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Author: Smile Editorial Team

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Smile

Soul and Substance: Roshni

Soul and Substance: Roshni
Soul and Substance: Roshni

Each individual’s story is unique, filled with personal triumphs, struggles, and moments of resilience. By engaging directly with beneficiaries, we not only gain a deeper appreciation for their experiences, but we also foster a sense of trust and empathy that is crucial in shaping our future endeavors. We seek to create a safe and supportive environment where beneficiaries can share their narratives authentically, knowing that their voices are valued and their stories hold immense significance.

Recognizing the importance of capturing authentic voices and narratives, Soul and Substance stories aim to create a safe space where individuals can express their thoughts, emotions, and aspirations freely, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the impact of Smile Foundation’s social development programmes on their lives.

Here is the story of a carefree and passionate Roshni* (11 years) trained in our education programme, center located at Shri Ram J.J.Colony, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi in her own words.

Riya, your teacher told me you dance really well, is that true, what else do you enjoy?

Yes, I love dancing a lot. It’s something I’ve been doing for a few years now at the center. My teacher says I’m good at it, which makes me happy. Apart from dancing, I also enjoy learning rap songs. I like to learn fast songs.

On Saturdays, we used to have dance classes, which I really look forward to. Besides that, I also like doing art and craft activities. But you know, when it comes to dancing, I feel a little shy in front of other people. So, I usually dance alone in my room, copying the moves from songs on TV. I also love reading stories about rulers in the past and the monuments they made.

How long have you been studying at this education center, and what grade are you currently in?

Oh, I’ve been coming to the education center since I was 4 years old. It has been 7 years now. Currently, I’m in class 7th. I really love coming here every day because the teachers are super nice and always ready to help me. I’ve made a few friends here too and I like playing badminton and kho-kho, so every day after class we spend an extra half an hour here to play games. It is a lot of fun.

So, how do you feel about the teachers and staff at the education center? Do you feel supported and cared for?

Yes, Madhu Ma’am is my favourite. She takes care of me and whenever I am unable to attend a class in the centre or I am absent, she calls my mother to ask if I am okay. I love studying history and whenever I read something new and interesting, I tell Madhu ma’am and she appreciates me.

Whenever I read story books, she corrects my pronunciation and asks me to think about how I would want the story to end. I remember once I could not afford a geometry box for my school and I was very upset, Madhu ma’am asked me and I told her my problem. She then smiled and got me a geometry box from the centre saying I should not worry about such small things. She is like my friend and she is always there for me.

That sounds wonderful, what is your everyday routine? Do you also go to school?

Oh yes, I go to Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya School in the morning from Monday to Friday, these days a progamme called Mission Buniyaad is going on, and under this, we are taught different games and extracurricular activities.

My two favourite things dancing and reading classes also take place every day so I do not like to miss school. After school, I come to the education center, where I attend classes and activities. In the evenings, I spend some time doing art and craft activities and helping my mother with household chores.

On weekends, I have more free time, and I often use that time to pursue my hobbies like dancing, reading, and spending time with my family and friends.

Wow, what aspirations and dreams do you have Riya? What do you want to grow up to be?

Oh, I want to be a police officer when I grow up. They’re like superheroes who protect us and make our world safer. Do you know what I find cool? Their uniforms! They look so professional and powerful. I’ve seen police officers in movies, and they always seem so strong and brave.

I want to be someone who helps people and keeps our community safe. My teachers have told me that it also has a lot of benefits like free vacations (giggles). I know it’s not easy, but I’m willing to work hard and learn everything I need to become a police officer one day. 

Okay, so you’re interested in free vacations. Would you like to tell us where you want to go on a vacation? What other dreams do you have?

Oh not me, I do not have dreams of vacations and exploring the world but my mother has always wanted to go to Vaishno Devi but we could never afford it. She keeps telling me that when I start earning I must take her there and I have made her a promise that when I am successful, I will use my first salary to take her to her dream place. Nothing will make me happier. This is my ultimate dream. 

*Name changed due to confidentiality reasons

Categories
Livelihood

Are Core Skills Important in the 21st Century?

Are Core Skills Important in the 21st Century?
Are Core Skills Important in the 21st Century?

Kuttiyama of Kerala decided that she should be able to write her own name and address at the age of 104. As luck would have it, soon her paths crossed with a literacy trainer and Kuttiyama ended up scoring a sky-high of 89% in literacy in Kerala state primary literacy exam. She proved that if one wants to learn a skill, it’s never too late to start.

