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The Value of Creativity in Employee Development

The Value of Creativity in Employee Development
The Value of Creativity in Employee Development

The value of programming, marketing, and videography in the 21st century is common knowledge. They’re the most in-demand skills as they can help businesses from almost all industries gain competitive advantages and achieve their goals.

But having skills means little without creativity, an alarmingly overlooked skill. Creativity keeps employees and employers relevant, ensuring they grow steadily and increase their value in the professional world. It is valuable now more than ever to succeed in the rapidly-changing world.

While creativity is vital in every aspect of professional life, its importance in strategic decisions stands out.

Creativity in Business

Creativity isn’t an elusive skill found in writers, marketers, designers, etc. Everyone, from programmers to product managers, is creative in their own way.

The key for businesses is to find a way to get creative solutions from their employees regularly. Creativity in business decisions is particularly vital, as it can help:

1. Spark Innovation

History is proof that innovation rarely, if ever, comes from conventional thinking. An unorthodox approach to the problem statement has almost always been the first step towards innovation.

Promoting creativity and freedom of thought in every department can help businesses spark innovation and become leaders. When employees have the space to think about solutions and make strategic decisions without getting judged, they can present unique ideas that can help businesses stay ahead of the curve.

Fostering an environment of free thinking is vital for companies to get the creative best out of their employees.

2. Increase Productivity

Productivity is a significant problem for businesses. Employees can often get demotivated and feel lethargic due to outdated business processes and mundane work.

Less room for free thinking can also spark such feelings, making employees disinterested in their work and move towards the exit door. Getting a replacement isn’t always a solution, as training someone new on the job requires time.

Giving employees the space to make creative, strategic decisions can keep them motivated and ensure they’re always looking for ways to derive joy from their work. Employees can thrive when they’re allowed to work outside a structure and prioritise creativity over routine.

3. Increase Adaptability

The 21st century is a century of rapid change. Technology is at the forefront of it, but the divided world and the race to become the next superpower are driving rapid transformation in how the world works.

Health emergencies like the 2020 pandemic are equally responsible for making the 21st century unpredictable. Businesses must adapt to such changes, but creativity at every level can ensure companies stay relevant.

When employees think for themselves and how they contribute to the organisation’s success, they can find ways to deliver results even in adversity. The ‘Work From Home’ era triggered due to the 2020 pandemic is a perfect example.

Employees found a way to deliver results and ensure smooth business functioning in the face of a fatal health emergency. They found ways to do justice to their work despite staying in busy households and having to do everything by themselves.

4. Trigger Growth

Encouraging creativity in business decisions triggers employee development and growth. Employees thrive when they’re allowed to think outside the box and present ideas to their managers and clients without fear of judgement.

Companies grow only when their employees do. Businesses leading in their respective industries have an open culture where new ideas and creativity are encouraged. It helps them stay relevant and operate at the top of their potential.

Businesses losing market share must do an internal review and understand if cognitive fixedness or the idea that there is only one way to do something dominates their corporate culture.

How to Foster a Creative Environment for Employee Development

The benefits of creativity in the workplace and strategic decision-making have been established. Creativity is critical for businesses to stay relevant, increase market share, and overall employee training and development.

However, few businesses and leaders know how to develop creative thinking skills in the workplace and leverage it to produce groundbreaking solutions regularly. There isn’t a manual anyone can follow, as individuals thrive in unique settings. Still, leaders can practise the following to achieve creativity in the workplace:

Listen Carefully

Corporate life isn’t all rosy. Employees can often feel burned out or lose motivation doing the same thing repeatedly.

A lack of motivation might prevent employees from finding creative solutions, which may impact business growth. This is where leaders must step in.

They must listen carefully to their juniors and understand their professional as well as personal concerns. Employees feel confident and less stressed about their work when they know their leaders have their back.

When motivation is low, leaders can reinforce the reason why their teams are engaged in their respective fields, their personal goals, and the importance of hard work.

Encourage Critical Analysis

Leaders can embed creativity in everyday thinking in the workplace by encouraging critical analysis. They must give employees the freedom to present their unfiltered views on a product or project.

Employees investigate a product more thoroughly and invest themselves in it when their views are heard. This approach can also help improve the product or project.

Minor details missed during the development or implementation phase might get picked up during a critical analysis session.

Promote a Perpetual Search

Creativity in the workplace comes with a perpetual search for perfection. While it is impossible to create a product everyone likes, teams can create something the majority loves.

Leaders can develop creativity within their teams by promoting this search. They must ask and help their team members find ways to improve their product or project during, between, and after its launch.

Don’t Judge Too Quickly

Many corporate leaders promote creativity, yet there are few creative workplaces around. One of the reasons could be measuring success too soon.

While several leaders give their teams time and resources to experiment with a product or project, few give their work the patience to succeed.

Leaders must give new ideas time to produce the desired results. Not doing so could result in a lost opportunity and affect employees’ confidence.

Encourage Diversity

Many studies have looked at the relationship between diversity and creativity. Several have concluded diverse team compositions can lead to unique and impactful ideas.

Leaders looking to build creative teams should take diversity into account. Hiring individuals with varying backgrounds or letting members from several teams collaborate can yield excellent results.

Employees step out of their comfort zone when working with new team members and may present better ideas. Without the thought of working together daily for the rest of life, employees can better collaborate and ensure they bring out their best.

Closing Note

The 21st century is a century of change and transformation. The pace of change is truly startling and is a warning for companies and employees that they may not be relevant a few years or months down the line.

However, creativity can help them achieve their respective employee development targets. It is a skill that sets humans apart and makes them special. Therefore, organisations and individuals must embrace creativity as a core value and ensure they work towards improving their creative skills.

Smile Foundation believes in infusing creativity in every work area; be it programmatic interventions or communication strategies. Reinventing the self and keeping our values and traditions alive is central to our work and business/employee development. We do everything to keep the fire of creativity and innovation alive in all our efforts. 

Categories
Insights Education Health

7 Ways to Make Children Physically Activity in a Digital World

7 Ways to Make Children Physically Activity in a Digital World
Children engaged in physical activity

The world wasn’t the same a decade ago. A lot has changed, fueled by rapid innovation and technology. Many facets of life, like healthcare and transport, have significantly improved with technological integration, but new problems have emerged. Reduced physical activities for teens and young adults is an alarming consequence of the age of technology.

In the past, children spent most of their after-school hours running about with their friends. Daily life revolved around playing time, which kept kids and adolescents healthy.

But with the rise of technology and the emergence of video games, smartphones, and tablets, children hardly engage in physical activity. Digital screens take precedence over time in the field, with the problem exacerbated due to the pandemic.

The COVID Effect

COVID had a devastating effect on lives worldwide. Millions lost their lives with many facing life-threatening situations and health complexions.

Children suffered as well, both from the disease and its impact on their already sedentary lifestyle. With schools shut and playgrounds deserted, children and adolescents spent almost all their time at home, playing video games and attending online classes.

