Teachers are facilitators who provide a stimulating learning environment to the students. Here is a beneficiary who dreams of becoming a facilitator and shape the future of children. Meet Sakshi, a Std VII student, who aims to become a teacher. We met her at the schoolyards of Maa Gayatri Primary School, Vadodara, Gujarat. She thinks that way she will be able to teach other children and put them on the path to a bright future.  Though she likes to study all subjects, her favourite, she says, is Mathematics, as she likes solving problems. She says, “I look at these problems as challenges, so it is fun to solve them.

Sakshi’s father is a farmer, while her mother is a homemaker. She is the youngest of the three siblings. Her brother, Arpan studies in Std IX, while her sister, Shraddha has completed Std X. The family is originally from Bharuch district, but Sakshi was born and raised in Vadodara.

She is an all-rounder, good in academics as well as in co-curricular activities. Her favourite hobby is reading and she is inspired by the works of Swami Vivekananda. She says she likes studying, sports, reading and participating in elocution and essay-writing competitions held in school, among other things.

Her favourite sport is hockey and she desires to also be a hockey player and play in the defensive position for India. She is inspired by Deepika Thakur, who became the highest goal scorer in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, attaining victory for India. About Akshaya Patra food, Sakshi told us that they get a variety of meals like dal-chawal, roti, sukhdi, daal-dhokli, subzi and more. She further added that she likes subzi the most because it’s highly nutritious with all the vegetables used. Her friends, on the other hand, like dal-dhokli. Sakshi added, “I like Akshaya Patra because they provide nutritious meals to all the children, especially those who otherwise can’t afford to get food from home or buy from outside. The food is tasty and nutritious. It provides us energy and all the necessary nutrients.”