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Author: Smile Editorial Team

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In The Spotlight Partners In Change

Principals Meet Online to Discuss Best Practices in Blended Teaching and Learning

Principals Meet Online to Discuss Best Practices in Blended Teaching and Learning

“Schools to be reopened,“ screams one newspaper headline. “Students from IXth upwards to start school twice a week,” declares another. “Third corona wave to be amongst children as they are the non-vaccinated group”, announces a third one. Amid this, one is left wondering whether blended teaching and learning is successful or not.

 

These kind of headlines and news articles leave school communities in a quandary. They are forced to question their own COVID SOPs for the nth time. Principles and teachers are still going back to their drawing boards to brainstorm and figure out the way forward. This includes education, learning, and the entire business of it all.

 

Child for Child’s ‘Best Practices’ digital mee

 

A teacher using online mode of teaching.

 

This background highlights the consternation amongst the school fraternity. The Child for Child programme decided to connect with as many heads of schools as possible. The purpose was to bring them on a common platform and arrive at some semblance of sanity about the way forward for education. The topic for the online principals meet was “Best practices followed by schools in blended form of learning and teaching”. This theme resonated very well with how the world views the future of education. It also covers how schools can prepare for the future, keeping a mix of online and offline elements in both teaching and learning.

 

Insights on blending teaching and learning

 

Principals were invited from across different regions. They all helped get an understanding of how different schools were dealing with the COVID situation. Apart from this, they shared their preparation for welcoming students and teachers back to school. They all initially shared insights from a year of blended learning and teaching during the pandemic. The past one year has brought immense learnings for every member of the school fraternity. Teachers, principals, students, and their parents are currently more comfortably placed. They are far better skilled digitally and have also procured devices and gadgets that facilitate education almost seamlessly.

 

Teachers are better placed when it comes to dealing with “zoom bombers”, absentees, off videos, and inattentive students. Children have also accepted digital classrooms with gusto. They have become more disciplined and adept at submitting their assignments while managing their friends in the chat rooms. Parents are also more aware and more comfortable with online learning after a year. Their presence during classes has reduced, their misgivings are addressed more quickly. Now they have accepted that digital is here to stay in some form or the other. Even the school staff started going to school after getting vaccinated to maintain the infrastructure. They are playing a key role in planning the reopening of schools.

 

Dealing with a pandemic

 

With all these key elements in place, the discussions veered towards managing schools and education seamlessly amidst a pandemic. Apart from COVID, education also gets disrupted for reasons like school closure due to pollution or an outbreak of a vector-borne disease! It emerged that the blended teaching and learning model could continue even if schools were to reopen fully. Elements of digital education would be integrated in mainstream education.

 

Dr Kusum Kanwar, a participating principal
Dr Kusum Kanwar, a participating principal

The participating principals talked at length about how the school fraternity had risen to the challenge of the pandemic. They have adopted new-gen technology and adapted to the unprecedented situation in an unbelievably short time period. The teachers have put in a lot of hard work. And the tech teams have managed to put together an ecosystem for flawless teaching and learning.

Some schools are now designated as Microsoft-supported schools to maximise the use of MS teams.

Mr. Baljinder, Principal of Dayanand Model School, Nakodar, Punjab, was of the view that the pandemic actually helped his school. They began looking into innovative ways of learning and teaching. For instance, they adopted gamification and used educational apps for certain lessons. They plan to continue using these even after schools reopen completely.

 

Paving the way forward

 

Mr. John Bagul, Principal of South City International School, Kolkata

All principals stated that when schools adopt the New Education Policy, they would benefit from the blended teaching and learning methodology. Although it arose due to the pandemic, it ended up removing unnecessary clutter from daily lessons and improved the useful.

It was noted that completely online setup also comes with drawbacks. In the offline mode, children learn a lot from being present on school premises. They get to interact with their teachers and friends and can also make effective use of the in-campus sports infrastructure.

Mr. John Bagul, Principal of South City International School, Kolkata, mentioned that his school was using Promethean Interactive Whiteboards. They had encrypted security. The school also focuses a lot on mental well-being of everyone to ensure that students do not become socially awkward during the time spent away from home.