Physical activity dropped to near zero as more than 330 million youngsters stayed home till March 2021. Per several reports, children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity decreased by 17 minutes per day during the pandemic. It represented a reduction of almost one-third of the recommended daily activities, but the situation hasn’t improved in 2023 despite the reduced effect of COVID.

It is a huge problem for parents as sedentary behaviour can cause:

  • Weight gain
  • Poorer cardiometabolic health, fitness, behavioural conduct behaviour
  • Reduced sleep duration

How to Improve Physical Activities for Teens

Lack of physical activity in children can cause obesity, diabetes, and heart disease later in life. Mental issues might also emerge in children and adolescents, making college and professional life difficult.

Parents must take action while they still have time and encourage children to take up physical activities, even in an age of technology. A few ways to promote physical activities for teens include:

1. Leading by Example

The best way to teach kids is to show them what you want. They often learn by imitating the behaviour of adults around them, making it one of the best ways to get them moving physically.

Parents must set daily physical goals for themselves and show their success daily to their kids. Any form of physical activity, including sports, jogging, hiking, cycling, or swimming, can help parents build the right habits in their kids. Kids are more likely to take up the activity if they see their parents moving daily.

Physical movement is also great for parents as it keeps them healthy and prevents chronic illnesses.

2. Add Fun

Children are anything but boring. They avoid mundane tasks and look for ways to have fun with anything. Parents can use this characteristic to engage their kids in physical activities.

They can make physical movements like walking or running fun by offering rewards for each achievement. For instance, parents can give children their favourite book, bag, or toy if they play for an hour in the playground daily for a week.

Another way to encourage children to play physical games is to involve their friends. Parents can join together with others and organise a soccer or cricket game, with prizes on offer for everyone. This way, kids will engage in physical activity and improve their social skills.

3. Limit Screen Time

Phones, laptops, and tablets are a disease for kids. The devices serve to watch videos, play online games, or enjoy cartoons. It limits their physical activity and affects their mental state, as they may see content unsuitable for their age.

They may see violence and other forms of content not fit for kids. Therefore, parents need to limit screen time for their kids. Parents must set strict screen time limits and encourage children to engage in physical activities instead of spending time on screens.

They must gradually reduce screen time monthly and aim to remove digital screens from their children’s life altogether.

4. Encourage Outdoor Activities

Due to their age, children’s lives are limited to their school and home. They rarely go out, even more in the age of technology.

Parents must address this problem and ensure their kids spend time outdoors. They must encourage their kids to explore nature and try hiking, camping, or gardening. If kids find it challenging to get their friends along, parents must take the initiative and take their kids themselves.

They can organise family outings to local parks or nature reserves, where their children can engage in cycling or walking. Doing so can help kids engage in physical activity as well as affect their mental health.

5. Add Physical Exercise to the Routine

Kids have a challenging routine. They have school, tuition, assignments, extracurricular activities, etc., to deal with daily. Adding physical activity randomly to their routine may disrupt their flow and promote stress.

Therefore, parents must gradually add physical exercise to their children’s routines. They must slowly increase the hours their children dedicate to physical activity of any kind. It can help add physical exercise or sports to kids’ routines, which may yield better results.

Also, parents must ensure their children stick to the routine. Kids can get bored following the same routine but parents must ensure they complete their physical movement goal daily.

6. Encourage Team Sports

The benefits of regular exercise and movement are well established. They can help kids stay active, improve their body development, and keep them away from toxic digital screens.

However, parents may sometimes find it hard to encourage kids to swim, run, or play football alone. Kids need someone beside them, which is not always possible for parents with busy schedules.

Hence, parents must encourage team sports. It offers several benefits, including physical exercise, and can help parents focus on their work without worrying about their kids’ movement goals.

Children hooked to team sports make time in their schedules and play with their friends. Team sports keep kids fit and build social skills such as teamwork and communication. Parents can make their kids join a local sports team or club to ensure they have regular access to team sports.

7. Celebrate Success

Everyone deserves recognition, including kids. They’re more likely to repeat something if it brings recognition or happiness of some kind.

Parents can use this inherent trait in kids to promote physical activity. They must encourage kids to achieve their daily physical movement goal and celebrate it when their kids achieve the milestone.

Buying a treat, toy, or gift is one of several ways to ensure kids stay active physically and away from phones.

Closing Thoughts

The benefits of physical activities for teens and the risks of a sedentary lifestyle for children are enough to prompt parents into action. They must take the lead and ensure their kids move enough daily to prevent illnesses.

While hard work and focus are key, a fit body and mind is the most basic need for kids and teens to succeed in the challenging world.

Smile Foundation in its flagship programme, Mission Education focuses on the holistic growth of children from lower-income communities. Children engaging in physical activity is one of the important aspects of this learning and growth cycle that we try to focus on.

Categories
Health

The Importance of Data in Healthcare

The Importance of Data in Healthcare
Children standing outside a smile on wheels unit

Data can change lives. It is a vital part of daily living, with businesses also relying on data sets to improve product offerings and customer experience.

The growth in data consumption worldwide is proof. Research suggests the amount of data worldwide grew by 5000% between 2010 and 2020. Such is the consumption and importance of data that its total amount generated has doubled every three years.

And it is set to increase: the total installed global data storage capacity base could increase to approximately 13.2 zettabytes (2024) from 6.8 zettabytes (2020). The total amount of data in utilised storage will reach 8.9 zettabytes by 2024.

From manufacturing to aviation, every industry relies on data sets and analytics to derive results. The healthcare sector is no different, using raw data to find better diagnoses and treatment methods.

Introduction to Data in Healthcare

Data is invaluable in healthcare. Pharma and healthcare companies use data sets to improve their financials as well as produce products and solutions to improve healthcare facilities.

Health data collated from health information systems and technological tools help healthcare professionals, insurance companies, and government organisations understand what troubles people.

Data from diagnosis and surgeries provide a holistic view of patients’ health and is used to find trends, basis location, socioeconomic status, race, and other factors. Healthcare organisations form datasets and research ways to address the lingering health problems.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Master Patient Indexes (MPI), and Health-Related Smartphone Apps are tools used to collect, store, and analyse data. While each step is equally vital to find better health outcomes, data analysis requires special care.

Data Analytics in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is always in demand. As a result, public and private companies engaged in healthcare directly or indirectly generate a tremendous amount of data.

It is challenging to analyse it manually and find trends and solutions. Data analytics in healthcare is a sound solution, helping organisations overcome obstacles and build solutions that matter.

With data analytics, colleagues and external partners can effectively share data amongst themselves, making it easier to visualise for public consumption. It can also provide accurate data-driven forecasts in real-time, ensuring healthcare providers respond quickly to changing healthcare markets and environments.

Thanks to data analytics tools, companies can innovate faster by converting analytics-ready data into business-ready information. 

Key Benefits of Data in Healthcare

Data in healthcare has massive scope. It can improve every aspect of the industry, including research and improving health outcomes. Still, a few benefits stand out for their impact on patients, employees, and the industry.

