Author: Smile Team

Deccan Herald (06 June 2013)

Civil Society Online (20 May 2013)

Smile Foundation held a two-day workshop entitled, ‘Empowering Grassroots,’ in New Delhi to train smaller NGOs on fundraising, sustainability, communication for brand- building, accountability, transparency, effective leadership and scaling up of organisational competencies.

Twenty-six grassroots NGOs, selected after a screening process, attended the training programme. They came from Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Seven NGOs who have worked with Smile for over 10 years made presentations. Jupiter Academy and Nai Disha informed the 26 grassroots NGOs about their struggling years, the strategies they employed to collect funds and how Smile helped them out.

“We have designed this meeting to ensure that all NGOs who are going to be part of Smile will learn how to be self-sustainable,” said Vikram Singh Verma, COO of Smile Foundation. “Communication and leadership always bedevil new NGOs. A basic skill and knowledge of communication is absolutely necessary when you have to pitch your idea to collect funds.”

“Just like a father brings up his child until he is old enough to earn, we also like to help grassroots NGOs until they grow up and become self sustainable,” said Verma.

Collecting funds is the biggest problem for NGOs. “We had ideas but were confused about implementing them into real action. We had limited know- how on how to draft a professional proposal, evaluate a report and professionally manage programmes running on the field. Most importantly we did not know how to generate funds at local level till Smile stepped in to help,” said a representative of one of the NGOs.

The grassroots NGOs said that the session on local fund-raising was very useful. They realised they could raise funds from local small and medium enterprises, the middle-class and high net individuals.It was not essential to focus just on funding from companies.

“We are not only a funding organisation. We simply provide a starting amount to genuine grassroots NGOs. But we ensure that the NGO becomes self-sustainable through training. We also provide them the infrastructure required to achieve accountability, scalability and leadership,” explained Verma.

Source : http://www.civilsocietyonline.com/pages/Details.aspx?325

autoJunction (16th May 2013)

Volkswagen Motorsport India and JK Tyre Motorsport invited 25 children from Smile Foundation to the Buddh International Circuit (BCI) during the Polo R Cup pre-season testing to give them a first-hand experience of what goes about at a race track.
The children got an opportunity to see the Polo R Cup racecar and the race control room of the circuit. They also got a chance to interact with the Polo R Cup drivers.
The children also got the once–in-a-lifetime opportunity to go around the Formula 1 racetrack and see where the fastest cars in the world race against each other.

Source : http://www.autojunction.in/india-auto-car-news/Children-from-Smile-Foundation-Get-A-Taste-Of-Motor-Sport-At-BIC-42260.cms

Hindustan (15 May 2013)

India Market Price (15 May 2013)

With the fourth season of the Polo R Cup around the corner, the Volkswagen Motorsport India has organised a pre-season test for the Polo R Cup drivers at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC). The event was witnessed by some special guests – children from the smile foundation.

Volkswagen Motorsport India and JK Tyre Motorsport invited 25 children from smile foundation to the Buddh International Circuit during the Polo R Cup pre-season testing to provide them a first-hand experience of what goes about at a race track.
The children got a chance to see the Polo R Cup racecar and the race control room of the circuit and they even got the opportunity to interact with the Polo R Cup drivers The children also got the once–in-a-lifetime opportunity to go around the Formula 1 racetrack and see where the fastest cars in the world race against each other.

Nineteen drivers participated in the test on Monday, 13 of which were novice who got their first opportunity to experience the TSI powered racecar.
Smile foundation works for the underpreviliged children of our society.