 

International School Fraternity

 

There were a few heads of institutions from Indonesia and Uganda as well. They shared stories of how the COVID situation in their countries had brought school infrastructure to its knees. They also shared their learnings outside the classroom. Dr. Ni Putu Tirka Widanti, President of Yayasan Green School, Bali, Indonesia, gave a virtual tour of her school’s eco-friendly campus. She also shared that her residential students often took many sessions online even pre-pandemic while also picking up from green schooling philosophy of “Learning from Nature”. This blended form of learning helped her school fraternity move completely online without any issue.

 

Smile Foundation showing the way ahead

 

The participants appreciated Smile Foundation for playing the role of a facilitator of such think tanks. The Child for Child team hopes to continue ideating such meets amongst school fraternity. We want to ensure that education continues–online, offline or in a blended form with best practices!

 

The panel discussions  were not only riveting to listen to but there was also a huge amount of learning for the principals and heads of institutions from each other during the meet. They reiterated how a blended form of education would be the new way of teaching and learning.

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In The Spotlight

Celebrating International Literacy Day 2021

Celebrating International Literacy Day 2021

International Literacy Day is celebrated on 8 September every year. It reminds the global community about the importance of literacy for everyone, including individuals, communities, and societies. It also aims to push for more intensified efforts towards more literate societies.

 

The first International Literacy Day was celebrated in 1967. It began as an initiative to remind the common people about the importance of literacy to ensure dignity and human rights. A more literate society leads towards a more sustainable society.

 

This day draws attention to the fact that there are still millions of people who struggle to gain literacy even today, let alone receive a formal education. It is meant to create awareness about the importance of literacy, numeracy, and education. These should also be made accessible to those who need it the most.

 

International Literacy Day being celebrated at a Mission Education centre
International Literacy Day being celebrated at a Mission Education centre

Why literacy?

 

As per UNESCO data, at least 773 million adults worldwide lack basic literacy skills. While children’s education and literacy is often at the centre of the discourse, not many people think about literacy for adults. This is equally important for the development of a society and a nation.

 

Literacy is one of the key components of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The target of Goal 4 is to ensure that all young people become literate and achieve numeracy. The adults who lack these skills should also get the opportunity to acquire them.

 

A literate population can open many doors out of poverty and unemployment. It may even open doors for entrepreneurship. Literacy is the first step towards education. Thus, it is futile to undermine the importance of literacy.

 

International Literacy Day celebrations at Smile Foundation’s centre

Theme for International Literacy Day 2021

 

As a result of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme for this year is ‘Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide’. The focus of this theme is to explore opportunities to spread an inclusive and technology-based literacy. It is very important to bridge the digital gap that has surfaced as a result of COVID-19.

 

It is vital to acknowledge that being literate and educated/informed can lead to our personal and professional growth and improve our overall lifestyle. Thus, education is one of the most important aspects of a human being’s development. International Literacy Day 2021 promotes this idea.

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Insights

The Value of Breastfeeding Awareness

The Value of Breastfeeding Awareness

A child’s nutrition is the building block of her future health. It is important to nourish children right from the moment they are born. This is why it is vital to breastfeed children. However, there is a lack of correct information around the benefits of breastfeeding. Thus, breastfeeding awareness campaigns play a key role in educating mothers and community members about the importance of breastfeeding. 

 

The government as well as various non-profits and social development organisations have a number of community mobilisation activities to promote awareness about breastfeeding. 

 

Breastfeeding benefits for the baby 

 

Many new mothers may be unsure about breasfeeding their baby. This is possibly due to a lack of awareness or an overdose of confusing information. However, as per medical professionals and researchers, the benefits of breastfeeding are many.  

 

Breast milk is easily digested by babies and it contains the right amount of nutrients. Moreover, as your baby grows, the breast milk’s composition and quantity also change to suit the baby. 

It is easily available, even when you are on the go. You do not even need to heat it as it is the correct temperature for your baby. 