1. Improved Medical Research

Data analytics techniques have already revolutionised research efforts in health-related fields, gathering and analysing clinical data. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are one example.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are one of the most significant sources of clinical information. They store patients’ X-rays, medical images, diagnoses, treatment plans, allergies, and test results in standard digital formats.

However, EHRs bring privacy and regulatory compliance requirements that restrict data use. Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are like EHRs, but they only contain information from patients’ paper charts created in medical offices, clinics, and hospitals. EMRs are used for diagnosis and treatment and track patients’ healthcare over many visits and screenings.

Data analytics can also revolutionise personal health records (PHRs). PHRs maintain a patient’s health treatment history that the patient manages instead of healthcare providers. While PHRs do not legally replace the medical records maintained by healthcare providers, they assist patients in managing their health.

Public health records, such as the Cancer Research Data Commons, are promising health data sources for medical research. They serve as cloud-based data science platforms linking data analytics tools with data repositories storing genomic, proteomic, comparative oncology, and other data types.

2. Better Health Outcomes

Better health outcomes are one of the key goals of healthcare organisations and personnel. Doctors, surgeons, and nurses aspire to treat patients safely and effectively while minimising the trauma that comes with their treatment.

An analytics system can help healthcare professionals collect and analyse patient data in real time. Examples of patient data used for analysis include blood sugar level, temperature, and blood test results.

Analysing these with a system can help professionals better understand complex healthcare environments, develop systematic approaches to improve patient outcomes, and continuously enhance healthcare processes. Thanks to health data management systems, professionals see lower readmission rates, reduce errors, and better identify at-risk populations.

However, challenges exist. Healthcare professionals often struggle with choice as data-backed systems factor in and monitor several health parameters. One way to avoid the problem is to focus on key performance measures and collect the minimum data needed to track those measures.

3. Actionable Operational Insights

Healthcare providers directly impact the quality of care patients receive and the likelihood of positive outcomes through their work processes and organisational structures. Analysing healthcare provider data related to these processes in complex healthcare environments is crucial for measuring the effect of process changes on outcomes and operational efficiencies.

To improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare, healthcare providers conduct an organisation-wide assessment of current conditions, followed by aligning the institution’s strategies and goals for improvement. Employee scheduling, charting, emergency preparation, administration, financial management, and compliance are among the operational areas that benefit the most from data analytics.

Healthcare providers adopt various approaches to enhance operational efficiencies and maintain a high standard of care. These include reducing waste, tech integration to reduce costs, increasing hospital capacity, improving project management, and sustaining outcome improvements.

To cost-effectively implement data analytics, organisations measure and improve those operations that help the most for improved outcomes.

4. Efficient Staffing

Staffing is vital in healthcare as employees engage with several patients daily. Finding the right employees can help healthcare organisations build better connections with patients and understand their needs deeply.

Many companies rely on data analytics to address staffing issues and facilitate recruitment, hiring, training, and retention of healthcare workers. Data analytics tools help healthcare providers balance costs, efficiency, and patient outcomes with the growing scarcity of qualified medical professionals.

Intelligent data systems help manage labour costs in healthcare settings while boosting the quality of care patients receive and the efficiency of service delivery.

On the Growth Curve

Data analytics and healthcare have a promising future, per a report by Allied Market Research. The study estimates the global healthcare analytics market size will touch $96.90 billion by 2030 from $23.51 billion in 2020, indicating a 15.3% CAGR growth.

Several factors, including the need for laboratory automation and the increased prevalence of chronic diseases, have pushed healthcare companies to integrate big data into their thinking.

It is also essential as intelligent health data management improves patient care and health outcomes. Collecting and analysing health data can help healthcare providers diagnose illnesses, develop treatment plans, and improve the quality of care for patients.

Data in healthcare can also push public health policymakers to adapt quickly to problems and provide better care. While challenges exist, the potential benefits of data in healthcare are significant.

Smile Foundation and Healthcare

Smile Foundation’s comprehensive and community-centric health programme takes primary healthcare services to the doorsteps of underserved communities in both rural and urban India. Following a two-pronged approach, our health programme provides curative as well as preventive services, addressing the gaps in the availability, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare.

Categories
Women Empowerment

The Role of Women in Leadership: Five Icons in the Social Sector

Women of India
Women of India

Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Bhimrao Ramji (BR) Ambedkar, among others, played a pivotal role in India’s independence. They sacrificed their professional dreams to pursue social causes and free the country from the British.

Their contribution is priceless and is rightly celebrated yearly with events and national holidays. Sadly, the same treatment is missing for women reformers who dedicated their lives to the country’s cause.

While Mother Teresa, Savitribai Phule, and other iconic leaders of yesteryear are respected, their work is uncelebrated compared to their male counterparts. Unfortunately, such discrimination is tethered in the country’s fabric, preventing women from getting the recognition they deserve.

India Inc. suffers from the same problem. Only 100 of the 2041 companies listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) have a woman as a Managing Director (MD) or Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As of May 2022, only 15 percent of Indian unicorns had at least one female founder, while only 20 percent of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have women owners.

It is an unfortunate situation considering the impact women can have on organisations. The social sector is a glittering example. Hundreds of women occupy leadership positions in the social sector, driving change at the grassroots level.

Women Leaders in the Social Sector

The social sector is one area where women in India have shone through. They’ve made significant contributions, helping educate and empower millions using their leadership skills and problem-solving ability.

There are countless stories of great women leaders in the social sector, but we’ve highlighted a few who have helped millions prosper.

1. Aruna Roy

Aruna Roy is a living legend in the social sector. Her life and contribution are the perfect blueprints for aspiring women leaders in the social sector.

She served as a civil servant from 1968 to 1975, resigning in 1975 to work with the rural communities in Rajasthan. She, Nikhil Dey, and the local community members in Devdungri district formed the MKSS Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (Organisation for the Empowerment of Workers and Peasants) in 1990.

The organisation was vital in advocating and drafting the Right to Information Law passed by the Indian Parliament in 2005. Roy also worked for access to constitutional rights for equality and justice for rural communities.

As a member of India’s National Advisory Council, she helped pass national legislation for the Right to Information (RTI) and the Right to Employment law (MGNREGA) in 2005. The RTI is invaluable today, with estimates suggesting about 8 million applications seeking information under this law are filed yearly.

Roy’s work proves women in leadership roles can impact millions and change society for good.

2. Dr. Kiran Bedi

Studying Dr. Kiran Bedi’s life is an excellent lesson in the role of women in leadership. Bedi made history when she became the first woman to join the officer ranks of the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1972.

During her long and illustrious career, she held several top bureaucratic positions, including the Lt Governor of Puducherry and Civilian Police Advisor in Peacekeeping Operations for the United Nations.

Bedi had achieved a significant deal, but her thrust for a higher purpose didn’t let her rest. She started the Navjyoti Delhi Police Foundation, later named Navjyoti India Foundation, to address drug abuse in the Yamuna Pushta slums in 1986.

