Author: Smile Team

Tuesday, October 02, 2012: Hockey Stars Harender Singh, former coach in-charge of Indian hockey team and Ashok Kumar, son of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand were the goodwill ambassadors for Smile Foundation at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2012. The hockey stars commenced their ambassadorship by supporting the education of 50 children of Smile Foundation. Smile Foundation is a national level development organization that directly benefits 200,000 underprivileged children and youth across 25 states in India.

Both the sports stars have also taken the onus of supporting 50 underprivileged children beneficiaries of Smile foundation this Joy of Giving Week. For the same they will unveil the wish bag which commits to fulfill the wishes of the children. Thus are unveiling the significant wish bag, which has the unheard wishes of many underprivileged children. Through this ,joy of giving week, smile foundation commits to fulfill the wishes of more than 1000 children.

Harish Nandan Sahay, Director Operations-Smile Foundation stated, “Smile Foundation is honoured that Mr. Harender Singh and Mr. Ashok Kumar, are representing us in this big a platform. It is great to see that these stars sensitizing people, for supporting the cause of children’s education. I just wish that more and more reputed people like him, realize their individual social responsibilities and support the cause.”

Along with Harender Singh and Ashok Kumar, senior officials and employees of corporate like Barclays Shared Services were also present to support Smile Foundation. This is the third time when Smile Foundation participated at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon with an aim to sensitize maximum number of people for the cause of education.

Since 2010, Smile Foundation has been actively associated with the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) and has successfully brought together 10 corporate houses and raising approximately Rs 10 lakh so far towards its national education initiative- Mission Education.

Source:http://pr.efytimes.com/e1/91813/Hockey-Stars-Supported-Smile-Foundation-At-Airtel-Delhi-Half-Marathon

Hockey Stars Harender Singh, former coach in-charge of Indian hockey team and Ashok Kumar, son of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand were the goodwill ambassadors for Smile Foundation at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2012. The hockey stars commenced their ambassadorship by supporting the education of 50 children of Smile Foundation. Smile Foundation is a national level development organization that directly benefits 200,000 underprivileged children and youth across 25 states in India.

Both the sports stars have also taken the onus of supporting 50 underprivileged children beneficiaries of Smile foundation this Joy of Giving Week. For the same they will unveil the wish bag which commits to fulfill the wishes of the children. Thus are unveiling the significant wish bag, which has the unheard wishes of many underprivileged children. Through this ,joy of giving week, smile foundation commits to fulfill the wishes of more than 1000 children.

Harish Nandan Sahay, Director Operations-Smile Foundation stated, “Smile Foundation is honoured that Harender Singh and Ashok Kumar, are representing us in this big a platform. It is great to see that these stars sensitizing people, for supporting the cause of children’s education. I just wish that more and more reputed people like him, realize their individual social responsibilities and support the cause.”

Along with Harender Singh and Ashok Kumar, senior officials and employees of corporate like Barclays Shared Services were also present to support Smile Foundation. This is the third time when Smile Foundation participated at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon with an aim to sensitize maximum number of people for the cause of education.

Since 2010, Smile Foundation has been actively associated with the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) and has successfully brought together 10 corporate houses and raising approximately Rs. 10 lakh so far towards its national education initiative- Mission Education.

Source: http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Harender-Singh-and-Ashok-Kumar-at-Airtel-Delhi-Half Marathon/5512065405

India is a country with one of the largest network of primary schools in the world. However, at least 80 lakh children have never seen a school and among the rest who have seen a school, only 15 per cent reach high school level.

India is a country with the largest young population on one side and the largest population of children outside schools on the other. The problem is much more complex than it looks. Despite efforts from the government, public and non-government organizations much more is still left to be done.

The first and foremost aim is to bring all of India’s children to the education system. Then the quality of education needs to be matched with those in the developed countries. This will play a big role in bringing the whole young generation into the mainstream.
Smile Foundation has been working on the child education aspects through one of its flagship programmes named Mission Education since 2002, which aims at bringing out-of-school children into the ambit of education. With the help of relevant and quality education, it is intended that the children will bring about changes in knowledge and skills level, acquire right habits and attitude, thereby enabling them to become socially aware, informed and accepted into the mainstream.

Since its inception in 2002, Smile Foundation has been focusing on universal education through its Mission Education programme. It has so far directly supported the education of 200,000 underprivileged children across 25 states in India.

Smile Foundation believes that whether you are addressing healthcare, poverty, population control, unemployment or human rights, there is no better place to start than in the corridors of education. Because education is the means to a better life, as it empowers an individual to earn his/her livelihood and also increases one’s awareness on a range of issues – from healthcare to appropriate social behaviour to understanding one’s rights; and in the process helps an individual to evolve as a better citizen.

Smile Foundation’s Mission Education initiatives cover children under difficult circumstances such as child labour, children of poorest of the parents, children inflicted and affected with HIV/AIDS, street and runaway children, disaster struck children and slum children among others.

Case Study
“I want to become a police officer. I want to find my lost mother”

In this case, this little girl grows up aspiring to be a police officer. Namrata clearly remembers the way her mother and father continuously kept on disagreeing, arguing and even getting into physical fights with ultimately the father injuring the mother seriously. Namrata witnessed this from the time she was born, but started reacting to it only from the age of three.

As soon as they would start fighting, little Namrata would hide herself under the bed, in an attempt to be able to shut herself from the noise and the tension. Because of all the stress at home, the parents never thought of sending Namrata to school. This way of life for Namrata and her family, continued for a while.

It was only when Namrata turned six that one evening her mother just disappeared. Nobody knew where and why; she had gone, leaving everyone behind; and especially little Namrata. The little girl kept asking for her mother for several days and refused to eat anything at all.

Namrata’s father, himself perplexed by the circumstances, had almost given up on her when her aunt intervened and got her enrolled in a nearby Mission Education centre in Virar. And that happened to be the turning point for the little one. She devoted all her time and efforts in doing well in her studies, oblivious to the external world. And the result, she passed her SSC with 72% marks.

Motherless, from a poor family and a girl; the situation could not get worse for Namrata. But thanks to her aunt and her father, she did not land up being married early; instead she has developed into a capable young girl. She is now studying Commerce and wants to be a police officer. The reason – she wants to find her mother. “I love my father a lot, but I miss my mother,” says Namrata with moist eyes.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/article/a-mission-to-educate-a-generation/15874124.shtml&cp

It was a moment of pride for budding painter Prasant, 15, who got to share a platform to display his works with noted painter Arpana Caur. The works of Prashant and other underprivileged kids from Smile Foundation were recently on display at Alliance Francaise as a part of the show Kalpitatva.

The idea behind the show is to reinforce that talented kids from underprivileged backgrounds have dreams, which need to be nurtured. “We have always wanted to bring in like-minded people from the society to appreciate the kids in their own way,” says Santanu Misra of Smile Foundation.

“I have been appreciated by everyone who saw my work. But getting words of praise from veterans of art is a big honour. It has been a great encouragement for me,” said Prashant.

“There is need to groom these talented kids and achievers from different field must come forward for it,” said Kiran Walia.

Source:http://www.asianage.com/life-and-style/artful-route-spread-smiles-415