It helps your child develop immunity against various viruses and bacteria. Thus, babies who breastfeed tend to fall sick less often. Latest studies suggest that lactating mothers who got the COVID-19 vaccine can pass on antibodies to their babies through breast milk. 

Breastfeeding promotes healthy weight gain in babies and also helps prevent childhood obesity. In addition to this, breastfed babies self-regulate their milk intake as they consume only as much as they require. This develops healthy eating patterns. 

Some studies also suggest that babies who are breastfed are smarter and have higher IQs. 

The bond between mother and child is strengthened during breastfeeding. 

 

It helps mothers too! 

 

Elders in the community and family often know about the pros of breastfeeding for the baby. However, very few people are aware about how important and useful it is for the mothers too. Below are a few ways in which it helps mothers. 

 

For many women, breastfeeding helps in losing the extra weight gained during pregnancy. It helps burn calories. 

During breastfeeding, the body releases hormone oxytocin. This helps the uterus to contract and go back to the pre-pregnancy size. 

Mothers who breastfeed are at lesser risk of post-partum depression, which is very common in new mothers. 

Women who breastfeed are at lower risk for many diseases—high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, and breast cancer. 

 

Breastfeeding awareness campaigns are the need of the hour 

 

The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding up to 6 to 24 months. In fact, some research even suggests that a baby should be breastfed as early as one hour after birth. Despite this being such a natural thing, there is a hush-hush attitude about breastfeeding. Due to this taboo, women are afraid to ask the necessary questions to educate themselves.

 

We at Smile Foundation understand the nutrition and health needs of both mother and child. Thus, under our Swabhiman programme, we organise various sessions for underprivileged and at-risk women. For instance, a breastfeeding awareness campaign was recently held in Bengaluru to inform and educate lactating mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding. 

 

The “Innocenti Declaration” was made by the WHO and UNICEF to make lactating mothers aware of the importance of breastfeeding and to revive the good old practice. The declaration states that “all women should be enabled to practice exclusive breastfeeding and all infants should be fed exclusively on breast milk up to 4 to 6 months of age as a global goal for optimal maternal and child health and nutrition”. 

 

Breastfeeding and COVID-19  

 

As the COVID-19 pandemic surged, lactating mothers were concerned about infecting their child in case they got infected. Initially, pregnant and lactating women were not even sure if it was safe for them to take the vaccine.

 

Now, doctors have clarified that COVID-19 does not spread through breast milk. However, mothers must follow all the necessary precautions while feeding their little ones. For instance, they must wash hands before and after touching the baby, wear a mask, disinfect surfaces, and so on.

 

It has also been declared that pregnant and lactating women can take the COVID-19 vaccine without risking the health of their baby.

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In The Spotlight

Teacher’s Day: Celebrating Our Heroes during COVID-19

Teacher’s Day: Celebrating Our Heroes during COVID-19

Teacher’s Day is celebrated every year on 5 September in India. It marks the birth anniversary of Dr S. Radhakrishnan, former president of India. As he was a beloved teacher and a favourite with his students, it was decided that his birthday should be celebrated as Teacher’s Day across the country.

 

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020, everyone was at a loss on how to deal with the situation. Among the worst affected were students and teachers, especially from the vulnerable communities. Unlike those with means and money, these children were left without any way to continue their education. As a result, the contribution of teachers has been vital to ensure that children’s education continues.

 

This Teacher’s Day, Smile Foundation salutes the contribution of teachers in these difficult times.

 

Celebrating innovation on Teacher’s Day

 

Sonali with a student
Sonali with a student

 

Sonali is responsible for teaching the higher classes at a centre for learners with Santhali background. Most of these students are first-generation learners and have a hard time grasping the subjects and topics in the curriculum. Thus, the challenges thrown by COVID threw them for a spin. Learning through online mode was even more difficult for them and was leading to a situation without hope.

 

Sonali belongs to a simple background and had limited knowledge of the Internet. To overcome this, she printed question papers of every subject and class to circulate among the students. Even under total lockdown, she was part of the team of teachers at food distribution centres distributing worksheets along with dry ration.