The foundation protected tens of thousands from the dangerous drug world, making them law-abiding and honest citizens. It still works to help the marginalised sections of society in the Delhi-NCR area move towards self-reliance.

Dr Bedi also worked on prison reforms at IG Prisons in Tihar, winning the Ramon Magsaysay Award for her contribution. She dedicated it to helping set up the India Vision Foundation in 1994.

3. Sudha Murthy

Sudha Murthy’s contribution extends beyond her immaculate social initiatives. In 1981, the 30-year-old Murthy provided her husband, Narayan Murthy, with the initial investment to start the IT company Infosys.

Fast forward to 2023, and Infosys is a global giant, employing lakhs of employees worldwide and contributing significantly to the Indian economy. The company also contributes to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through Infosys Foundation.

Sudha Murthy is the Chairperson of the foundation and has worked tirelessly to ensure rural communities in India have access to education and proper healthcare facilities. Under her, Infosys Foundation has built 2300 houses in flood-affected areas of the country and contributed to building 7000 libraries and 16,000 toilets.

Despite her age, Sudha Murthy still visits rural areas 10 days a month to implement relief activities.

4. Rohini Nilekani

Another woman philanthropist from the Infosys clan, Rohini Nilekani, is the Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Co-founder and Director of EkStep, a non-profit education platform.

Her areas of interest include children’s education and clean, drinking water for all. She began her philanthropic career in 2001, setting up Arghyam Foundation to address sustainable water and sanitation needs across India. The foundation works nonstop to prevent water scarcity and pollution in India.

She served as the Chairperson of the foundation for a few years before founding and funding Pratham Books, a non-profit children’s publisher. The firm helped her reach and educate millions of children, changing their lives for good.

The 63-year-old also made headlines recently for her philanthropic endeavours. Nilekani granted Rs 100 crore to the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) to set up a Centre for Brain and Mind. The centre will research five mental illnesses and investigate potential interventions and treatments.

5. Dr. Rani Bang

Individuals like Dr. Rani Bang are rare. Despite coming from an affluent family and studying medicine in the United States, she dedicated her life to service.

With her husband, Dr. Abhay Bang, who was raised in Mahatma Gandhi’s Sevagram Ashram, Dr. Rani engaged in a life-long mission to serve the community. They began work in Gadchiroli, one of the least developed, most neglected regions of India, following their return from the States.

Health care was an urgent need, and the couple addressed it by establishing a tribal-friendly hospital and a community-based healthcare programme in 134 villages. Dr. Rani focused on and improved maternal and child health in rural India, saving thousands of lives.

Her work also had global ramifications, bringing global policy change in Cairo (1994), where the paradigm shifted from ‘Population Control’ to ‘Women’s Reproductive Health’.

The Role of Women in Leadership: Food for Thought

The social sector is proof that the role of women in leadership can produce the same or better results than their male counterparts. Sudha Murthy, Rohini Nilekani, and others lead massive non-profit organisations and bring incredible change in society.

Their perseverance and hard work are also a blueprint for young girls and working professionals. Their stories are proof that sincerity and dedication to work never go unrewarded.

India Inc. and the wider society must pay attention to such stories and foster environments for women to lead. Supporting and empowering women leaders to make decisions for themselves, their company, and their colleagues can help create a more inclusive workplace built to get the best out of everyone.

Smile Foundation and Women Leaders

Smile Foundation want women to take lead in their lives. Our women empowerment programme, Swabhiman through various workshops and other methods is helping women from disadvantaged backgrounds who show great potential in entrepreneurship. The role of women in leadership is one that we are pursuing diligently and with a lot of hope.

Categories
Girl Child CSR Gender Health Partners In Change Women Empowerment

Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026: Build Schools Where Girls Can Learn Better

menstrual hygiene day

IN THIS ESSAY:

  • Why menstrual hygiene in schools is essential for improving girls’ health, dignity, confidence and educational continuity.
  • How schools can become menstrual-friendly spaces through awareness programmes, sanitation infrastructure and access to sanitary products.
  • The role of menstrual hygiene education in reducing stigma, misinformation and absenteeism among adolescent girls.
  • Key interventions needed to build inclusive school ecosystems that support girls during menstruation, especially in underserved communities.
  • How Smile Foundation is strengthening menstrual health awareness and access for school girls through its Swabhiman programme.

“Every girl has the right to manage her menstruation safely and with dignity. When girls are forced to stay home due to a lack of menstrual hygiene products or facilities, their education is disrupted, and their potential is limited. By investing in menstrual hygiene management, we can unlock girls’ potential and accelerate progress towards gender equality.”

Henrietta Fore UNICEF’s Executive Director

This Menstrual Hygiene day comes with a pivotal realisation that menstrual hygiene is just not a sanitation issue, but is crucial for the health, dignity and well-being of girls and women. Poor menstrual hygiene practices can lead to a range of health issues, including infections, rashes and other long-term complications.

In addition to physical health risks, the lack of access to menstrual hygiene facilities can also affect girls’ education and social participation. Girls not having access to sanitary pads or private toilets may miss school during their periods or drop out altogether. This can have long-term consequences on their education and economic opportunities. 

Promoting menstrual hygiene and ensuring access to adequate sanitation infrastructure, safe menstrual products and accurate awareness is critical to advancing public health, gender equity and human dignity.

 Limited menstrual hygiene management continues to affect girls’ educational continuity, confidence and social participation. Strengthening menstrual health systems enables girls and women to manage menstruation safely and with dignity, improving school attendance, workforce participation and long-term socio-economic outcomes. Beyond health, menstrual hygiene is closely linked to inclusive development, empowering women and girls to participate more equitably in education, livelihoods and community life. 

Why Menstrual Hygiene in School Matters 

Menstruation affects nearly half the global population, which gets furthermore challenging when young girls and women have limited menstrual hygiene management that continues to impact their education, health and economic opportunities. Therefore, school from the very start of a child’s education plays a critical role in creating informed, safe and inclusive learning environments for girls.

Building Awareness Beyond Biology 

Schools can help normalise menstruation through structured and age-appropriate menstrual hygiene and education. 

Key focus areas–

  • Understanding the menstrual cycle 
  • Safe menstrual hygiene practices
  • Awareness of menstrual product options 
  • Reducing stigma and misinformation

 Impact

  • Improved confidence and self awareness among girls 
  • Better hygiene practices and reduced infection risks 
  • Higher classroom participation and school retention

Ensuring Continuity In Education 

Access to sanitary products remains a barrier for many girls , particularly in underserved communities and among differently-abled students. 