Workplaces in the 21st century have seen considerable changes. It is like a canvas with strokes of multiple colors depicting diversity in representations, ideas and skills. Workplaces have grown to be more diverse and welcoming, have incorporated technology to a great extent, and have become more employee-centric. In this adapting workplace environment, one thing remains constant– the need to develop employability skills. 

Employability is not based on only Credentials 

Having a good resume is the first step towards landing the desired job but what people must understand is that being selected for one is more than one’s credentials. The employability of a person is not defined solely by job higher education degrees. 

Employers seek individuals who have the potential to adapt to the existing workplace and contribute to making it a better place. Lack of these skills has debilitating effects on the workplace environment. Hence, core skills are indispensable to acquire in the 21st century.

Core Skills Strengthen the Foundation of an Organisation

The biggest asset of any organization is its people. Their skills, ability to smoothly perform tasks, knowledge, and experience shape an organisation. Employers seek employees who will make this possible. Hence, an individual with core skills stands out as a prospective employee for a productive workforce. 

A few important skills that individuals and job seekers should focus on developing are as follows – 

  1. Communication Skills 

Communication, both verbal and written, is a vital tool for social integration. Being able to relay ideas, strategies and approaches in meetings is crucial for the smooth functioning of a workplace. The development of communication skills is of high importance for cohesive work since effective communication bridges the age, gender, cultural, or religious gaps between stakeholders promoting diversity and respect. 

  1. Leadership Skills 

Middle and higher management executives are required to manage large groups of employees in a way that grants maximum productivity and profits. These skills are as important for every employee including those seeking leadership roles. Managers may divide their teams and assign employees leadership roles. It is imperative to inculcate a sense of ownership, responsibility and accountability for the development of effective leadership skills. 

  1. Computer and Tech Skills

The digital revolution and the covid-19 pandemic proved to be catalysts in the reach of technology in everyday life. Applications like MS Teams and Zoom boosted considerably during and post-pandemic. Meetings and conferences are majorly held over these applications now. Combining communication skills with technological skills allows employees to effectively manage and communicate meetings online. In addition to this, acquiring basic computing skills and being adept at applications of MS Office, and database software can considerably increase the employability chances of an individual. 

  1. Management Skills

Communication, leadership, and management skills are the three elements that ensure that the best talent manages tasks without many conflicts. One of the most critical skills in a workplace is the ability to manage people effectively, readiness to listen to criticism and clear queries, planning, and taking decisions. 

  1. Socio-emotional Skills 

Social integration is of high importance in the workplace. The ability to be sociable and make good relationships with coworkers go a long way for an individual. Good social skills complement one’s ability to connect with people.

  1. Time management Skills 

The ability to manage tight deadlines and multiple assignments at a time is indispensable for the growth of an organisation. Dividing work for oneself to achieve maximum productivity is a skill individuals should develop. 

Smile Foundation and Core Skills

Smile Foundation’s lifecycle approach concerns itself with the provision of livelihood opportunities for underserved youth. Through its livelihood initiative, STeP (Smile Twin e-Learning Programme) among its many training courses, it also provides core employability training that has resulted in hundreds of trained students getting placed in thriving businesses across the country. 

Job Through Core Empoyabilty Training Course

Tajamul Ali is pursuing an online PG Diploma course in Sustainable Rural Development. Based out of Delhi, he has a dream to go back to his native, Kashmir and become part of its development story. Belonging to Wazaa– a family of cooks, cooking isn’t something that soarked his imagination. One thing led to another and his journey landed him in Delhi. Currenly, Tajamul is working as a Sales Representative in New Delhi with Zara, a multi-national retail clothing chain making a monthly earning of Rs 24,000.

Tajamul visits the STeP centre whenever he feels the need of company of friends.

Employment opportunities at his native, Kashmir doesn’t present themselves with many viable options. It was during one of his long walks that he thoroughly enjoys that he decided to come to Delhi to give his life a different direction. As destiny and determination would have it, he came across a pamphlet of STeP and without wasting any time, got himself enrolled into our core employability training course.

After 3 months of regular classes on core skills and a few interviews later, through our placement cell, he found himself in a position to send money back home. Fihgitng loneliness, he quotes the philosopher, Aristotle, “Man is by nature a social animal. Nights gets especially hard in a city like Delhi since I am a mountain person used to clean air and company of family. But to reach somewhere, for sometime, we have to leave something else behind. I hope these sacrifices make complete sense one day and I go back to Kashmir to serve my people there. Till then, this job and this life is my gateway to freedom and security.”

