To encourage participation of youth across the globe in the development process of the society, Smile Foundation organised one week long volunteering programme for fourteen students from Yale University, US during 8th to 12th March 2010. The volunteering programme was orgainsed under ‘Be The Change’ campaign of Smile Foundation that aims to sensitise the privileged masses to participate actively for the betterment of the world we live in. The students from the university celebrated International Women's Day with community educators of Swabhiman (the girl child and women empowerment) programme of Smile Foundation. During the course of their interaction with the Swabhiman team, they presented their views on the significance of education for girl child and women and its relevance in the present society, need for developing entrepreneurial skills and generating awareness about reproductive track infections and sexually transmitted infections in the community areas .As a part of the volunteering programme, a workshop on self defense techniques was conducted by Ms. Reena Tyagi, Project Coordinator, Swabhiman on 8th of March 2010.
The university students also got to interact with the community educators of the Swabhiman programme and got sensitised on the daily needs and empowerment issues of migrant women in the capital city of India. The university students also conducted counselling sessions for adolescent girls on family planning. They painted a canvas signifying the empowerment of girl child in our society. During their interaction with Smile Foundation team, they also watched some short films produced by Smile Foundation on the dreams and determination of the some less fortunate children living in different parts of the country. |
Yale University students
enjoyed the training session thoroughly. The students visited
projects under Mission Education programme and played different
activities with kids while the children presented dance
performance.