Schools Can Support Through 

  • Availability of sanitary pads in schools 
  • Emergency menstrual hygiene products 
  • Inclusive access for differently abled girls 

Impact 

  • Reduced absenteeism during menstruation 
  • Improved educational continuity 
  • Greater dignity and participation in school life 

Building Menstrual Hygiene- Friendly School 

Essential Infrastructure requirements 

  • Private and hygienic girls toilets 
  • Safe menstrual waste disposal systems
  • Access to clean water and handwashing facilities 

Institutional Support 

  • Sensitisation of teachers and school staff 
  • Improved confidence and emotional well being 
  • More equitable and inclusive school environments 

Schools Leading The Menstrual Health Cause

By taking these steps, schools can promote menstrual health and hygiene among girls and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society. Improving menstrual hygiene and health can help girls stay in school, while also taking control of their reproductive health.

Furthermore by providing comprehensive menstrual education, access to sanitary pads for schools, safe sanitation practices and creating a supportive environment, schools can help break down the stigma surrounding menstruation and promote better health outcomes for girls.

Recently, the Supreme Court has asked the centre to frame a uniform national policy to ensure menstrual hygiene by providing sanitary pads, vending and disposal mechanisms and exclusive washrooms for girl students in schools. The importance of menstrual hygiene for school girls is finally making a noise where it matters.

Smile Foundation and Menstrual Hygiene of School Girls

Smile Foundation contributes to the importance of menstrual hygiene for girls in schools through its Swabhiman programme.

Under this programme, Smile Foundation provides menstrual health and hygiene education to adolescent girls. The programme also distributes sanitary pads to girls in need, ensuring that they can manage their periods hygienically and without shame.

Over the years by working closely with the underserved communities, one of the emerging solutions to make menstrual hygiene more accessible and acceptable in rural communities of India is through schools. 

Schools remain one of the most influential institutions in advancing menstrual hygiene and health in India. Beyond education delivery, they play a critical role in building awareness, improving access to menstrual products and creating safe, inclusive infrastructure that enables girls to continue learning with dignity.

Strengthening menstrual health systems within schools contributes directly to higher retention among girls, improved health outcomes and greater gender equity in education. For organisations, policymakers and CSR stakeholders, investing in menstrual-friendly school ecosystems is not only a public health intervention, but also a long-term investment in human capital, socio-economic participation and building more equitable and resilient communities across underserved regions. 

Build Schools with Smile, where girls can learn confidently. Partner with Smile Foundation to strengthen menstrual-friendly school ecosystems in India.

Categories
Livelihood

Manufacturing Sector in India and Employment

Manufacturing Sector in India and Employment
Beneficiaries of Smile Foundation's livelihood programme

For any country to grow economically, it must improve its business capabilities. Countries like China have achieved tremendous growth over the past few decades because of their manufacturing sector success.

In 2010, China surpassed the United States and became the world leader in manufacturing. This helped its economy to grow exponentially over the following years. However, the manufacturing sector in India is yet to see the same kind of growth.

In 2010, China had a $ 0.13 trillion advantage over the US, and the difference continued to grow steadily year after year. China’s manufacturing production in 2021 was $ 4.87 trillion, far exceeding that of the US, leaving a vast $ 2.53 trillion gap.

What about India?

Unlike China, India has seen impressive growth in its service sector with its contribution growing from 45 percent to 55 percent of GDP. However, the growth rate of the manufacturing sector in India has largely remained stagnant during the same period of 2017-2022. The manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP has hovered around 15 to 17 percent.

According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), by 2030, India can contribute more than $500 billion yearly to the global economy and become a major centre for manufacturing. With advantages like a large working population and government initiatives like the PLI scheme, India has the potential to develop into a major global manufacturing hub, and by 2030 it might contribute more than $ 500 billion yearly to the world economy.

This can be achieved through growth in specific industries for which there is a strong demand. For example, the market for appliances and consumer electronics (ACE) in India is anticipated to increase from $10.93 billion in 2019 to $21.18 billion by 2025.

Additionally, according to a report by NITI Aayog and RMI India, the finance market for electric vehicles in India is expected to reach $50 billion by 2030. What we can say is that India’s growth story has just begun and there is a long way forward for the country to become a leader in manufacturing.

Industry 4.0 and India

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, is the integration of cutting-edge technologies like automation, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence into the manufacturing and production process. As a result, a highly networked and digitalized ecosystem is created, allowing machines to converse and make independent decisions.

Using real-time data analytics and predictive maintenance, Industry 4.0 intends to increase productivity, decrease waste, and increase efficiency. Additionally, it offers chances for novel commercial strategies and the development of more individualised and adaptable products.

By facilitating the use of cutting-edge technology like robotics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 is revolutionising the industrial industry. Greater automation, increased effectiveness, and less waste are the results of this. 

Predictive maintenance and real-time data analytics enable more productive decision-making. Industry 4.0 also makes it easier to create items that are more customised and individualised as well as new business models. Manufacturers can increase their competitiveness as a result and provide customers with additional value in the digital age.

The India manufacturing sector analysis suggests that the country is giving needed importance to Industry 4.0. The manufacturing sector in India is adopting Industry 4.0 technologies to enhance productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. The Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative aims to promote domestic manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 is seen as a critical enabler of this objective.

Furthermore, the government is also promoting the adoption of Industry 4.0 through various initiatives such as the “Smart Manufacturing” program. As a result, the Indian manufacturing sector is poised to become a major player in the global digital economy.

India – Manufacturing Hub

India is rapidly expanding its digital footprint and is leading the digital transformation globally. The country expects to have 900 million internet users by the year 2025. Why is it important? Because the next transformation in the manufacturing sector is going to happen through the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. Digital transformation will play a central role in this whole process.

With India becoming a global leader in digital payments and on the path of bringing innovation in other digital technologies, it is going to play a pivotal role in transforming the manufacturing sector too. To establish itself as a major industrial centre, India is utilising digital transformation.

Make in India

The “Make in India” strategy of the government seeks to increase both domestic and foreign investment in the manufacturing industry. India is making significant investments in Industry 4.0 technologies, including automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, to meet this objective. 

This contributes to more productivity, lower costs, and better quality control. Greater coordination between manufacturers and suppliers in the supply chain is also made possible by the adoption of digital technology.

Additionally, manufacturers are finding it simpler to reach new markets and consumers because of the proliferation of digital platforms and e-commerce. Overall, India is building a competitive manufacturing environment that can service both domestic and international markets.

Apart from this, other important factors are enabling India’s growth in the manufacturing sector. These are factors like India’s demographic dividend. India can certainly use its young population and benefit from it to become a manufacturing powerhouse.

At the same time, there is an expected decline in China’a manufacturing contribution because of various internal and external factors. This can be advantageous for India. In addition, the Indian government is emphasising heavily on manufacturing, particularly in the post-pandemic period. 

By 2025, the National Manufacturing Policy wants manufacturing to account for 25% of the GDP. According to TOI, the “Make in India” programme has led to the establishment of manufacturing facilities in India by some of the largest corporations in the world. General Electric, Siemens, HTC, Toshiba, and Boeing are all on that list.

India: A Rising Star in Manufacturing

In conclusion, India has established itself as a rising star in the world of manufacturing. All thanks to its dedication to digital transformation and adoption of Industry 4.0 technology. India is positioned to dominate the manufacturing sector by putting a significant emphasis on innovation, infrastructure development, and skilled labour. 