Categories
Women Empowerment

Can Tailoring Course Boost Women Livelihood?

Women of India
Women of India

In India, women form an integral part of the workforce, with a total of 149.8 million female workers. Among them, 121.8 million are in rural areas, and 28.0 million are in urban areas. Within the female workforce, 35.9 million work as cultivators, and 61.5 million are agricultural laborers. Additionally, 8.5 million are engaged in the household industry and 43.7 million fall under the category of other workers. The work participation rate for women, according to the 2011 Census, is 25.51 percent, slightly lower than 25.63 percent in 2001.

Skills and knowledge play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and social development in any nation. A country’s economy becomes more productive, innovative, and competitive when it has a skilled workforce. Among the workforce, women hold immense potential as vibrant and dynamic individuals, making them invaluable human resources. 

Notably, in India, men spend an average of 4.5 hours per day on social life and leisure, while women devote only 3.9 hours. This highlights the urgent need to empower women by providing them with basic opportunities and developing their self-sufficiency skills.

Importance of Skill Development for Women

Given the circumstances, it is crucial to impart skills to women for their overall development and the progress of the country. The National Skill Development Initiative aims to empower individuals by enhancing their skills, knowledge, and qualifications, enabling them to access employment opportunities and ensuring India’s competitiveness in the global market.

Recognizing the role of education, particularly Vocational Education, the Indian education system plays a significant part in equipping women with the necessary knowledge and skills, thereby contributing to national progress and economic growth.

If we talk about skill development training programs, they have proven to be transformative for women, equipping them with valuable vocational skills and enhancing their employability by imparting knowledge and expertise in tailoring, these programs enable women to become financially self-reliant and contribute actively to their families and communities. According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in India, skill training has the potential to increase women’s wages by 20-25%.

Women empowerment through tailoring and fashion has emerged as a powerful force for social change, and several NGOs have been working tirelessly to uplift women and change their status in society. These organizations recognize the transformative impact of skill development and entrepreneurship in the fashion industry. One example is-

Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)

SEWA has been a pioneer in empowering women through various initiatives, including its tailoring and fashion programs. They provide training, mentorship, and access to resources for women to become skilled tailors and artisans. SEWA also helps these women form cooperatives and market their products locally and globally.

By promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship in the fashion industry, SEWA has transformed the lives of countless women, elevating their social status and empowering them to support themselves and their families.

Impact on Lives Through Women Livelihood

The initiatives undertaken by nonprofits have had a profound impact on the status of women in society. By imparting tailoring and fashion skills, they have empowered women to break free from traditional gender roles, enabling them to contribute economically and gain respect within their communities. The women who have undergone training have become successful entrepreneurs, fashion designers, and leaders in their respective fields, inspiring other women and challenging societal stereotypes.

Moreover, these initiatives have provided women with a platform to express their creativity, preserve traditional arts and crafts, and participate actively in the fashion industry. Through exhibitions, fashion shows, and online platforms, these women showcase their talents and gain recognition for their craftsmanship. This recognition not only enhances their self-esteem but also challenges societal perceptions about women’s capabilities, leading to a shift in attitudes and gender norms.

Smile Foundation and Women Livelihood

We at Smile, through our Swabhiman programme aim to enhance the self-esteem and women livelihood opportunities by providing them with vocational training in various fields, including tailoring and fashion. Through this programme, Smile Foundation equips women with the necessary skills to become self-reliant and economically independent. The training programs offered under Swabhiman not only impart technical skills but also focus on building their confidence, enhancing their communication abilities, and fostering entrepreneurship.

Categories
Education

How Does Childhood Trauma Shape Our Lives

Education Helps Us Live Longer: Role of Education
Education Helps Us Live Longer

“All grown up were once children…but only a few of them remember it.”

– The Little Prince, Antoine de  Saint-Exupery 

Childhood molds and shapes a person. Children are innocent creatures who are blissfully unaware of the ways of the world. They absorb and learn from the experiences they are subjected to; they learn from the people around them, the friendships they form, their caregivers, relatives, and every other interaction they have with anyone. Childhood, being a part of our lives that we might not remember entirely, shapes us in the most crucial ways.  

What is Childhood Trauma?

Childhood trauma refers to an event or multiple instances that a child faces that result in distress, pain, or sadness. It is termed trauma since it often leaves an enduring effect on the child. Traumatic experiences may lead to the development of unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Childhood trauma ranges from physical assault to emotional abuse and even witnessing a violent event. Children tend to form traumatic stress over time and it may continue into adulthood.  

