by anouradha bakshi | May 21, 2026 | Whats new
For the past years summer holidays have been the bane of the Project Why teaching team. Children went to the village and came back having forgotten everything. This was happening constantly year after year.
This. year the team decided to address the situation and find a solution. They would make worksheets for all subjects and give them to the children to do. Then they would connect on WhatsApp to solve issues if and when needed. So the last few weeks worksheets were being made in every centre and neatly packed for the children to carry. Parents were also apprised of the same and requested to see that their child did the sheets each day and to share their smartphone with their child so that she can connect with her teachers when needed.
This is a new experiment and we are all very excited and waiting with bated breath for the outcome!
Happy holidays!
by anouradha bakshi | Apr 10, 2026 | Uncategorized, Whats new
Keerthana is 9 year old. She lives in Narapanenipalle, a small village in Telangana. Once there were 70 children in this upper primary school. But slowly with time passing the rural education scene has changed as parents migrate towards urban centres or shift their children to English speaking convent schools. It is a true crisis. Today in Telengana over 2200 schools have zero or near zero enrolment. But in Narapanenipalle, the story is different. Keerthana is the only student in the whole school. Her father stood firm in his decision to keep her enrolled fearing that once a village school closes, the community loses a vital pillar that may never be restored.
This school is a beacon of light. I has kept its door open for this little class IV girl so that this girl maintains her right to education. Every morning the bells ring, and Uma her teacher comes everyday and follows the curriculum in the same was as any school would. “Every child is entitled to an education,” a district official noted, “and as long as Keerthana is enrolled, our doors remain open.”
The story of this school shows the shift in the education scene in India.Parents are now more aware and tighten their belts till it hurts to send their children to an English Medium school often a convent. It is time our law makers look at education in a proper manner keeping in mind the rapidly changing scenarios of employment opportunities. It reinforces the idea that education is not a commodity to be discarded when the numbers don’t add up, but a fundamental right that must be protected at all costs and necessary changes need to be made in the state run schools to lure back parents.
But kudos to this little school who gives true meaning to the words: no child should be left behind.
by anouradha bakshi | Apr 4, 2026 | Uncategorized, Whats new
I had decided to celebrate my 74th quietly, without much ado but that was not to be.With the very eclectic social circle I have, it is quasi impossible for me to have one big bash, not that I like those. But everyone needed to be satisfied. So planned a small lunch with two of my favourite people on the eve and planned a lunch with my granddaughter at the mall food court.
In the morning Shamika kept insisting I accompany her to the Govindpuri Centre.The Okhla and Govindpuri staff were there with a big cake and hot samosas. Still par to the course.
But a phone call changed it all. The Yamuna centre staff asked if I would be home and whether they could drop by for a few minutes. Four children and two teachers came by with the most soul stirring gift I have ever got in my life. A huge basket of fresh vegetable picked in the morning by the children from their fields and beautifully wrapped. It was the children who had thought of this. And with it a beautifully penned card that thanked me for having brought education to their doorstep and with time convinced their parents about how important education was. I asked the 4 children who had come what they aspired to be: one teacher, two doctors and a police officer. Way to go. You have to dream and dream big and Project Why will be the wind beneath your wings. But you children have taught me so much too: the hard toil needed for farming, respect for nature and above all the ability to stay grounded something that your urban peers have forgotten. You have taught us all that you can hold on to your values and need not cast them away in the lure of what we call urban dreams. Stay this way beautiful children. That is my prayer for you.
There were many messages from across the planet from my Project Why family and my amazing team; many videos from each and every centre with heartfelt messages from my wonderful children.
All in all, it was the best birthday in a long time.
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 3, 2026 | Uncategorized, Whats new
In my almost three decades journey with Project Why there have been many moments that have made me proud be it a child who has passed an exam or a heart surgery that was successful and everything in between. But today my heart is swelling with pride, my throat is choking and my eyes are moist because Aman one of our alumni made a donation of ten thousand rupees to Project Why!
Aman’s story is nothing short of a miracle. He was a student of our Khader centre and we soon discovered that he was very good at Art and had a dream: that of becoming an Artist. Initially the family was not supportive and pushed him to join the commerce stream but his heart was not in it. We managed to convince his family to allow to pursue Art and helped him enrol in the Delhi school of Art. A kind soul supported and mentored him and he passed his BA. He then wanted to join a masters programme and Lady Luck smiled again and he got a seat in the Delhi school of Art!
He struggled for a while and finally got a job as an Art Director in a budding company and decided to donate ten thousand rupees to Project Why!
Over the years while studying and after he spent Saturdays at the Project teaching Art to the children and took on the task of mentoring the students who were in need.
The reason why I feel so proud today is that 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 desire, one that I barely expressed. It was to see our alumni come back and remain part of Project Why. Aman did more than that he became a donor. Even I hadn’t dared dream of that.
Aman is a wonderful child – yes to me he will always remain a child, my child – 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 and know that it will happen. He is a blessed child.
You can meet him if your click here
May God always bless him!
