“In almost two years of our partnership with Smile Foundation, we have been truly privileged for having been supported in reaching out to the vulnerable and marginalized children living in slums in the urban fringes of the megacity Kolkata. We look forward to an enduring partnership with Smile Foundation, with hope of receiving support for our administrative purposes, as we move forth in fulfilling our missions of reaching out to a larger section of the vulnerable children in the years ahead of us.” Ansuman Das, Director, Sabuj Sangha

About the Partner Sabuj Sangha was born in 1954 in the remote Sunderbans, at Nandakumarpur village of Mathurapur II block of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. The organisation aimed to achieve overall well-being of masses, restoring and sustaining the productive natural resource base of the area. At the time of establishment the activities were limited to organizing cultural events, but over the passage of time, Sabuj started implementing various rural development works taking beneficiary group into confidence. Today it works for the betterment of children, women and even economic independence. The vision and the mission of Sabuj Sangha is to build an open and classless society where all people will enjoy equal rights and have access to equal opportunities. The organization endeavours to sustain development of marginalized and vulnerable people to ensure a quality life through empowerment, education, information, health care service and economic self reliance. Projects Special emphasis is given to child education, child protection, safe drinking water & sanitation, health care service and women’s empowerment & entitlement, environment, human rights, family food security, livelihood options, development of appropriate rural technology, advocacy network, and emergency response. Major Components of the Pogramme Child Education Major areas of education: Child education programme in the slum areas Child education : Primary & upper primary schools Scholarship programme for poor and meritorious students for higher education Setting up of residential & non residential camps Establishment of bridge course centre Running coaching centres Education of socially marginalized children has been the focus area of Sabuj Sangha. It reaches out to 5000 households through its urban unit “Aalor Disha” (Beacon of light). It was conceived that education supported by nutrition and entertainment would create a positive impact on the children and empower them to lead confident and dignified lives. This intervention operates in squatter slum colonies along the railway track from Canning to Baruipur, pivoting on Sonarpur Railway Junction. There are 20 urban education centres run by Sabuj Sangha. 556 children on their rolls are getting non formal education - 255 boys and 302 girls. The age group is between 6-14 years. The drop out ratio of kids each year is 2-3%. There are 16 teachers who are graduates, 3 are post graduates and one is higher secondary pass. Other Ongoing Interventions Model Village in Sundarban Delta (MVSD) “Model Villages in the Sundarban Delta Programme”- is an innovative development concept that helps to gain appropriate, sustainable and measurable improvements in nutrition, livelihood, safety, health and education. Healthcare The Rural Health & Training Centre at Nandakumarpur provides holistic health care support services. Out Reach Centre Out Reach Centre at Herambagopalpur, helps the community to gather knowledge of appropriate rural technology that is viable for practice and commercial application.