Child traumatic stress occurs when a child subjected to one or more traumatic events develops habits and coping mechanisms that impede their day-to-day activities even after the event has passed. When reminded of the event they show signs of depression, behavioral changes, anxiety, difficulty in managing emotions and forming relationships, ruined sleeping and eating schedule, and physical symptoms among others. These signs are extreme to the level that hinders the ability to perform day-to-day tasks.  

Children tend to develop unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, and substance abuse in order to cope with their trauma. And these signs, if not treated on time, develop into adulthood and majorly shapes one’s habits and lifestyle.  

What are the symptoms of Childhood Trauma?

Trauma induces both physical and psychological symptoms in a person. A person may develop a variety of symptoms in response to a traumatic event, and they differ for every person. Some of the symptoms of  childhood trauma are – 

  • Numbness to emotions or pain  
  • Depression  
  • Anxiety  
  • A major change in sleep schedules – experiencing sleep paralysis, terrors, and nightmares  5. Fatigue and constant exhaustion  
  • Panic attacks  
  • Psycho-somatization  
  • Low-self esteem  
  • Difficulty in forming relationships 
  • Dissociation 

How Childhood Trauma Can Shape A Person

Every person is different and the severity of trauma depends on each individual – how they react, the habits they develop, do they remember it or not, all vary from person to person. Broadly it is dependent on the external environment, an individual’s psychological or physical state, history, or where one stands presently. 

A person’s identity is molded and shaped throughout his life. From childhood to old age, and everything in between, accumulated forms a person’s identity. Developmental trauma usually diverts the trajectory of brain development and poses an impediment to one’s growth and development, and the earlier the mind bruises, the more severe the effect is.  

Trauma experienced during childhood majorly impacts what the child grows into. For instance, if a child was neglected by his/her parents, as an adult, he/she may develop high walls around them. The child may grow up to be independent and may find it difficult to rely on others. Or when a child’s feelings are not taken into consideration, they are not heard out at their home, an adult may find it hard to express themselves, and they may have difficulty integrating emotions.  

A constant search for validation in relationships, not being able to form meaningful relationships with others, self-derogatory remarks, and abandonment issues, among several other things are all that an individual attains as an adult due to childhood trauma.  

There also exist some people who react to childhood trauma by forgetting about it. It remains a dark memory secured in their mind that they are unable to remember. These people often say that a part of their childhood is missing from them. For them, identity is compromised since a huge part of their childhood memories remains missing.  

Healing the Soul  

People may not be able to understand why they are the way they are until later in life. Childhood trauma has damaging effects on a child that persist into adulthood. Children are sensitive beings that need to be protected, trauma can make significant cracks in a child’s identity and it takes time and care to mend them.  

It is imperative to provide people with a safe environment where they can talk about their childhood and how it has affected it. Since, when a child loses faith in their caregivers, the people whom a person looks up to naturally, they need somewhere to go, they need to be provided a space where they are understood and sympathized with.  

Some therapy techniques in order to curb childhood trauma are – 

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy  
  • Somatic experiencing  
  • Narrative therapy  
  • Psychoeducation  
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing  
  • Meditation  
  • Yoga 

Promoting professional therapy and working towards destigmatizing the concept of therapy is vital in order to help individuals. Every person deserves to be loved and understood, even more so when as a  child they were unable to receive that. There is nothing wrong with seeking help from others; ignoring the problem will never help.  

Overcoming childhood trauma is a long process that requires handling oneself with care. It is important to understand that something that has persisted over time does not vanish overnight and requires patience to overcome. With the right mindset and help, one can surely overcome their trauma, one step at a time. 

Smile Foundation and Children

Smile Foundation through its flagship programme, Mission Education (ME) is helping children from underserved backgrounds lead a life of dignity with accessible quality education at its 240 Mission Education centres across India. Help us make education reach children by making a donation here.

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Partners In Change

CSR Partnership: The Drive to Economically Empower Underserved Youth and Support Nation Building

CSR Partnership: The Drive to Economically Empower Underprivileged Youth and Support Nation Building

Corporate social responsibility, commonly known as CSR, gained momentum in the 1960s is today the ‘part and parcel’ of strategic decision-making for many corporates and SMEs. The endeavor of participating in social welfare initiatives and activities that benefit society by the corporate and business community has been shaping India’s bright future.

The government of India has been implementing various programs and schemes for the upliftment of socially and economically backward communities. But only government initiatives cannot alone solve India’s big poverty problem. Corporate social responsibility mandates and supplements government endeavors for social upliftment.

