Bright, Art for Akanksha cushion covers in mixed designs from the Great Artist, Indian art and Nature collections – straight out of the workshop! Keep watching this space for more.
It’s been a big year for us. Art for Akanksha finds its feet as a non-profit – and this opens up our doors to many other municipal schools and non-profits who would like to see the impact of a powerful art programme on their children and not just the Akanksha children. It’s an exciting chapter that’s begun for us as we move towards all that Art for Akanksha can aspire to become. As we settle into our new office, we invite you to be part of this journey of discovery – a journey from then to now to all that the future has in store.
We look forward to seeing you at:
Art for Akanksha, Voltas House C, TB Kadam Marg, Chinchpokli Station East (right next to the Akanksha office)
Phone: +91 22 65246333
Sana had been a student at Akanksha for many years and it’s no surprise that the place drew her back for more…
Eight year old Sana had been told by an aunt that she should join Akanksha if she was interested. What was Akanksha? What could it do for her? Little Sana hardly thought about it. Her mother was supportive of the idea and when Sana went to the Akanksha centre, a new world opened up for her. And what a world – here, teachers, or as they are fondly called didi and bhaiya, didn’t beat students if they made mistakes. They gently guided the children and made the process of learning fun. Sana’s years at Akanksha became a time of discovery and joy.
Ten years later…
Sana was 18. Her family needed financial support and she had to get a job. A month with a corporate made her realise that she didn’t enjoy the work environment. Her familiarity with Akanksha brought her back and soon, she was helping design and paint products with Art for Akanksha. She found that the place offered new learning experiences every day and this became the space to “explore and discover” herself. “The environment is so good out here, it’s like people can only love you,” she smiles.
For many students like her, who came from backgrounds where parents weren’t educated, the Akanksha teachers’ guidance was valuable. The teachers even encouraged parents to get children to continue with their education – something Sana is glad about today. “Many of my friends are married, but now my parents know I am capable of earning and being independent. I have been working with the art department for many years now. It is here that I have learnt to make choices for myself.”
Her Art Centre teacher, Rajshree, beams with pride every time she witnesses Sana’s efficient support to Akanksha’s art department. “Sana was a shy and loving child and art brought out the creativity in her. She has evolved into a confident and smart woman, who has discovered her potential. This clearly reaffirms how Akanksha and art have impacted our children.”
Currently, Sana is an Assistant Manager at Art for Akanksha, managing production, sales, marketing for products along with partnerships to take art to organizations & schools beyond Akanksha.
He has been interested in colours for as long as he can remember. He enjoys thinking out of the box. Discovering different art forms and famous artists from around the world is his hobby.
No wonder, Swapnil Chavan loves Art for Akanksha’s design classes. For him, the classes are like Pandora’s Box waiting to be opened – every weekend offers something new and exciting to learn.
Before design classes came along, Swapnil spent his weekends doing homework. Once the classes began, life changed. “It was a time of enjoyment in my busy life,” he says. Not just that, he realised that participating in design classes increased his confidence. He found his brain thinking faster. Mathematics, science, toying with numbers and conducting experiments – our young Picasso began to find it all extremely interesting.
“He has grown exceptionally in many ways – his English improved, he excelled in all the other subjects, and today ‘he’s on a different planet’!” Says Rupa didi, Swapnil’s Centre teacher who finds the Akanksha topper immensely focussed.
Working with a calm demeanour and sincerity, Swapnil has won over everyone including his Design Class teacher, Salli didi, who finds his attitude of giving his best to everything and his sense of perfection very inspiring. “I go deep into everything I see and it’s because of art. Here in Design Class I have found a new world,” he smiles.
We hope his discoveries in this new world take him places.
Board exam score: 95% (Akanksha topper)
Currently, Swapnil works as a software engineer at Walmart Global Tech Services, Bangalore
Ruby joined the AVBS Akanksha School in Grade 8 and already knew that art was the way for her. Through support and opportunities that she got from her teachers, she decided to pursue art as a career.
Completing her graduation in Fine Arts, she is now pursuing a Masters with a specialisation in
portraits from MIT ADT University Pune
She has picked up a few awards through this journey – the latest being the first prize at Portraits
in her college.
She has participated and exhibited Artlane as well as the 42nd Monsoon show in Jahangir art Gallery, Mumbai. She was also at Method Art Gallery in Kala Ghoda as a part of a group show through Baro Market.
What stands out about her is her humility and desire to keep learning and striving towards her dream of being able to support herself and her family through the work she feels most passionate about.
I believe in being true to myself especially in challenging times, as an artist our truest colours
reflect our most honest thoughts and ideas.
“We place our minds on paper.”
Sounds like a psychoanalysis technique or a personality test exercise? It’s merely what Ashish Kamble does at the Akanksha Design Class.
Initially, Ashish didn’t enjoy the art sessions. His mother remembers the time he disliked drawing, made his sister do all his art homework and his teachers complained about his work. Today the same teachers appreciate his creativity. Even Ashish’s Design Class teacher, Salimunissa didi points out that “…though he wasn’t interested earlier, slowly, he began to be influenced by what he learnt, especially Van Gogh’s art. He learnt art wasn’t about perfection.” Things changed with this realisation: art doesn’t need to be perfect; it needs to be thought through.
Today, this 14-year old loves the art sessions as they let him have fun and get deeply involved in his work. Vidhya didi, Ashish’s Centre teacher talks of the boy’s unrelenting determination. “Earlier, he would withdraw into a shell if he couldn’t accept feedback. Later he not only started accepting feedback gracefully, but also worked on himself with utmost determination.” She also saw him grow in confidence, as he became more social over the course of his art classes. According to his mother the positive impacts are visible in school too. “Design class taught me to give 100% into everything I do and I am doing that with my schoolwork as well,” says Ashish.
This change isn’t limited to academics. Ashish now has bigger dreams for his life. He initially wanted to be a dancer, but now aspires to be a computer engineer. Why? “I want to make things different,” he chirps. “I notice colours in the world around me. How we bring those colours into real life is what matters.”
A Da Vinci waiting to create his masterpieces? We wish him luck.
Board exam score: 85%
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