling to and from their
own villages in other parts of the District,
it is impossible to give continuity to the
children´s schooling. By means of this
Study Group we hope to impress upon
parents the importance of emsuring
t h e i r c h i l d r e n receive regular
education. There are 25 boys and girls
in the group.
Akshy 27
Education in Burma
We have opened our frontiers
and this year have helped to
build a school for the Karenni
children.
The Karenni were forced to flee
and have been living for many
y e a r s i n refugee c a m p s i n
T h a i l a n d a n d o n l y n o w a r e
r e t u r n i n g t o B u r m a . T h e i r
villages had been destroyed so
they are starting to rebuild them.
O u r nursery school a l l o w s
parents to leave their little ones
in a safe place while they walk
miles to work in the fields.
28. ACHIEVEMENTS 2016
Preventive Health Care
183 children from the Akshay School and
those in Secondary education have received
specific medical attention when necessary,
including medicines and specialists.
We have had 27 boys and girls given the
three relevant injections for vaccination
against Hepatitis B.
2 0 2 h a v e r e c e i v e d h o m e o p a t h i c
vaccinations for chickenpox and mumps in
prevention of these illnesses as well as
general health protection for the children.
Hygiene materials were shared out in the
Akshay and Jaitiya schools; at the same
time we held talks on different aspects of
hygiene.
DadaDadi
16 old people abandoned by their families or with no family, widows or disabled, have
been given assistance through our DadaDadi project. They have received from us every two
weeks 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.
Akshy 28
On two occasions they have been given new
clothes, saris, blouses, trousers and shirts, as well
as sweets at Festival time.
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. Urmila Devi had a cataract operation in
a clinic and we took charge of all arrangements
etc.
We have talked to these people too on the
importance of hygiene to avoid illness.