Organisations through CSR not only help in nation-building but also position themselves as socially conscious brand in the process. 

Why are CSR Partnerships Important for Smile Foundation’s Work?

Smile Foundation, since 2001, is actively involved in a multitude of activities directed towards the economic, social, and moral upliftment of underserved communities in India, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, women empowerment, and skill development. Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) is the nonprofit’s initiative in creating livelihood opportunities for underserved youth through dedicated skill development and employment-centric programs.

Smile Foundation has been creating avenues for CSR partnerships, partnering with socially-conscious organisations to change India’s economic and social landscape. Under its STeP program, the nonprofit has trained over 90000 youth and facilitated the placement of 56000 in over 400 respectable brands across India. The majority of the beneficiaries are women. With CSR partners in this program, the figures can be rapidly raised further, especially when the nation has the youngest demographic in the world and is hungry to start contributing to making India one of the strongest economies in the world.

The STeP Training Program

What do employers look for in an employee? Skill sets related to the industry and a ‘ready-to-deliver’ attitude! The majority of the youth population of India currently lacks both, thus widening the gap between the demand and supply of skilled human power in myriad industry segments.

Smile Foundation’s STeP program is directed towards equipping the youth of India from the underserved sections of society with the required skill sets and employment-centric qualities, making them easily employable in sectors ranging from retail, and hospitality to BPO. The nonprofit’s aim is to create a pool of ‘ready-to-deliver’ talents, trained to meet the employers’ criteria perfectly and immediately. Through this program, Smile Foundation is committed to bridging the gap between demand and supply of skilled human power.

STeP program encompasses the following:

    • Skill enhancement in sync with market requirements
    • Proficiency in English
    • Basic computer education
    • Soft skills training (personality development and grooming, communication skill enhancement, etc.)
    • Curriculum for retail and basic management
    • General Duty Assistant (GDA) Course
    • BFSI Training
    • Digital Marketing Skills
    • BPO
    • Employer engagement sessions
    • Industry exposure visits

    Why STeP as an Avenue for CSR Partnership?

    Half of India’s graduates are unemployable according to a recent study. With illiteracy and unemployment affecting the general youth in general and underserved youth in particular, India still has a long way to go in achieving overall economic growth. The key reason behind such an alarmingly poor figure is a lack of skilled knowledge, a figure that can be improved upon greatly if the country collectively puts useful and advanced resources into skilling its youth.

    Today, CSR is a part of most organisations business model, textured into its value system – of creating a positive impact in society while doing business. Partnering with Smile Foundation, organisations can deliver impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals, especially in economically empowering the youth. Organisations supporting the STeP program as a CSR partner will help create a big pool of employable underserved youth across India. Not only will they facilitate the livelihood of thousands and lakhs of youth but also contribute a big way towards shaping India’s growth story. 

    The Success of the STeP Program Depends on Valuable CSR Partnerships

    Retail Management, Healthcare, BFSI, Digital Marketing, and BPO are five of the fastest-growing sectors in India. So is the increasing requirement for soft-skilled human power. CSR partnerships can go a long way in economically empowering more youth across India.

    By creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and enhancing employment prospects, the STeP CSR partnership program can empower the youth. The higher the number of CSR partners for this initiative, the faster will be the economic prosperity of the nation. Our livelihood program is aligned with the state’s Skill India Mission and Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 8 (SDG 4 & 8) related to sections on skill development and economic empowerment.

    Categories
    Girl Child

    Educate a Girl, Educate a Nation!

    Educate a Girl, Educate a Nation

    “When you educate a man, you educate an individual and when you educate a woman, you educate an entire family.”

    This declaration is multi-faceted— an educated woman has the self-confidence, skills as well as intelligence to understand the need to be a better human, professional, family member, and mother to make a progressive nation. Education is the only tool with which a girl or a woman can empower herself and eventually her family and community.

    India holds a strong focus and dedication to educating all children, especially the girl child. By declaring education as a fundamental right, India ensures constitutional provisions for providing free and compulsory education to all children between 6 to 14 years of age. This programme by the Government of India introduced as the 86th Amendment to the Constitution of India is widely known as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan aimed at the universalisation of Elementary education “in a time-bound manner”.

    When Families Turn Against The Girl Child

    Even after declaring education as a fundamental right, there are numerous hurdles that prohibit a girl child from actually getting an education. The biggest hurdle is the prejudices that families have about girls— like girls are slow learners, they are not rational; they are to be confined inside the domestic household, so why bother educating them?

