by anouradha bakshi | Mar 27, 2026 | Anou's Blog, Uncategorized
Every child deserves more than a place in a classroom. True inclusion means understanding, acceptance and the support needed for every child to thrive. This story is about one little girl with ADHD whose experience reminds us that admitting a child to school is only the beginning. Making her feel that she truly belongs is the real challenge.
It is not enough to invite them to the party, you must ask them to dance
It took a long time for schools in India to be inclusive but today there are by law. Today schools in Delhi are legally mandated to be inclusive, following the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. All government and private schools must admit children with disabilities, provide reasonable accommodations (e.g., special teachers), and ensure a barrier-free environment.
Sadly some disabilities like ADHD or ODD are not included in RPwD Act yet. I hope they will one day.
A little girl was admitted into a private school in Nursery. She was diagnosed with the above mentioned issues. She is bright, witty, intelligent and full of beans but can also be defiant and difficult. But that is par to the course. Her first year in school went well though a little turbulent. But the next one was nothing short of a nightmare. Being very dark as she is from the South she was racially profiled as being ‘black”! This hurt her immensely. A core symptom of her issue is acting impulsively and thus picking up things that do not belong to her. This little girl did so and the only way the teacher found to deal with it was put her bag outside the class thus profiling her again and leaving her bewildered.
Adopted children often spend their early life in indifferent orphanages deprived of love or any human contact. They go into survival mode that often translates in such issues. The child cried for help in her own way: scribbling on her school books and other methods a little brain could conjure till one day she garnered her courage and voiced her pain: Please change my school!
Her mother did try to approach the school but in spite of all. efforts nothing changed and it was decided to change her school
When she was given her Transfer Certificate she was shocked to read that the reason given for the withdrawal was HEALTH ISSUES. This last profiling would become part of her educational journey and could hamper admission into another school or be a slur she would carry for life.
It is easy for law makers to make changes that rock the boat as they are not the ones to implement them. Including differently abled children does not just mean making a few alterations and accommodations. It is sensitising the staff, it is understanding that the slightest misstep can result in lifelong trauma and a feeling of rejection. Handling children with physical disabilities is easier but those with mental issues whose brains are not wired like ours requires extreme sensitivity and deep compassion.
Yes Education is a Right of all children born in this land, and inclusivity is the way to go but this should be done with great responsibility. I am sharing this personal story in the hope that someone who can make changes will read it.
It is not a complaint against a school. It is a gentle warning that in our rush to make changes that look good on paper we forget we are dealing with tiny lives.
Children with mental issues may have IQs higher than others but are wired differently. You need to enter their world.
This illustration says it all
Remember it is not enough to invite them to the party; you must ask them to dance
by anouradha bakshi | Mar 23, 2026 | Uncategorized, Whats new
A few days back Xavier informed us about the visit of Serge an old friend of Project Why with his new bride Saranya. We decided to do something special for them. It was to be a surprise.
Serge carries India in his heart and his bride has never visited India. It was decided to welcome them at every centre with traditional Indian marriage customs. There was the exchange of garlands, the bride entering the ‘house’. after kicking a pot of rice, games newly weds play when the pride first comes, traditional wedding songs, wearing of toe rings and more.
Each centre did a fabulous job and the newly weds enjoyed every moment;
You can share of the moments too!
We wish them a happy married life.
by anouradha bakshi | Mar 21, 2026 | Uncategorized, Whats new
I came across this beautiful article recently. What caught my eye was the title:”When joy becomes simple, life becomes extraordinary“. I read it and was drawn to every word as it resonated with everything I have gone through. If you have time, read it.
It took me a long time trying to find an image to illustrate this post. I waded through the hundreds of pictures I had and fell on this one. This is my darling Popples bathing in a five star swimming pool for the first time. A simple joy indeed but at that moment life for the tiny soul was nothing short of extraordinary.
It was time to take a walk down memory lane. True I am a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and my life has had its share of ups and downs but did it ever feel extraordinary. The answer is NO!
What has made it extraordinary is the last 25 years of Project replete with simple joys: the trusting smile of a child, the sticky sweet put into my mouth by a child who has just passed her exams, the pride of children who have come to share their exceptional result, the loud GOOD MORNING MA’AM of the little creche kids as I pass by their class, Manu feeding me with his grubby hands, Utpal taking his first step, my special needs kids dancing with abandon, the child who has had a heart surgery walking back to class, and I can go on and on. And all these are the simple joys that have made my life extraordinary.