 

Through sheer determination, Sonali has developed a remote learning centre in all the village sin her area. The teachers here give all the students question papers each week, which they need to complete and bring back the next week. The centres maintain all COVID-19 protocols. Through this initiative, Sonali succeeded in maintaining a learning habit amongst students and also spread awareness about COVID-19 in the community. Sonali has proved to be not only a great teacher but also a change agent of the society.

 

All of us at Smile Foundation salute her grit and determination.

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Insights

Menstrual Hygiene Day: Access to Sanitary Care Remains Uneven

The Road to Health Ministry’s  National Menstrual Hygiene Policy
The Road to Health Ministry’s  National Menstrual Hygiene Policy

Summary

  • Menstrual hygiene in India remains deeply unequal, with limited access and affordability affecting millions of women and girls
  • Gaps in WASH infrastructure, including lack of safe toilets and disposal systems, continue to restrict safe menstrual management
  • Social stigma and silence around menstruation undermine awareness, dignity and informed decision-making
  • Poor menstrual hygiene impacts education, workforce participation and long-term economic outcomes
  • Government efforts exist but face challenges in last-mile delivery and sustained implementation
  • Integrated approaches, including CSR-NGO partnerships like Smile Foundation’s Swabhiman programme, are critical to ensuring access, awareness and dignity at scale

Indian women are steadily making their mark across the globe from entertainment and sports to academia and financial institutions. Yet, their true potential can only be realised when they have unequivocally equal access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities, just as men do in a truly progressive society. This Menstrual Hygiene Day, it is important to pause and reflect on the everyday challenges that still shape how women, especially in rural and remote communities, are able to manage their menstrual hygiene with dignity.

Menstrual Hygiene: A Multilayered Challenge

  • Access and Affordability 

Women and girls in India face significant challenges in accessing menstrual hygiene products. Out of an estimated 350 million women, aged 12-45, only 12% can afford sanitary towels, highlighting a critical affordability gap in menstrual hygiene.

At a basic level, access to sanitary products, appropriate underwear and related essentials remain a transactional challenge, particularly for low income and rural populations.

  • Infrastructure and WASH Gaps 

India’s fight to eradicate menstrual health challenges for young girls and women in India has been a long battle. With multiple policies to enhance menstrual hygiene management, India has been working towards full proof menstrual management for young girls and women. However, the execution of these policies has still been a challenge. Menstrual hygiene management is further constrained by

  • Inadequate WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) infrastructure
  • Lack of safe, private toilets with functional doors
  • Limited access to clean water
  • Inadequate disposal mechanisms for menstrual waste

These challenges are especially pronounced in schools, workplaces, public spaces and health centres, with many rural households still lacking access to toilets altogether.

  • Social Norms and Cultural Barriers

Beyond infrastructure, menstrual hygiene is deeply influenced by social norms and cultural perceptions.

  • Menstruation continues to be viewed as impure or unclean
  • A pervasive culture of silence restricts open conversations
  • Limited awareness impacts both women and men

This environment not only restricts access to information but also undermines the dignity and health of women and girls.

  • Social and Economic Consequences

The implications of poor menstrual hygiene extend beyond health.

  • School absenteeism among girls due to lack of facilities and support
  • Reduced participation in education and workforce
  • Long-term economic implications for individuals and national productivity

Additionally, many girls avoid using public toilets, further restricting their mobility and access to sanitation.

  • Environmental Impact

Even with relatively low usage rates, menstrual waste poses a growing concern.

  • Less than 18% of women use sanitary pads
  • Paradoxically, urban India generates approximately 58 million discarded pads annually

This creates a significant burden of non-biodegradable waste, highlighting the need for sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions.

Managing Menstrual Hygiene in Rural India

Menstrual Hygiene 1

Source: Understanding period product use among young women in rural and urban India from a geospatial perspective

At least 500 million women and girls worldwide still lack access to adequate menstrual hygiene management (MHM) facilities, highlighting a persistent gap in basic dignity and health. In India, the Swachh Bharat Mission has brought MHM into sharper focus by supporting the construction of girl-friendly sanitation facilities and promoting awareness within communities, including among boys and men, to help break long-standing taboos around menstruation.