    Only a handful of people have actually realized the importance of educating a girl. Though not a direct cause, the infamous and still prevailing dowry system is also another barrier to girl child education. Families often think of a girl as a burden and often want to save the money for their dowry rather than spend it on her education.

    Girls Are No Less

    A girl is no less than a boy; if anything, they are all the more diligent, hardworking, and consistent in their effort towards anything. A girl should be educated in order to ensure a better life for herself. If she is empowered she would be in a condition to add on the income of the family and raise the living condition of her family.

    As goes the saying from the Rig Veda, “The home has, verily, its foundation in the wife.” An educated mother can give better care to her children. Since she is the first teacher of the child, her education will make her well-versed to inculcate a good value system in her child. An uneducated mother might not understand the idea of proper hygiene and sanitation leading to a lack of proper care for herself and the child. Malnourishment is a living example of this problem.

    Important Interventions for Girl Child Education

    The government of India has initiated various programmes and policies to ensure that a girl does not miss out on any opportunity of getting an education. After independence, the government set up a National Committee on Women’s Education in 1958, and it recommended that female education should be at par with male education. In the year 1964, the Education Commission was set up, which largely talked about focusing on educating the girl child. The government came up with the ‘New Education Policy’ in the year 1968, which focused on overall education in both rural and urban areas. The policy has undergone important revisions in its 2020 version.

    ‘Mahila Samakhya Programme’ is a programme that comes under the New Education Policy and was formed in the year 1988. This particular programme focuses on the empowerment of women who belong to the marginalised group.

    The National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) was started in 2003 to ensure access to education for girls who could not benefit from the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Under this scheme model schools have been set up and it covers 24 states.

    Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme was launched in 2004 in order to provide primary-level education to girls. The scheme was specially designed for underprivileged girls in the rural areas.

    It’s About A Mindset Change

    Even after so many programmes and policies of the government, we are still lagging behind in providing education to the girl child. The problem here is not in implementation but in the level of commitment of people in general.

    Until we create awareness amongst people about the benefits of women education, all these programmes would not bring about the desired result. We fail to understand that men and women are two sides of the same coin— a girl is as much a part of society as a boy. They are both the futures of tomorrow. They both need to be given equal opportunities for the wholesome growth of the nation. 

    This fight against the two sexes is inconsequential. When God did not make us unequal then who are humans to make that difference? Rather than looking at it as an opportunity to subjugate our girls and women, let’s look at this through the lens of two parts of a puzzle that complete each other peacefully. Men too do better when women are empowered. A world without the gentleness of women would be a bleak place to live in. Let us give our girl children a chance to show their capabilities and live their dreams by being thoughtful and making small but meaningful donations for them.

    Categories
    Women Empowerment

    Women Empowerment and Gender Justice in India

    Women Empowerment and Gender Justice in India

    Women empowerment and gender equality are two terms that have become pronounced in boardrooms, global summits, and even the panchayats of villages in India. But what do they stand for? What exactly do they mean?

    It is commonly misunderstood that women empowerment is limited to giving women the freedom to vote, study, work, and become self-sufficient while gender equality is about considering women equal to men and providing them with the same rights as men.

    These two terms are short yet they cover a wider and deeper set of challenges that women deal with on a daily basis. This not only affects women at a personal level but the entire world at all– physical, social, psychological, and economic levels. 

    Telling Reports About Women’s Position

    The world is progressing towards achieving gender equality but the pace is deeply concerning. At the current rate of progress, it may take another 286 years to remove discriminatory laws and close prevailing gaps in legal protections
    for women and girls, says a recent UN report.

    As per a report by World Economic Forum, the world economy loses $12 trillion every year due to gender inequality and the violence that women face. The resources and energy spent on preventing violence against could be utilized in making a more sustainable civilization, if violence against women did not exist.

    This, sadly, isn’t the case. Even though more women-focused and friendly laws and cultural spaces are being constructed every day, the present world is far from being a women-friendly space. In India itself, while the GDP rate was between 6-7% in the last decade, the participation of women in labour force reduced from 30% (in 2001) to 24% (in 2022), as per World Bank.

    Women empowerment, gender equality, and gender justice are definite ways to tackle known challenges like child marriage, domestic violence, rape, murder, dowry, etc. The current world order also needs to address the pay gap, workplace mental violence, social and cultural injustice, and legal rights to work and hold property.

    As per World Economic Forum, globally, 33,000 girls are married before they turn 18; women are 47% more likely to get severely injured in a car injury because the car safety features are designed for men. Women spend 40 billion hours on unpaid labour in doing domestic chores.