On a more personal note I also understood why I became a recluse in my golden years. The author ends with these words The deepest journey of life is always inward, towards the unmasked self, waiting quietly within. Now I understand that your one and only lifetime long best friend is YOU. I did not become a recluse; I just found my best friend.
by anouradha bakshi | Mar 17, 2026 | Anou's Blog, Uncategorized
In his famous 2007 “Last Lecture”, Randy Pausch spoke about the importance of creating a platform where childhood dreams can take flight. That platform, he reminded us, is not merely a physical place. It is a mindset built on encouragement, perseverance and the belief that every child has possibilities waiting to be discovered.
I have often felt that this was at the heart of Project Why.
At one time, I had even suggested the byline “Where Children Dare to Dream”. The final choice was “Because It Makes a Little Difference”, a phrase I have always loved. Yet somewhere deep within me, Project Why was always about dreams—about giving children the courage and the opportunity to imagine a future beyond the limitations imposed by poverty and circumstance.
One of my favourite authors, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, wrote in Flight to Arras: “A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.”
When I first imagined Project Why, I saw only a rock pile. But within that rock pile I carried the image of a cathedral: the dreams of children waiting to be fulfilled. Project Why became the platform that Randy Pausch described—the place where children could begin to believe that their dreams were possible.
The early years of Project Why were simpler. The dreams were clearer, the path ahead easier to understand, and the world seemed more predictable.
Today, everything feels different.
We are living through a time of extraordinary change. Artificial intelligence is already transforming the way we work and the skills we value. Many of the jobs that we know today may look very different tomorrow. The professions that parents once considered secure may no longer offer the same guarantees.
So how does one dream in such uncertain times?
There is no crystal ball to look into, no fixed roadmap to follow. The dreams that parents have carried for their children for generations may need to be reimagined. Yet, in the midst of all this uncertainty, there are millions of children who cannot afford to wait for the future to reveal itself.
They need guidance today.
They need opportunities today.
They need someone to help them understand the possibilities that lie ahead and to prepare them for a world that is changing faster than anyone imagined.
I know this personally. For over four decades, I worked as a language interpreter and translator—a profession that once required specialised skills and experience. Today, artificial intelligence tools can perform many aspects of that work within seconds. The world has changed, and it will continue to change.
Many believe that entrepreneurship will continue to thrive in this changing world. New models of education are already emerging, using technology and artificial intelligence to personalise learning and develop skills beyond traditional academics. Some of these ideas are exciting, although many remain far beyond the reach of the children we work with.
But the question remains: how do we prepare our children for a future we cannot fully predict?
At Project Why, we began by focusing on what we knew would always matter. A strong foundation in language, especially English, and confidence with computers are essential tools in today’s world. We have therefore started introducing these skills from the earliest classes.
India has one enormous advantage—the energy and potential of its young population. In the coming years, millions of young Indians will enter the workforce while many developed countries face ageing populations. The ability to communicate, learn continuously and adapt will become among the greatest assets a young person can possess.
Yet skills alone are not enough.
The future will still need people who can care, create, connect and understand. Many professions will continue to depend on qualities that machines cannot easily replace: empathy, human relationships, responsibility, creativity and the ability to solve problems in the real world.
Nurses, therapists, caregivers, teachers of young children, counsellors, social workers, creative professionals and many others will continue to play an essential role. The future will not belong only to those who know the most; it will also belong to those who understand what it means to be human.
So where is my cathedral?
It lies in the dreams of the children of Project Why—the dreams they dare to have, the dreams they discover and sometimes even the dreams they have not yet imagined.
My role today is not to decide their future for them. It is to give them the tools, confidence and courage to build it themselves. Sometimes that may mean helping them pursue a dream that seems impossible. Sometimes it may mean gently guiding them towards a different path when I fear their chosen road may lead nowhere.
But perhaps that is the true meaning of education. Not to give children a ready-made answer, but to help them discover their own possibilities.
When I first looked at that rock pile called Project Why, I could only imagine the cathedral I hoped to build. After all these years, I realise the cathedral was never a building, a centre or an organisation.
The cathedral was always the children themselves.
And my task remains the same: to help them dream, to help them believe, and to help them find their way in a world that none of us can fully predict.
I may not know exactly what tomorrow holds.
But I still believe in the power of dreams.
by anouradha bakshi | Mar 6, 2026 | Anou's Blog, Uncategorized
After 25 years of leading Project WHY, I faced the challenge every founder eventually confronts: how to ensure the organisation would survive beyond me. This is a story of resilience, hope and the people who helped secure its future.
For every founder of a social organisation, there comes a difficult question: What will happen when I am no longer here?After 25 years of building Project WHY, that question became deeply personal for me. This is the story of uncertainty, faith,
This post is a little personal. I beg your indulgence.
Over the past 25 years of my Project Why journey I have faced many challenges, witnessed many miracles and realised that there are many good people in this world. Over these years we created a wonderful network of people from all over the world who became part of the Project Why family. I was blessed with an amazing team that stood by me and believed in my dreams.I also realised that there there was someone watching from the heavens above who I fondly called the God of Lesser Beings. He conjured miracles every time we were in need or distress. However for over two decades we lived from hand to. mouth. Today I understand that it was His way of testing me !
