Helping them realise their dreams

It’s not everyday that Rahul Patil, a young boy of 15 from a humble background gets a chance to interact with Curtis Bateman, president and CEO, Spencer Johnson Foundation.

NGO Akansha and LeapVault will for the first time have the LeapVault Change Leadership Awards. Akansha equips students with the education, skills and character needed to lead empowered lives.

A student from the Akanksha Foundation’s Learning to Lead (LTL) programme initiative, Rahul has designed the trophy for the awards, which will be attended by corporate giants.

Rahul lives in the Cuffe Parade slums behind Maker Towers. His father is a fisherman and his mother is an Akanksha helper. Rahul was among the top 75 students selected for the art competition conducted by JJ School of Arts.

During the workshop ‘How to Lead Change’ by Curtis Bateman, president and CEO, Spencer Johnson Foundation, Who Moved My Cheese, Rahul will get a change to interact with Curtis. The initiative was conceptualised when Kumaar Bagrodia, CEO, LeapVault, and chief evangelist for Who Moved My Cheese in India. He conducted a workshop with class IX students on change management and leadership, as part of Akanksha’s LTL programme in February 2010.

During the workshop, LTL students were asked to design the logo and trophy for the awards. From all the entries, the trophy design created by Rahul was selected and LeapVault’s design team worked with him to turn his concept into reality.

“The inaugural LeapVault Change Leadership Awards focuses on few leaders who broke new ground, paved the path for others and inspired millions to believe in their dreams. The contenders for these awards exemplify the game changing quality through their actions and behaviour,” said Kumaar Bagrodia.

Elaborating on the LTL programme, Poorvi Shah, manager, LTL programme at Akanksha said, “LTL seeks to identify those children from Akanksha and government-aided schools, who are motivated for leadership and academic excellence and want to effect change in their lives and society.”

Selection of children for LTL programme follows a rigorous six-step process which includes teacher’s feedback, written assessment, IQ tests, community visits and interview with the child and parents. The objective is to identify motivated students who want to excel and to ensure parental support. The children may be selected from Akanksha education centres, municipal schools and government-aided institutes.  Regarding the awards, Rahul said, “The process of designing the logo was a thrilling experience as my design was chosen by a company for its awards.”

‘How to Lead Change’ workshop will be held on May 15 from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm at Hotel Four Seasons, Worli