    Fewer than a third of UN member states have ever had a woman leader, says a report. If women are not in prime decision-making roles, the gender lens is never going to shift towards women and the policies are still going to be male-centered. For solid interventions to happen on the ground, robust policies envisioned by strong women leaders need to be in place first.

    Self-employed: Reorienting Happiness

    India and Facts Related to Our Women:

    • Women are paid 1/3rd of the men for the same or more work.
    • More than 23 million girls drop out of school every year due to the absence of toilets and a lack of awareness about menstruation.
    • Girls belonging to families of the top 20% receive an average of 9 years of education, most girls in the lower strata never even step inside a classroom.
    • Over 8 million girls were aborted in just a decade (Census 2011)
    • Women in India hold only 20% of the total bank deposits
    • When a woman is raped or becomes a victim of acid attack or dowry-related violence or honour killing, the culprit gets life imprisonment or a death sentence in the rarest of rare cases. Even this takes decades to serve justice to the victim who may never recover from the pain of the atrocities she is subjected to. In the case of life imprisonment, the culprit is free after serving 14 years in prison, sometimes even less.

    Planning To Reach Mars! Why not Gender Equality?

    Gender justice is still a big question mark for a world that aims to settle the first human colony on Mars by 2024.

    From fighting for the right to vote during suffrage to fighting for the right to their very body in the 21st century, women across all ages, geographies, and eras have faced and overcome the unthinkable. From developing the theory of radioactivity to being a crucial part of discovering the DNA, women have engrained their achievements in every field when given the chance.

    It All Begins At Home

    In order to truly empower women, our country and the world need to work harder in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of gender equality by 2030. Gender equality, gender justice, women empowerment, women’s safety – all of these begin at home and in the community.

    Inculcating behavioural change towards girls and women in their communities, sensitising boys as they grow up towards girls, and promoting equality between a girl and a boy child is the starting line of the journey to make the world a liveable place for women.

    You can make a difference in the life of lakhs of marginalised women in India by making a donation to Smile Foundation’s women empowerment programme, Swabhiman. 

    Categories
    In The Spotlight

    Remembering the Masterclass in Storytelling by Ruskin Bond and Khyrunnisa A.

    Masterclass in storytelling by Ruskin Bond and Khyrunnisa A.

    Each student dreams of learning from the best. Where writing is concerned, who can be better teachers than the legendary Ruskin Bond and the extremely talented Khyrunnisa A ? Both masters of their art form have been writing stories for children for a long time. Back in 2021, Smile Foundation partnered with ParentOf to bring to children a masterclass on storytelling by Ruskin Bond and Khyrunnisa A.

    The online masterclass was held on the evening of 27th November 2021. It saw the participation of more than 2,000 children. Among them, 700 are associated with Smile Foundation. The event truly had a phenomenal response. 

    The total outreach for the event crossed almost 1,00,000! The session was scheduled for about an hour. But it was so interesting and engaging that it went on for almost two hours!

    Everyone’s Favourite: Ruskin Bond

    A lot of us have grown up reading the stories of Ruskin Bond. His descriptions of beautiful hills and valleys have awakened the fancy of many children reading his stories. Thus, an opportunity to learn from the master himself was something that many children looked forward to.

    It was a pleasure for all the participants to interact with their beloved author. And the children were bursting with questions for Mr. Bond to answer. One child asked an interesting question: ‘What is your favourite genre for story writing?’ To this, he promptly answered that although he writes a mix of many genres, he would love to write a simple, endearing love story.

    Khyrunnisa: A Source of Many Childhood Memories

    For most of us growing up in India, Tinkle might have been among the first few things we ever read for pleasure. Author Khyrunnisa A. is one of the prominent children’s authors who have contributed to Tinkle. In fact, she has written many other anthologies and stories for children, mainly featuring the character named Butterfingers.

    Khyrunnisa was the other mentor for the masterclass. And what a wonderful job she did! Children asked her a ton of questions, all pertaining to how to go about creating and writing a story. Someone asked, ‘What comes first: the plot or the character?’ The expert acclaimed author answered all the questions with enthusiasm.

    She also conducted a 45-min workshop on how to write a humorous story. After explaining the various facets of conceptualizing such a story, she even asked the children to start working on one. Over the course of the workshop, all the children managed to draft the outline of a humorous story. Any questions they had were put in the Q&A box and promptly answered by Khyrunnisa.’