The country appeals to foreign businesses aiming to increase their industrial footprint due to its sizeable domestic market and advantageous location. The government’s initiatives to make doing business easier and the ongoing investment in digital technology will increase India’s competitiveness in the industrial sector. It opens the door to a more promising economic future.

Smile Foundation and Supplementing Needs of the Manufacturing Sector in India

More business means more human power needed. This is where Smile Foundation‘s Livelihood programme, STeP (Smile Twin e-Learning Programme) steps in. The programme connects the unemployed or underemployed youth from disadvantaged groups and communities with the sectors which have large growth potential in terms of revenue generation and employability like BFSI, Healthcare, Core Employability, Retail Management, BPO, and Digital Marketing.

The programme aims to complement the government’s vision and efforts under the Skill India mission, and is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Categories
Uncategorized Health

Love: Key to Childhood Development and Good Health

Love: Key to Childhood Development and Good Health
Children looking happy

Change has been a constant feature of human experience on Earth. The world has evolved consistently through time, with the 21st witnessing arguably the quickest transformation of any age.

Thanks to technology, everything in our lives, from education to wellness, is on a rapid evolutionary path. It makes the future exciting, but we must also look back and repair the substantial collateral damage.

Childhood development is one of the areas exposed to circumstantial changes too. Children and teenagers of the 21st century face significant emotional, physical, and mental risks, despite the presence of cutting-edge technology at their fingertips.

Threats to Child Development

Children and teenagers today arguably face more challenging situations than their parents did at the same age. Climate change, marketing practices, and social media are the biggest factors, making teenagers getting affected physically and mentally.

Every society is equally responsible for protecting its young population. A 2020 report by a commission of over 40 child and adolescent health experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and The Lancet drew especially startling conclusions.

The findings warn the health and future of children and adolescents worldwide are under immediate threat. Ecological degradation, climate change, and exploitative marketing practices pushing the wrong foods and drinks are the key drivers of deteriorating health conditions of children, noted the report.

“Industry self-regulation has failed,” said Professor Anthony Costello, one of the Commission’s authors. “Studies in Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and the USA – among many others – have shown that self-regulation has not hampered commercial ability to advertise to children.”

“For example, despite the industry signing up to self-regulation in Australia, children and adolescent viewers were still exposed to 51 million alcohol ads during just one year of televised football, cricket, and rugby. And the reality could be much worse still: we have few facts and figures about the huge expansion of social media advertising and algorithms aimed at our children.”

The Role of Love in Childhood Development

Parents can do a great deal to protect their children’s mental and physical health. Paying attention to their interaction with technology and eating habits can prove helpful, but love remains the key.

A 2019 study demonstrated adults with higher levels of positive childhood experiences had a lower risk of mental health issues and greater adult-reported social and emotional support.

The study concluded promotion of positive childhood experiences reduces the risk for teenage mental health support and adult relational health. Joint assessment of positive childhood experiences and adverse childhood experiences may enable a focus on building strengths to promote well-being.

Hence, parents must foster safe, stable relationships for children and build environments for positive experiences. A warm, loving family can reduce mental and physical health issues in children and have the following impact:

  • Children gain confidence, and it increases their self-esteem.
  • They can learn conflict resolution skills, which may prove useful in future professional relationships.
  • They learn about the importance of communication and social interactions.
  • They become healthier thanks to home-cooked healthy meals, regular exercise and play, and early bedtimes.
  • They become resilient and flexible enough to handle different situations.
  • They have a sense of stability and predictability due to their routine.
  • They do not need to push to feel loved. They have unconditional love.

Parents can use some of their own experiences to determine how to build a loving space that helps their children grow comprehensively.

Promoting Family Love

It is clear from studies and life experiences that family love can make a difference in children’s mental and physical health. The right environment can take their minds off the misleading social media and television content, allowing them to focus on human relations.

There are several other ways as well in which parents can nurture family love and early childhood professional development. A few include:

1. Make Family Time a Priority

Working parents may find it tough to give due attention to their children. Parents must ensure they give their children adequate time when they’re home from work.

They must dedicate at least a couple of hours of family time and ensure their children have positive experiences. Making family time a priority can make children trust their parents, which can be helpful when they grow up and need someone to talk to.

2. Play Games and Sports Regularly

Games and sports have a way of building connections faster than anything else. Parents can use that to their advantage, playing regular games or sports with their kids.

They can dedicate a certain number of hours or specific days to play with their kids. It can help build better bonds, keep their children fresh and active, and sharpen their decision-making.

3. Listen

Parents have a lot to think about. Their minds are at 100 places at once, making it difficult to concentrate sometimes. It is especially true when they’re home.

As a result, they may not listen carefully to their children, leading to a lack of communication. If not mended, it can lead to serious disconnects that hamper teenage mental health and lead to bigger problems in the future.

Therefore, parents need to listen carefully to their children from a young age. Once home, they give their children undivided attention and understand what they want or need.

4. Talk More

In today’s day and age, as children age, they usually speak less directly to people and more through phones. It isn’t a healthy trait, and many teenage mental health crises arise due to reduced human interactions.

Using phones as the primary mode of conversation may even make teenagers and youngsters fearful of social events. Parents can prevent this by taking the initiative and talking more with their kids.

They must create an environment of open communication where kids can discuss anything they feel like.

5. Express Your Love

Actions are far more important than words. Teenagers would be happier if their parents expressed their love rather than saying it 50 times a day.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot to express love. Parents can embrace their children or do something special for them to display their love.

Love in Friendship

Family love is critical to childhood development, but so is friendship. Children often make unconditional and deep bonds with their friends, some even lasting for a lifetime. Bonds formed in childhood are unique and can become a key part of an adult’s life.

Parents should promote friendship and ensure their children regularly interact with their friends in school or at home. It can improve children’s social interaction skills and make them a joy to be around.

Final Thoughts: Love and Childhood Development

Love is perhaps the most powerful emotion. It can bring immense joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging. It is vital for kids, with studies proving the profound impact of love from family and friends on a child’s health and well-being.

The need for love only increases with time as teenagers live in an age of limitless distractions and less care. Parents must prepare for it and find time to communicate or risk teenage mental and physical health issues.

Smile Foundation and Child Development

Smile Foundation places a lot of emphasis on the overall development of children from lower-income communities. Our flagship programme, Mission Education is making efforts to integrate the mental well-being of children engaged in the programme through activities like counseling keeping in focus on imparting quality education to the children.

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Livelihood

Building A Learning Culture through Skilling

Skill development program of Smile Foundation
Sneha is a recipient of a merit-based scholarship from Smile Foundation to pursue engineering from a reputed college in Mumbai.

India is recognized as a mystical land where culture, traditions and values exist in everything we do. A learning culture comes naturally to us and is the foundation on which we all build our lives.