Globally, similar efforts are gaining ground. In Liberia, the Education Sector Plan integrates MHM and disability-inclusive infrastructure into school and WASH planning. In Ethiopia, school-based WASH programmes prioritise MHM to improve girls’ enrolment and attendance. Together, these initiatives, supported by partnerships between governments and organisations such as the World Bank, are helping elevate MHM from a neglected issue to a national priority.

Beyond Health: The Cost of Poor Menstrual Hygiene 

Menstrual hygiene is closely linked to education, dignity and economic participation. When addressed holistically, it enables girls and women to stay in school, access opportunities and lead healthier lives.

However, on ground experience across rural and tribal communities highlights a few common and persistent barriers that extend beyond access alone. Deep rooted social norms often create mistrust towards external interventions. Conservation around menstruation remains limited and unfamiliar service providers are not always readily accepted, restricting timely access to essential care and information.

  • Dropping out of school

Infrastructure gaps further compound the issue. The absence of clean, safe and private sanitation facilities in schools continue to impact adolescent girls disproportionately, often leading to absenteeism or permanent dropouts at critical stages in their education.

  • Lack of reproductive health agency

Equally significant is the lack of agency around reproductive and menstrual health. Many women and girls do not have access to reliable information or the freedom to make informed choices about menstrual products and practices. This limits their ability to manage their health with dignity and confidence.

  • Lack of emergency preparedness 

Recent crises like the pandemics or natural disasters, further exposed the vulnerabilities faced by women. Disruptions in supply chains, restricted mobility and financial strain reduces access to essential menstrual hygiene products and management, reinforcing the existing inequalities. These challenges underline the urgent need to integrate menstrual health into emergency preparedness and ensure continuity of care in uncertain times.

As highlighted by UNICEF and Indian constitution, menstrual hygiene is a fundamental right and bringing this in full effect for every female in India, sustainable community engagement is required to strengthen infrastructure and collaborative efforts that place dignity, awareness and accessibility at the centre of focused menstrual health interventions.

Role of the government

The Ministry of Health and Family introduced the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme under the National Health Mission’s Menstrual Hygiene Management Programme, to improve awareness, expand access to affordable sanitary napkins and promote safe disposal practices.

However, the impact has been limited. The scheme envisioned distributing sanitary napkins across 107 districts while enabling self help groups to produce and sell low cost pads (under Rs 8 per pack) in an additional 45 districts, but due to inconsistent supply and weak last mile delivery, the action plan couldn’t be implemented to its full potential.

And this is where CSR-NGO Partnerships can come into the picture to execute the government’s action plan.

Menstrual Hygiene 2

Source : The Times of India

Promoting women’s menstrual health with Smile

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) cannot be viewed as sanitation alone. For millions of women and girls it is closely tied to dignity, bodily autonomy and their ability to access, education, work and wider life opportunities. Addressing MHM, therefore, is fundamental to advance gender equality in a meaningful and sustained way.

As guided by the World Bank, the efforts to strengthen the MHM agenda must include technical expertise, data-driven insights and ecosystem building efforts which can be achieved through targeted  partnerships for women’s health. One such example in India, is Swabhiman by Smile Foundation. With over two decades of grassroots engagement and 400+ partnerships, Smile Foundation has reached more than 1.90 lakh women and girls in FY 2024–25 alone.

Through its Swabhiman programme, the organisation combines health, nutrition, and livelihood support delivering integrated maternal and adolescent healthcare through lifecycle approach, ensuring the young girls and women of rural communities of India, can access, avail and afford menstrual hygiene with ease and for long term.

1. Why is Menstrual Health Day important for global development?

Menstrual Health Day highlights the link between menstrual hygiene, dignity, education, and economic participation. It drives global awareness and encourages multi-sectoral action to ensure women and girls can manage menstruation safely and without barriers.