    What the Children Took Back from the Masterclass

    Learning from the greats turned out to be a huge learning experience for the children. They got to interact with the writers whose books they read religiously. Moreover, they even got a chance to implement their learnings as well. The masterclass on storytelling by Ruskin Bond and Khyrunnisa A. was a huge success. All the participating students are now looking forward to the next storytelling session.

    Categories
    Smile

    Education: The Strong Foundation Our Future Needs

    Education: The strong foundation our future needs

    Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
    -Nelson Mandela

    Education and knowledge building are the most important tools we humans have at our disposal, that has helped us to remain at the forefront of technology, and innovations since the beginning of time – Education! 

    Transferring the wealth of knowledge, gained over the centuries by humanity, as a whole has led to constant inventions, and plays an important role, in shaping the individual, and the world as we know it today.

     

    At the core level, it helps an individual in forming opinions and a point of view. It is essential for an individual to possess a skill, that helps them earn a living in today’s world, and the right to acquire this skill is a basic right, that shouldn’t be denied. In this way, a person can live independently and truly enjoy freedom. It also helps an individual, to make decisions based on a correct, and calculated evaluation of the things, thereby fostering a more civil society. 

    Children are the future and should be taught to protect the earth, from the harms that mankind has brought upon it. Education is also a way to bring people from different cultures together, and help people understand each other better thereby promoting social harmony and peace. 

    An educated person earning an honest living is welcomed and respected in society, and this is something we should all strive to achieve. Education builds character and boosts creativity, and good people, make a good world in the long run.

     

    Individuals make up a society, and a society made up of educated individuals is bound to have access to better lifestyles. Countries with higher rates of literacy and access to high-quality education have higher employment rates, better technologies, and prosperous economies. 

    A good education system is the backbone of society. Without it, countries may cripple, and economic growth stagnates. Educated individuals are better equipped to make political decisions, that will shape the nation for a better, and prosperous future.

     

    An educated society also overcomes social evil discriminations like gender inequality. Women are half of the available workforce in the world, and bringing them to the forefront would double the progress and ease the burden on the current workforce.

     

    The leaders of tomorrow are shaped and inspired today, and it is our responsibility to help them learn and grow. It is our duty to educate grassroots communities about the importance of educating their children. 

    At the end of the day, education truly is the investment that pays the best interest. In 2019, we should all make it a point to help in this endeavor of spreading knowledge for the betterment of mankind. Every little drop counts in this ocean. It starts with a single child. It starts with you and me.

    Categories
    Insights

    Empowering Grassroots: Strengthening the base of the socio-economic pyramid in India

    Empowering Grassroots: Strengthening the base of the socio-economic pyramid in India

    The growth of the non-profit sector in India in the last two decades has been phenomenal. India has possibly the largest number of active non-government, not-for-profit organizations in the world. Official estimates put the number at 3.3 million. 

    From relief services to educational initiatives, healthcare projects to housing organizations, grassroots NGOs work in numerous spheres which touch the daily lives of marginalized communities across the country. Engaging directly with the people, these NGOs are able to participate in the thought-making process of the communities they work with, and thus have the capacity to bring about long-term change. The sector has had a substantial contribution in the nation building process.

    But accelerated development soon reaches a stagnant point if it is not sustainable. Ensuring sustainability of initiatives requires a reorientation of NGOs focusing on their capacity building to attain competitiveness. This is not an easy transition, requiring NGOs to rethink and reform their programme designs, planning, fund mobilization, fund management, and effective programme delivery. 

    There is also a need to guide these NGOs to be able to identify and adapt with the changing national and global socio-political and economic developments which affect them. To equip and facilitate grassroots NGOs in the country to address these issues and eventually aim at achieving sustainable development at the grassroots and community level, Smile Foundation initiated Empowering Grassroots in 2002.

    A national capacity building programme, Empowering Grassroots is aimed at handholding, training and enabling social initiatives to maximize their impact on the ground. Under ‘Empowering Grassroots’ initiative, social initiatives are trained on vital issues relevant to the development sector in the country like scalability, sustainability, communication, resource mobilization and governance by industry experts from reputed Indian and international organizations. 

    Handholding meetings and face to face learning sessions are held round the year to help the social initiatives effectively resolve their day to day operational challenges, helping achieve the highest social return on investment (SROI).

    Empowering Grassroots is not only an effort to strengthen the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid in India, but also an attempt to bring transparency and accountability in the workings of the development sector at the grassroots level. So far, Smile Foundation has built the capacities of 437 national and international social initiatives under the Empowering Grassroots initiative.

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