Those who attended our Mumbai Open House on June 8th had an opportunity to meet Anubha Sharma, the founder and CEO of Angel Xpress, a not for profit organization focused on providing quality education of underprivileged kids in the city.
Many of you have reached out to me since then and wanted to details of their activities as well as ways in which you can contribute. So here you go with their background.
Background:
Angel Xpress Foundation is a Mumbai-based non-profit organization (registered as a Sec. 25 company), working for the education of underprivileged children.
It was started in early 2012 when Anubha Sharma took a brief sabbatical from her corporate career. While volunteering at a street school, Anubha was struck by the rampant illiteracy in school-going children. During this time, her one Facebook request for clothes and stationery generated 3000 calls from willing contributors in a week. The huge gap between people willing to give and the needy and the possibility to create convenient avenues convinced Anubha to take up the challenge.
Mission:
Angel Xpress seeks to transform lives of underprivileged children through regular access to educated adults and exposure to life skills beyond school.
About Anubha Sharma, the Founder & CEO &
Beenaa Advani, the Co-Founder and COO
Born and brought up in Kolkata, Anubha moved to Mumbai in 2007 and has been living here ever since. An ex-financial service professional, she has spent almost 20 years with large financial institutions like Kotak Securities and Reliance Money. She has played significant roles, with the last 10 years in senior positions, in regional and national level roles. Anubha has chosen to quit a flourishing career to walk a path that she believes will lead to better lives for many.
www.angelxpress.org | anubha.sharma@angelxpress.org | 9830070086
In this work Anubha is joined by Beenaa Advani as cofounder, a business woman who ran Eurokids franchise outlets in Bandra and Santacruz for over ten years, Beenaa decided to give up commercial pursuit to join this cause when she met Anubha early in 2012.
Beenaa.advani@angelxpress.org I 9820244562
How does Angel Xpress operate:
At Angel Xpress they set up non formal learning centres in public parks and promenades where educated adults and underprivileged children attending municipal schools of a neighbourhood are brought together at a predetermined hour every day. At these centres free tutoring is provided in English and Math, extracurricular activities and value education are also promoted with the help of volunteers, trained teachers, and educationists. Redistribution is another important theme at our centres.
Currently they operate out of the following centers:
- Bandra Bandstand Promenade (Mannat end): With the support of BBRT and Bandstand and Mt Mary residents – 70 children enrolled. Classes from 5.30 – 7.00pm, Monday to Friday.
- Raheja Gardens (Rajesh Khanna Park, Santacruz West): With the consent of the Kamla Raheja Trust – 250 children enrolled. Morning classes run in 2 batches – 7.45 – 8.45am and 9 – 10am, Monday to Friday
- Colaba Woods: Located in Colaba Woods Park – 5-6pm Monday to Friday has recently been initiated by a few enterprising residents of the neighbourhood under our guidance and support.
Pay it forward!!
To bring in stability, sustainability and accountability, there needs to be an ideal mix of volunteers and trained teachers at centres. You can sponsor a child’s tuition @ Rs. 5500 per year per child (Rs. 450 a month), and contribute towards setting up 10 centres that are planned; you can also:
- Give your time – Come and teach English, Math, Art, Craft, Dance etc at one of our centers, a mere 2 hours a week from you can support a system that can bring about a radical change in the future and the childhood experience of a child deprived of opportunities.
- Sponsor a snack– For a mere Rs. 500/- you could sponsor bananas or biscuits for a batch. Sign up for one day a week for a month or longer or come yourself and feed them something more sumptuous once in a while.
- Donate – New and old (in good condition) clothes, shoes and toys.
- Sponsor trips – To museums, amusement parks, picnics, movies and malls to create unforgettable experiences.
- Invite us – To speak to your employees/friends and tell them about how they can contribute to Angel Xpress.
- Spread the word – Become an evangelist for our cause. Always remember to mention us at every given opportunity and keep your ears and eyes open to finding support for us whether in form of volunteers, donors or supporters.
Wish to build a centre?
With every Angel Xpress centre they continue to break the barriers of geography and get an opportunity to reach out to more and more children and adults. An Angel Xpress franchised center can come up anywhere – all that is needed is a strong intention along with an ideal mix of the following aspects:
- Slums with a large number of children
- A public garden (preferably with a shade) where permission of holding classes can be obtained
- A group of educated adults with the time and inclination to take up the responsibility of managing a center and will form a core team. For instance, the Colaba center in Colaba Woods Park has been set up by Colaba residents.
Angel Xpress will provide support to such franchised centers by sharing the format for classes, teaching material, volunteer training, support of paid teachers + center manager. If you are keen to adopt the cause as your own and set up a center in your area, do call us on 9930070086.
Reach out to the Angel Xpress members:
To get involved, call Anubha Sharma or simply drop by during the work hours at one of their centers:
Band Stand Centre, Bandra (W) and Santacruz (W) Centre – Anubha Sharma: 9930070086, Beenaa Advani:9820244562
Colaba (Pilot centre) – Madhuri Sharma – 9821822878, Vinita Gupta – 8080158753
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Pls note Anubha Sharma is a rodinhooder and is following this story. You may feel free to pose questions or offer your support/suggestions here by commenting on this thread.
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