Source : http://indiamarketprice.in/?item=children-from-smile-foundation-visit-the-bic-to-witness-the-pre-season-testing-of-the-polo-r-cup

India Education Diary.com (15 May 2013)

JK Tyre joined hands with Smile Foundation, a national NGO that works for the social uplift and betterment of underprivileged children. In a joint initiative undertaken today, JK Tyre invited a group of 25 children from the Health Care Society, a school that is located in Dhaula Kuan and is managed by Smile Foundation, to Buddh International Circuit for a memorable racetrack experience. The 25 children got an opportunity to visit the circuit, got a glimpse of trackside facilities (including the Race Control room, team buildings, and team garages), visited the pitlane and got to do one lap of the 5.14km circuit, which is one of the fastest F1 tracks in the world. The children also got to meet and interact with racing drivers from JK Tyre’s Motorsports Program and VW Polo R Cup series, who spoke to the children at length and shared their experiences of racing and explained what it takes to build a career in motorsport.

Source : http://indiaeducationdiary.in/Shownews.asp?newsid=22396

Gaadi.com (15 May 2013)

With the fourth season of the Polo R Cup around the corner, the Volkswagen Motorsport India has organised a pre-season test for the Polo R Cup drivers at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC). The event was witnessed by some special guests – children from the smile foundation.

Volkswagen Motorsport India and JK Tyre Motorsport invited 25 children from smile foundation to the Buddh International Circuit during the Polo R Cup pre-season testing to provide them a first-hand experience of what goes about at a race track.

The children got a chance to see the Polo R Cup racecar and the race control room of the circuit and they even got the opportunity to interact with the Polo R Cup drivers The children also got the once–in-a-lifetime opportunity to go around the Formula 1 racetrack and see where the fastest cars in the world race against each other.

Nineteen drivers participated in the test on Monday, 13 of which were novice who got their first opportunity to experience the TSI powered racecar.

Smile foundation works for the underpreviliged children of our society.

Source : http://www.gaadi.com/blog/children-from-smile-foundation-visit-the-bic-to-witness-the-pre-season-testing-of-the-polo-r-cup

Deccan Herald (9 May 2013)

Rural & Marketing (May 2013)

Hindustan Times (8th May 2013)

Social work is a professional and academic discipline which focuses on improving the quality of life of an individual, groups or community as a whole. A social worker can get employment both in the public and private sector. There are many positions such as that of a child development project officer, integrated child development services, in the directorate of social welfare. One can also work in the directorate as a welfare officer. Those enthusiastic about reaching out to others can work as family welfare counsellors and medical social workers in medical colleges and hospitals, etc. Those intrested in the private sector can join the corporate sector as HR managers, industrial relations officers and personnel managers, etc. The civil society employs social work graduates in NGOs, international NGOs, trusts and non-profit companies. One could also work in UNICEF, WHO, and UNDP

Clockwork

9am: Go to office
10am: Go to the field; interact with people
12 noon: Meet outreach workers
1pm: Quick lunch
2pm: Design training programmes
4pm: Prepare and review reports
5.30pm: Work on a new project
6.30pm: Meet the staff, discuss plans for new project in slum areas
7.30pm: Leave for home

The payoff

Entry level: Anywhere between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 a month
Middle level: Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 a month
Senior level: Anything between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh a month

Skills/TRAITS

• Basic knowledge of human behaviour, society and its systems
• You should have good listening, observation and counselling skills Social work needs
• action with involvement and commitment, it’s your zeal that matters
• Resilience and stamina for doing work in adverse conditions

Getting there

A bachelor or masters degree in social work is required to be a professional social worker. Students with a background in economics, political science, sociology, history, psychology and philosophy can also become social workers. A doctorate is an added advantage. In many countries, you need a license to practise social work

Institutes and URLs

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
www.tiss.edu
• University of Delhi
www.du.ac.in
• Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
www.jmi.nic.in
• Madras School of Social Work, Chennai
www.mssw.in

Pros and cons

• A highly rewarding career
• Work schedules are erratic; witnessing the deplorable conditions others live in could be frustrating or depressing
• Pay packages are less attractive

There is a lot of scope in this profession for people who want satisfaction with their job — Vikram Singh Verma, chief operating officer, Smile Foundation

Source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/HTEducation/Chunk-HT-UI-HTEducationSectionPage-GreatCareers/Bettering-lives/SP-Article1-1052679.aspx