2. What are the key barriers to menstrual hygiene in India?

Limited access to menstrual hygiene products, inadequate WASH infrastructure, affordability constraints and deep-rooted social stigma collectively restrict women’s ability to manage menstruation safely and with dignity.

3. How does access to menstrual hygiene products impact girls’ education?

Reliable access to menstrual hygiene products reduces school absenteeism and dropout rates. When girls can manage menstruation safely, they are more likely to attend school consistently and participate fully in academic and social environments.

4. How can CSR partnerships strengthen menstrual health outcomes?

CSR-NGO partnerships can improve last-mile delivery of menstrual hygiene products, strengthen community engagement, and enable behaviour change interventions—ensuring sustainable, scalable menstrual health solutions in underserved regions.

5. Why is Menstrual Health Day relevant for corporate stakeholders?

Menstrual Health Day offers an opportunity for organisations to align ESG and CSR strategies with gender equity goals, supporting initiatives that improve access, awareness and infrastructure for menstrual hygiene management at scale.

6. What role do menstrual hygiene products play in economic empowerment?

Access to affordable menstrual hygiene products enables women to participate consistently in the workforce, reducing productivity losses and supporting long-term economic inclusion, particularly in rural and low-income communities.

7. How can Menstrual Health Day drive behaviour change at the community level?

Through targeted campaigns, Menstrual Health Day helps normalise conversations, reduce stigma, and promote informed choices creating an enabling environment where women and girls can adopt safe and hygienic menstrual practices.

8. What makes menstrual hygiene a multi-sectoral development issue in India?

Menstrual hygiene intersects with health, education, gender equality, and sanitation. Ensuring access to menstrual hygiene products, awareness and infrastructure is critical to achieving inclusive and sustainable development outcomes in India.

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Insights

The Importance of Education

The Importance of Education

We live in a world where the importance of education is on a constant rise. In today’s world, educated and skilled individuals have better conditions and more successful lives. A good education is necessary for every individual to move forward in life and to earn respect in society. The job market is also focused on hiring freshers who have knowledge in specific fields. A lack of good education not only affects their life but the overall development of the country too. Every educated individual focuses on how and what to do for the betterment of society and the nation.

 

If students educate themselves at the right stages of life, it will improve their chances of reaching long-term goals. Value education plays a big part in dictating their betterment and their social status in future. If we educate children well and train them in a specific field, it will help them build a successful life. Children can follow their dreams with the aid of proper education.

 

Cons of lacking education

 

Uneducated people can never be fully aware of their responsibilities towards other human beings and to the world as a whole. As humans, we have to give back to the society we live in and make it a better place for everyone to live in. Proper education teaches a person to think beyond their personal interests. It also helps them develop the ability to make the world a happier, safer place for the next generation.

 

One of the key points of importance of education today stems from the fact that diverse skills provide greater opportunities for creativity in the workforce. Technology has changed the face of education. With this, students can use digital advancements to gain a holistic understanding of their chosen field of interest. They also learn to develop an awareness of the prevailing issues and contribute to improving it.

 

Mission Education showing the importance of education for all

 

Mission Education is one such programme of Smile Foundation. It is committed to providing basic education and healthcare to underprivileged children to help follow their dreams. With quality education and innovative learning for many children in different regions, we support the betterment of their life.

 

This pandemic brought many challenges in the education, teaching, and learning process. During this period, lots of underprivileged children have not been able to get access to good education and learning process. This is because most people have been afraid to work on the ground.

 

In these difficult times, we still feel proud. At Smile, we have been working with a lot of children and working for their better future.

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Insights

Online Safety of Children in Times of E-Learning

Online Safety of Children in Times of E-Learning

As long as we can think back, children’s education was meant to be a shared activity. Teachers and children would spend a significant time of the day on school premises, and children would engage in a lot of other activities than just studying from their books. However, the COVID-19 pandemic threw all of our deep-seated beliefs for a toss. As schools shut down, e-learning became front and centre for all children. Children are now spending more and more time online, and it is more important than ever that we take care of the online safety of children.

