About us
Started with eleven children under a neem tree.
In 2011, a retired teacher started an evening class for eleven children in a village courtyard (sample story). Today Akshar runs 24 learning centres and supports 640 sponsored children.
We work alongside government schools, not in place of them: we fill the gaps that make children drop out, from fees and books to a meal and a mentor.
What guides us
Children first
Every decision starts with what keeps a child learning.
Local teachers
We hire and train young women from the same villages.
Open books
Audited accounts, published every year.
Dignity
No pity photos. Stories shared only with consent.
The people behind the work
Meenakshi Rastogi
Founder and director
Former government school teacher, 22 years in education (sample)
Arvind Yadav
Programmes lead
Runs the 24 learning centres
Farah Naaz
Sponsorship relations
Writes back to every sponsor
Deepak Mishra
Finance and compliance
Chartered accountant, keeps the books open
Registration and accounts
We publish audited accounts every year. Ask us for any report and we'll send it within two working days.
- Annual report and audited accounts 2025–26 (sample)Request a copy
- Annual report and audited accounts 2024–25 (sample)Request a copy
- Annual report and audited accounts 2023–24 (sample)Request a copy
- Registered as
- Public charitable trust, reg. no. 0000/2011 (sample)
- 12A
- AAATA0000A/12A (sample)
- 80G
- AAATA0000AF20240 (sample)
- FCRA
- 000000000 (sample)
- CSR-1
- CSR00000000 (sample)
All numbers above are samples. Replace them with your own registration details.
In their words
I sponsor two children in Sitapur. The termly letters, in their own handwriting, are the best post I get.
Ritika Saxena, sponsor since 2019, Bengaluru (sample)
My daughter reads to me from the newspaper now. I never went to school myself.
Sunita Devi, parent, Laharpur (sample)
Their accounts were the clearest we saw among 30 NGOs. Every rupee was traceable.
CSR lead at a Lucknow company (sample)
One child, one full school year.
Sponsor from ₹800 a month. A termly letter and progress report, and an 80G receipt (sample).