So what is a learning culture?  A learning culture creates an empowering environment that gives people access and tools to continual learning, whether to acquire brand-new skills or enhance their existing knowledge. 

While we all agree and endorse the need for a learning culture, it is also very important to have the right kind of learning. Learning that uplifts enhances and provides growth opportunities to people. This also means that what we may have learned during our early days may not necessarily be applicable to the modern world and its changing times.

Enter Upskilling and Reskilling to Help Relearn

According to a job data analysis report by Monster, the job market in India is changing with the advent of new-age tech across sectors, 40 percent of Indian employees will need reskilling and 60 percent will need upskilling. The pandemic saw the rise of multiple technologies and work models that employees could choose from. These varied choices also highlighted the shortcomings in the learning and skills of employees, which needed to be addressed by the government, corporates, and educational institutions on a war footing.

Companies, business leaders, and employees increasingly realize the importance of upskilling from their current capabilities. A LinkedIn survey revealed that upskilling is a priority for 62 percent of CEOs who took part in the survey.

The report also listed the top industries where there was a significant emphasis on reskilling and upskilling- sectors such as education and training, BFSI, Technical Services and healthcare witnessed a surge in upskilling programs. New-age technologies like AI, Data Science, and Software Development were the domains that saw most professionals registering to improve and hone their skills.

Observations for 2023

Certain patterns and trends have emerged from several reskilling and upskilling initiatives. 

Millennials are keener and more open to upskilling themselves. Today’s technology is advancing rapidly and we are privy to new technologies and innovations on a daily basis. With the pandemic pushing everything to the digital platform, the need to be tech-savvy is more remarkable than before.

India has a  high percentage of millennials, who comprise over 34% of the country’s population. They are already proficient with mobile technology and hence are more adept at picking up technical skills. Moreover, the younger generations have clear goals and have already mapped their career to their liking. Hence they are more likely to seek tools that enhance their potential for their growth.

Employers will encourage their employees to upskill themselves and voluntarily offer unlimited opportunities for the same. The employer of today, especially post-pandemic, knows that in order to retain good talent and resources, they need to offer ample upskilling opportunities that focus on enabling employees to acquire new skills and progress faster up the career ladder.

These firms are providing the necessary education and training to employees, helping them understand the nuances of their respective fields and making them future-ready.

Remote Upskilling

With individuals working away from the office, the demand for remote learning has increased manifold. With nearly 100% digital penetration across the country, employers are ensuring that their workforce has an environment of continuous growth and learning, wherever they may be located. 

Changing Times and Learning Culture

Now we can no longer rely on the formal traditional education format. Changing times and extreme situations like pandemics and wars have made us realize the need for additional educational formats and additional skill sets.

Upskilling and reskilling have become ubiquitous in today’s modern world. They have become indispensable tools for professionals to further their career growth. Governments and organizations have understood the significance of better-skilled employees.

Simply put, upskilling is a new motivation that enhances productivity, innovations and expertise.

Smile Foundation and Skilling The Youth

Smile Foundation is deeply invested in empowering the youth from lower-income households into strong individuals who become financially independent. This financial independence would ensure their fruitful contribution toward the growth and development of their families and the nation.

Our Livelihood programme, STeP (Smile Twin e-Learning Programme) connects the unemployed or underemployed youth from disadvantaged groups and communities with sectors like BFSI, Healthcare, Core Employability, Digital Marketing, Retail Management and more, which have large growth potential in terms of revenue generation and employability.

Smile Foundation’s Livelihood Programme Numbers: 75000 Youth Trained; 47000 Youth Placed; 400+ Employment Partners.

Categories
Education

Mind Habits Maketh A Child

Cause-Related Marketing: Connecting Brands with Purpose
Children looking happy

In today’s fast-paced world, it is becoming increasingly important for children to develop good learning habits at an early age. The behaviours, attitudes, and routines that kids develop to support their learning and academic success are learning habits.

The ability to learn effectively is crucial for academic achievement, but it also has long-term advantages that go far beyond the classroom. It is impossible to exaggerate the significance of children’s learning habits.

Children who establish effective study habits are more likely to succeed in school, perform more academically, and feel more self-assured and motivated. Additionally, they have the resources necessary to accomplish their objectives and can better tackle the problems life throws at them.

However, forming solid study habits is not always simple, and many kids find it difficult to do so on their own. It is the responsibility of parents, educators, and other caregivers to assist and motivate kids as they establish positive study habits. This entails fostering a dynamic environment, setting a positive example, and equipping kids with the tools they need to succeed.

So, as we now understand what learning habits are, we will dive deeper into
understanding how they shape a child’s future and how we can nurture those habits among children.

Learning Habits and the Training of the Mind

Developing good learning habits among children can be achieved through
developing mind habits. Mind habits refer to the cognitive processes that children use to approach and engage in learning. These habits of the mind include things like attention, memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

By developing positive mental habits, children can become more effective learners and develop good learning habits that will serve them well throughout their lives. Developing a growth mindset is one technique to create good mental habits.

A growth mindset is a conviction that talent and intelligence develop through perseverance, practice, and hard work. Children that have a development mentality are more likely to accept difficulties and regard failure as a chance to improve. This way of thinking can be developed by encouraging kids to take on new tasks, highlighting the value of hard work and perseverance, and celebrating achievement.

Mindfulness in Children

Encourage metacognition as another technique to form good mind habits in children. The capacity for self-reflection on one’s own thought and learning processes is referred to as metacognition. Children can become more aware of their strengths and shortcomings and create learning methods when taught to reflect on their own thinking and learning.

Asking kids to consider their approach to a task, the tactics they employed, and what they might do differently the next time might help with this. Finally, promoting mindfulness can also help develop positive mind habits.

Mindfulness refers to the practice of being present and fully engaged in the present moment. By teaching children to be mindful, they can develop better attention and focus, which are critical for effective learning. This can be done through activities such as breathing exercises, meditation, etc.

Mind Habits of Children

Before we talk about the relationship between mind habits, learning, and early childhood education, let us first understand the importance of early childhood education. For a child to flourish and succeed in the future, early childhood education is essential. It offers a solid basis for social skills development, emotional stability, and lifetime learning.

Early childhood is the best time for learning and development because children’s brains are quickly developing during this period. Children who receive early childhood education are more likely to have cognitive skills like language and problem-solving aptitudes as well as social skills like cooperation and teamwork.

Children are also taught vital life lessons like cleanliness and self-care.
In addition, kids who get good early education are more likely to do well in school and their future employment. Additionally, they have a lower propensity as adults to engage in harmful activities like drug usage and criminality.

What about Children of Lower-income Households?

Children from lower-income households who might not have access to the same chances and resources as their classmates value early childhood education particularly. Giving these kids the resources they need to achieve, can help level the playing field.

The habits of the mind that children form in the first few years of life have a big impact on how successful and happy they will be in the future. Early childhood education is extremely important in forming these mental habits.

We now know that habits of the mind pertain to the ways that people think and handle problems. These behaviours can be learned via practice, especially in the formative years of the child.

