Building Bridges is Back
Our popular summer program brings together US-based high school students with Akanksha high school students for virtual workshops on a variety of topics. In the past, workshops have included Public Speaking, Auto CAD (structural design/engineering), Book Club/Cultural Dialogue, and Nutrition and Healthy Eating
This year we are especially looking for students ages 16-18 willing to create and teach topics such as:
- Public Speaking
- Basics of using Chat GPT
- Intro to using AI
Workshops are supervised by an Akanksha staff member, and conducted live over Zoom, at times there are conducive for both time zones. Certain workshops may also be offered in a pre-recorded format with accompanying instruction.
Testimonials from our previous youth volunteers:
“Overall this was an amazing experience for me and extremely gratifying.” – Ria Liddha
“One aspect that stood out to me was how gratifying it was to see the students grasp new concepts and then apply that knowledge to classroom activities” – Jaya Shah
This application is now closed. If you are interested in learning more about future opportunities, please contact soniya@akankshafund.org.
Akanksha’s Pro Bono Summer Internship Applications are Open
Do you love making a difference? Looking for some work experience this summer?
Akanksha Education Fund is looking for energetic high school students to intern with our organization over the summer. We are a US-based nonprofit that raises awareness and funds for organizations in India with two goals: providing a transformative, holistic education for children at 26 schools through The Akanksha Foundation and providing support for young adults to make a seamless school-to-work transition. We are a growing organization that values collaboration, innovative thinking, and philanthropy.
As an intern, these are some of the general responsibilities you may work on during the summer:
- Content creation (social media)
- Research
- Writing short articles
- Data entry
- This position is for 5-10 hours a week with flexible hours. Your time with Akanksha will count towards community volunteer hours. Work would be remote with collaboration either in person or over Zoom.
This application is now closed. If you are interested in learning more about future opportunities, please contact sherie@akankshafund.org.
India Philanthropy Alliance announces its 6th Annual Youth Essay Competition
The India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) Youth Essay Competition is a great opportunity for high school and middle school youth to demonstrate their talent for writing and make an impact on the future of India. The competition is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
This year, each essay should answer the following question:
Which developmental issue in India do you feel is most pressing and why? What are the challenges and impacts posed by this issue? How can we as individuals be a part of the solution?
We encourage you to share personal stories that have impacted you and how those stories influence your thinking. Be sure to identify tangible, specific, and creative solutions to address your chosen issue.
When you are ready, submit your essay here. The deadline to participate is July 1, 2025.
The competition will be judged separately for Middle School and High School youth by a panel of nonprofit professionals. Winners in each category will have the opportunity to present their ideas at a national gathering of philanthropists, business leaders, and nonprofit executives in the fall of this year and to direct a grant of $1,000 to the charity of their choice. Runners-up can direct a $500 grant to a nonprofit they select and have their essay promoted on IPA’s website and social media channels, and to its network organizations.