Transforming Lives of Lucknow Children

An individual's initiative, a partnership's achievement “When we look back at our humble beginning in a small garage and compare with our work as of today, we feel a sense of achievement. Today more than 1000 children and youth are getting benefits from various joints projects. Smile Foundation has played a perfect guide and support for us in setting a big vision and grow over these years. The association motivates us further to do bigger work with accountability and set an example in this sector. This is a truly humbling experience.” Sandeep Bhatnagar President,         Jupiter Academy This is an inspiring story of what one man's initiative can do, and how that effort can be magnified manifold by timely and caring support. Sandeep Bhatnagar is a fabricator by profession and a philanthropist by choice. Seeing underprivileged children in his neighbourhood deprived of education - and drifting away from the mainstream like so many before them - he decided to do something about it. He started by taking two children under his wing in the summer of 1998: and began teaching them in the premises of his fabrication unit. By the end of the same year, the 'school' had already grown to 24 strong, comprising children aged between 4 and 12, half of them being girls!Today, the total strength is 1000 beneficiaries. Click here to read the entire story . .

Smile Foundation and Jupiter Academy Society have gone ahead to expand their educational and livelihood generation skills programmes this year with an increased coverage and renewed focus on girl child. Initially, often a child just loitering around, working in a shop or the parents needed to be convinced several time to be convinced of the importance of education, even though free. The success story of the initiative, as well as that of the beneficiaries, has helped spread the message far and wide in the communities. Although it has made the job a bit easier for Smile Foundation and Jupiter Academy, so has the scale of expectation and dream gone up too!

About Jupiter Academy Society

Jupiter Academy Society, Lucknow, has been a longtime successful partner of Smile Foundation. The joint initiative has been an example of empowering the society through education by humble yet significant beginning.

The initiative took shape when a fabricator, Mr. Sandeep Bhatnagar, did not want to be just a witness to the deprived children drifting away from the mainstream owing to lack of education, and little guidance. He took upon the task of taking thing to his stride and started with educating two children in 1998 in the same premises where a fabrication unit was functioning.

In no time (December, 1998), the strength of learners (children) grew to twenty four children (4-12 years), more than half of them being girls. These children were then divided into homogeneous groups taking into account their age and knowledge level. Next year in 1999, the children strength grew to hundred twenty children, out of these children seventy five being girls. These students were grouped into class I to class VI. Three teachers were hired for teaching students besides the organizer himself (teaching Mathematics) and his wife.

These children came from adjoining villages and slums of Bastoli, Samadipur, Gajipur, Lavkuh Nagar and Pratap Nagar whose parents have been working as casual labourers or daily wage earners in construction sites, small shops and roadside Dhabas (eateries).

Jupiter Academy Society has tied up with the local Government Polytechnic and has been arranging for vocational training in TV/Radio repair. As a result one Instructor from the Polytechnic comes the school (fabrication shop) every day to train 30 students who have passed class X. Training is conducted in office room of the fabrication shop, in batches of 10 students, from 10.00 A.M. to 04.00 P.M.

Smile Foundation was more than appreciative of the genuine step by a common man that Mr. Bhatnagar was, and extended its helping hand. The initiative has now been growing with 550 children enrolled for the education programme this year in three different centres, like Takrohi, Amrapali and Samaudipur in Lucknow.

The Project

Smile Foundation, taking pride in the endeavour by Jupiter Academy Society, has gone ahead to upgrade the continuing Education Programme for Children. In addition, a Vocational Training Centre (VTC) for adolescent girls will be set up.

The education programme ahs been augmented by providing sustained and improved educational and vocational facilities for 550 children in three different centre in Lucknow, such as Takrohi, Amrapali and Samaudipur.

The VTC Programme, with a focus to empower the girl child, will cover 40 girls in four batches. To begin with, soft toy making skills will be available. At the completion of the course, the girls will be assisted in getting employment.

Special Focus

Quality education and special focus on girl child have been the priorities. Last year 60 per cent of the children were girls in all classes, starting from pre-nursery to class IX. The vocational training initiative, specifically for girl child, is projected to expand the already available skill sets and will ensure further empowerment of the beneficiaries.