Children and Early Childhood Education

Those children who participate in early childhood education programmes that place a strong emphasis on cultivating these mind habits will have the foundation they need to flourish in school and beyond. Children who form the habit of perseverance are more likely to persevere through difficult activities and accomplish their goals, whereas children who form the habit of cooperation are more likely to collaborate effectively and succeed in group situations.

Additionally, these mental habits are intimately related to other facets of a child’s development, like social and emotional competence. Children who practise self-control, empathy, and mindfulness are better able to manage their emotions in social situations and have better mental health results.

The mental habits that children establish are significantly shaped by early childhood education. We can put children on a path to success and well-being that will serve them for the rest of their life by allowing them to practice and cultivate these habits.

So, this is how learning habits and mind habits can put children on a path of growth and success. Efforts to inculcate these habits among children must begin from early childhood. This is the time when they are learning and their minds are developing fast. So, it is in their interest if habit training ,is playfully introduced to them as Smile Foundation does in their flagship programme, Mission Education.

Categories
Health

Climate Change and Health: Changing Mindscapes

Climate Change and Health: Changing Our Mindscapes
Smiling Children from one of our project areas

Climate Change is one of the biggest challenges facing humankind today. There are reports of rising global temperatures because of increased carbon emissions. These rising temperatures are causing extreme weather events, an increase in sea levels, the melting of glaciers, and the extinction of important wildlife.

Scientists have been warning about the ill effects of climate change and how it can be catastrophic for our planet.

A Warmer World is Bad News

The concentrations of greenhouse gases are now at their greatest levels in two million years, according to the United Nations. The outcome is that the world has warmed by 1.1°C since the 1800s. The most recent ten years were the warmest ever.

Since the 1800s, the Earth has warmed by around 1.1°C. The Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping the global temperature from rising more than 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels is not being met. That is the maximum to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

While this impacts the natural world and the climatic circumstances threaten humans, there is also a significant economic concern. Swiss Re Institute estimates that if global temperatures rise by 3.2°C, climate change might wipe out 18% of global GDP by 2050.

According to another study, climate change might cause the world economy to lose 10% of its overall economic value by 2050. These economic and climatic concerns have pushed the countries to come together and find a solution to the problem. The Paris Climate Agreement was a step in that direction.

A Silent Threat

While the majority of the concerns around climate change are either economic or weather-related, there is a silent threat. Climate change and health are strongly interrelated. The change in climatic conditions and its impact on the natural world can cause various health-related issues in humans. Some claim that climate change can be the reason for the spread of new viruses that may turn into a global pandemic.

Therefore, it is important to also keep in mind the impact of climate change on human health. We cannot ignore that climate change affects the health of humans in many ways. It is not just limited to physical well-being but also mental health. In a world constantly facing such huge challenges, the lives of many individuals and communities can be impacted severely. This can have strong repercussions on the mental health of vulnerable communities. This is the reason by we must talk about the psychological impacts of climate change.

How does Climate Change affect Mental Health?

According to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released in February 2021, the threat posed by rapidly escalating climate change to mental health and psychosocial well-being is growing. This threat includes everything from emotional distress to anxiety, depression, grief, and suicidal behaviour. World Health Organisation (WHO) has also realized the importance of including mental health as an important subject in the climate response.

In 2021, the WHO conducted a survey in which 95 countries participated. Out of 95 nations, the organisation found that just 9 had national health and climate change strategies that addressed mental health and psychosocial support. Speaking on this, Dévora Kestel, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO said “The impact of climate change is compounding the already extremely challenging situation for mental health and mental health services globally.

There are nearly 1 billion people living with mental health conditions, yet in low- and middle-income countries, 3 out of 4 do not have access to needed services.” The organisation also recommended that climate considerations be integrated into mental health programs.

Adding To The Anxiety

Additionally, it is established that natural disasters are bad for both physical and mental health. Many people affected by severe weather, as well as slower-moving disasters like droughts, face a variety of challenges. Mild stress and anguish, high-risk coping behaviours like increased alcohol use, and, sporadically, mental disorders including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are among the effects of climate change-related events on mental health.

These findings have further been corroborated through research being done among people after they faced extreme weather events. Researchers at the University of Cambridge examined 41 studies from 2022 that looked at various extreme weather occurrences, including storms, floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires.

They discovered that extreme weather and climatic phenomena seem to make gender-based violence worse. Economic upheaval, societal unrest, supportive settings, and stress are contributing factors.

Are Reports Painting A Different Picture?

A recent study published in the Lancet Planetary Health found that exposure to extreme weather events increased the risk of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health disorders.

The study analysed data from over two million individuals across 27 countries. The study also found that the risk was higher for low-income individuals and those living in urban areas. These findings highlight the importance of addressing climate change as a public health issue. They focus on the need for targeted interventions to protect vulnerable populations.

What is the Need of the Hour for Climate Change and Health?

Limiting the impact of climate change on mental health requires a multi-pronged approach. It involves addressing the root causes of climate change and providing support for those experiencing mental health issues as a result of climate change. Here are some strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on mental health: 

Address the Root Causes of Climate Change

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a sustainable economy is crucial to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Reducing the severity and frequency of extreme weather events will reduce the risk of trauma, anxiety, and depression. 

Increase Awareness and Education

Educating people about the link between climate change and mental health can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage individuals to seek help when needed. Community-based interventions such as mental health clinics, support groups, and hotlines can provide a safe space for individuals. 

Provide Mental Health Services

Providing accessible and culturally appropriate mental health services can help mitigate the climate change impact. This includes providing training to healthcare professionals to better recognize and address mental health issues related to climate change. 

Develop Resilience and Coping Strategies

Developing personal and community resilience to cope with climate change can be effective in reducing the risk of mental health. Encouraging individuals to engage in activities that build resilience, such as exercise and mindfulness, can help reduce anxiety and depression. 

Address Equity and Social Justice

Climate change disproportionately affects low-income individuals and marginalized communities. Addressing equity and social justice issues can help reduce the impact of climate change on mental health by ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to the resources and support they need.

Overall, addressing the impact of climate change on mental health requires a holistic approach. It involves addressing the root causes of climate change, providing support to the affected, and promoting resilience and coping strategies. By taking action now, we can help mitigate the impact of climate change on mental health to ensure a healthier and sustainable future for all.

Smile Foundation and Healthcare of Every Kind

Smile Foundation’s ‘Health Cannot Wait’ initiative aims to provide healthcare to all. Keeping the health of children, women, and other vulnerable populations in mind, mobile healthcare units called “Smile on Wheels” reach out to people in far-flung areas and informal settlements of the cities where people lack awareness about basic healthcare, including mental healthcare.

Smile on Wheels takes healthcare to the doorsteps of people and also encourages health awareness and health-seeking behaviour among underprivileged people.

For the poor, health is truly their only wealth! Join hands with Smile Foundation to make quality healthcare accessible to all.

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