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Smile’s quest for genuine
grassroots initiatives for the welfare and uplift
of vulnerable and deprived children in the remotest
corners of India has landed up on an initiative
titled ‘Back to School Programme’.
The intervention covers vulnerable slum and street
children in Siliguri, West Bengal with education,
health and nutritional support.
Major Activities of ‘Back to School
Programme’
The literacy level is very low
in the intervention area and the children are
mostly drop outs or non school going children.
Further, there is no primary school facility in
the vicinity.
The slum dwellers are mostly
engaged in daily wage earners and as domestic
workers, with a paltry monthly income level of
Rs.1000-1500.
There are more than a hundred
non schools going children from Sukantapally Basti
and surrounding slums.
Education Centre
The project includes a non formal
educational centre in Tinbati Sukantapally, ward
no. 32 of Siliguri Municipal Corporation in 2
shifts with 30 children in each shift. English,
Hindi/ Bengali, Maths, Social Studies and GK are
the subjects being taught at the center. Awareness
about issues like eradication of child labour,
child’s right to education is being spread
through sessions/ group discussions with the community/
parents.
Health Care Facilities
To make the environment around the targeted children
conducive for education, quarterly health check
up of all children under the project and the women
from the nearby surrounding slums is being organized.
Supplementary Nutrition
Supplementary nutrition, for
example egg, biscuit, cake and fruit are essential
for a child’s proper growth and development.
To prevent incidence of malnutrition among the
targeted children, supplementary nutrition is
also being provided at the center.
Life Skill Education
Children under the project are
being trained on vital aspects of personality
like behaviour and etiquette, hygiene, reproductive
health, good values and habits, social concerns.
They are also being given training on art, craft,
dance and drama through workshops and cultural
programmes.
Scholarship Programme
A special annual scholarship of Rs 1500 has been
instituted by Smile Foundation for 3 most outstanding
students who are going to be mainstreamed into
formal schools.
About the Partner
Smile Foundation’s local
partner HRIDAY is a community based organization
located in Ukilpara, Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.
Founded in 2006, Hriday is primarily working for
the welfare of High Risk Group (HRG) and underprivileged
slum children. It has also been working in the
areas of awareness and prevention of HIV/ AIDS.
Special Focus
• To increase enrollment
& retention rates in the non formal education
centers in the targeted slum
• Mainstreaming children of the centers
into formal schools after 1 year of intervention
• The number of children should be gradually
increased by 2nd – 3rd quarter
• 80% of the children given education should
secure 60% of marks in the respective subjects
and also school drop outs and slow learners should
be mainstreamed to some formal schools in appropriate
class during the year with their retention in
school ensured through constant follow–ups
• Regular health check up should be done
for all children (including mother and community).
Severely malnutritioned and anemic girls should
be given proper care and brought to the growth
chat, and their no. should be reported
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