I knew we had a sound model the proof being the umpteen success stories that came our way and filled our hearts with immense pride but our funding model was fragile and depended on me. I was no spring chicken and every year that went by brought its share of grey hairs and worry lines. On this journey I was alone and rapidly ageing. My dream was to see project why live beyond me and though I held on to it tight I was unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
There were many sleepless nights and in the dead of those nights I knew that were I not able to ensure sustained and long term funding I would rather close Project Why when it was still thriving than have it die a slow and painful death after my demise.
The darkest hour precedes dawn and mine came in 2020 not only because of the pandemic that hit the world and turned it on its head but also because I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The end that was till then hypothetical became a stark reality but I knew I would soldier on till my last breath.
That is when the God of Lesser Beings decided that I had passed his test and decided to intervene. A series of events would shape the future. A desperate plea at a Board meeting; an email, a visit and the rest is history.
In today’s world heroes do not wear capes, and Angels do not have wings. They look just like you and me but with one difference : they are answers to your prayers and messengers of God!
Mine were Adish and Asha Jain and their beautiful family. The very first time Adish And Asha Jain visited our Okhla centre in March 2022 they decided to. adopt us not for a year or two as most funders do but for as long as we would exist. When God sends its Angels it is with a divine plan. They did not just sign a cheque with multiple zeroes. That is easy. They took it upon them to transform what I call my mom and pop shop and make it XXIst century savvy as only then would we be able to accede to long term funding. They asked one simple question; was I willing to accept change even though it may be painful as it would entail stepping out of our comfort zone. My answer was a loud an unequivocal YES!
The journey of transformation began and yes it was not easy. But change we did one step at a time from becoming a sound administrative structure, to changing our teaching approach and incorporating the skills needed to succeed in the XXIst century: English. computer skills, digital learning and so on. We did all as best we could.
March 5th 2026 will remain the most important day of my journey as Adish and Asha Jain brought their entire family to visit our Project. Before I go further I would like to say that in my 74 years of existence I have never met such a beautiful family. We were honoured to have Samir, Shailavi and their beautiful children Kavya and Milan, and Sapna and Bhupesh. Each one a testimony that good and kind people do exist in this sometimes incomprehensible world. I somehow felt that I had always known them: they were family.
My deepest gratitude to each one of them and to the Lord who heard my desperate plea. You will always be in my heart.
I have often been asked to define the essence and spirit of Project Why and I always quote a line from St Exupery’s Little Prince:”It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye”. The Jain family sees with their heart.
You may ask how have they impacted Project Why. The answer is simple: they gave a nearly dying organisation wings to grow and soar into the future.
by anouradha bakshi | Mar 3, 2026 | Uncategorized, Whats new
In my almost three decades with Project Why, there have been many moments that have made me proud—a child passing an examination, a successful heart surgery, a young person overcoming seemingly impossible odds, and everything in between.
But today, my heart is swelling with pride, my throat is choking and my eyes are moist.
Aman, one of our alumni, has just made a donation of ₹10,000 to Project Why.
Aman’s story is, in many ways, a miracle.
He was a student at our Khader centre when we discovered that he had a remarkable talent for art. He also had a dream: he wanted to become an artist.
His family, however, was not convinced. They wanted him to take the commerce stream.
But Aman’s heart was not in it.
We managed to convince his family to allow him to pursue art and helped him enrol at the Delhi School of Art. A kind soul supported and mentored him, and Aman completed his BA.
Then came another dream.
He wanted to pursue a master’s degree.
And once again, Lady Luck smiled on him. He was admitted to the Delhi School of Art.
The journey was not always easy. Aman struggled for a while before finally finding a job as an art director in a budding company.
And then he did something that moved me deeply.
He donated ₹10,000 to Project Why.
But Aman’s connection with Project Why had never ended.
During his studies, and afterwards, he spent his Saturdays at the Project teaching art to the children. He also took on the task of mentoring students who needed someone to guide them.
When I created Project Why, I wanted to give wings to the dreams of my children and give them the opportunity to dream big.
Aman did that.
But there was another dream—one I barely ever expressed.
I wanted to see our alumni come back.
I wanted them to remain part of the Project and of the family they had grown up in.
Aman did more than that.
He became a donor.
Even I had not dared to dream of that.
Aman is a wonderful child—yes, to me he will always remain a child, my child. He is gentle, kind and always smiling.
I wish that every single dream he has comes true.
And, as some of you know, I believe in miracles.
So I know they will.
Aman, you are a blessed child.
And today, you have made me very proud.
May God always bless you.
[Meet Aman here.]
