Since 2015, Desh Apnayen Sahayog Foundation has been offering schools from all educational boards a variety of programmes aimed at making students ACTIZENS – alert, informed and active citizens.

Founded by Vallabh Bhanshali, co-founder of ENAM Securities, the Foundation has launched several initiatives during the COVID-19 induced lockdown period. TRUTHtalks, a series of talks presented by its sister organisation Satya Vigyan Foundation (established in 2017), had Mr. N R Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys, delivering its inaugural talk.

Mr. Bhanshali said, “We started TRUTHtalks with the aim to make us think that if we can’t be perfectly truthful, we can at least be more truthful and gain trust and get peace and prestige for ourselves.”

Desh Apnayen, Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana and CREDAI MCHI in association with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai are also running Mobile Dispensary Seva Vans for early detection and treatment of COVID.

Besides organising a few webinars, the Foundation also hosted a nation-wide interschool competition on the theme, ‘My Country, My Pride’ in August. The participating schools had to present a comparison between India and two other countries on several parameters before sharing ideas on how India could fare better and the role students could play to bring about a positive change. Padma Shri Mr. Mohandas Pai was the Chief Guest of the event, which was livestreamed online. DCM Presidency School, Ludhiana, Diamond Jubilee High School, Mumbai and East West Model School, Burdwan were judged winners from amongst 40 participating schools.

Every month, the Foundation creates and sends to teachers four activities based on a theme, at no cost to the schools. Besides taking part in engaging activities, students also get to participate in innovative contests, some of which are held on certain days of national and international importance.

A large number of schools from 14 states of the country have also set up the Desh Apnayen ACTIZENS’ Club. The Club gives students and schools a chance to display leadership skills, do acts of community service, and get greater recognition and rewards during the grand awards ceremony. Schools that have formed the Club also get a dedicated Engagement Officer, and have access to trainings and resources from the organisation. 

The Desh Apnayen Awards 2019 and ACTIZEN Awards 2019 ceremony was held in March this year to recognize the work of “Champion Schools” as well as students who won the ACTIZEN Contest, another popular initiative of theirs.

Schools that would like to sign up for activities and updates can write to info@deshapnayen.org or 8898890202. To know more, visit www.deshapnayen.org and https://www.facebook.com/DeshApnayen