 

What are some of the ways in which you can protect your children while they spend time online?

 

Spend time with them online

 

It is important that you spend time with your child online to guide them on their online habits. Create a safe and positive environment for your child in which they can have fruitful interactions with their friends and teachers. Help your child identify age-appropriate apps, games, and websites. Ensure that they know where and how to access digital resources, if they use the computer by themselves.

 

Familiarize yourself with the school’s policies for online learning. Get informed about helplines to report cyberbullying or inappropriate online content for your child.

 

Use technology to your advantage

 

Try to stay ahead of unsafe online environments. Use technology to protect your children rather than be scared of it. Install antivirus and latest updated software on the computer. Turn on privacy settings. You can even choose to activate the parental controls on the system. Tell your child to be cautious of online educational resources. Reliable online resources most often do not ask for a photo or full name.

 

Encourage healthy online behaviour and habits

 

Help them understand that they may need to adjust their habits to suit online interaction.  Encourage your child to be kind and respectful to classmates. They should also be mindful of the clothes they wear for online classes and avoid joining calls from the bedroom. Spend time with your child to identify age-appropriate apps, games, and other online entertainment.

 

Monitor surfing habits for online safety of children 

 

Children have been spending more and more time online. As a result, they are also exposed to more and a wide range of advertising. This may include unhealthy foods, gender stereotypes, or age-inappropriate material such as porn websites. Help them recognize links which they should not click on and how they can avoid negative messaging. Cybercriminals also try to take advantage of children’s unsuspecting nature and lure them into financial fraud schemes by making them give up their parents’ credit card information, etc.

 

In the current scenario, there is also a lot of misinformation about COVID-19 out there, which may become a source of anxiety for your child. Make sure that if your child is seeking COVID-related information online, she does so from reliable sources such as UNICEF and WHO.

 

Use of school email addresses

 

Most schools which are conducting classes online have created the necessary technological infrastructure to ensure online safety for children. They have created email IDs for each child, and only these IDs must be used to attend the classes. Using a personal email ID will be an invitation for cyber criminals to break through the security firewalls and access your personal information.

 

Counselling for online safety of children

 

In the digital world, children may be exposed to a variety of risk factors which could affect them mentally as well as physically. Children should be counselled about the following risks.

 

Inappropriate advances: Sexual ‘grooming’ and exploitation is rampant in the digital world. Children need to be warned about these risks when they use the Internet by themselves. Moreover, radical and extremist groups may also target children in an attempt to recruit them. Parents need to keep track of the interactions their children have online.

Inappropriate behaviour: Children need to be educated on what is appropriate and inappropriate behaviour towards them as well as by them. Adults may indulge in online exploitation or abuse of children. At the same time, children who are unaware may also share images of themselves on digital platforms which may be used in an inappropriate manner by predators. Teach your child to keep personal information private, especially from strangers.

Unsuitable content: Schools and institutions may recommend online resources for children. However, it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their children are not inadvertently exposed to unsuitable and irrelevant content. 

Personal data misuse: Some platforms ask for students’ personal information. One should be extra careful while providing this information. There are cybercriminals who mine, misuse, and sell the data gathered online.

 

Give them the space to enjoy, express, and learn

 

Given the vast range of resources available online, children can move beyond the school curriculum and use the extra time at home in learning something they enjoy. This could be a skill such as coding, cooking, gardening, etc. or perhaps a foreign language. They can even indulge in physical activities such as yoga by watching online videos and tutorials.

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Partners In Change

Smile on Wheels Van Spreading Joy

Smile on Wheels Van Spreading Joy 
Shonal Rath,  Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society 
for Great Britain and Ireland; 
Founder-Demystified Initiative

As I stepped into the Smile on Wheels van and started speaking with the doctors on board, I realized how hard our doctors and non-profits have been working in these tumultuous times. A massive line of beneficiaries approached the van one by one, and the doctors conducted their OPD with such ease. I was visiting the van to conduct collaboration research on how post-COVID recovery requires resilience-building and prepping for any subsequent waves of the COVID-19.

 

I appreciate that even with limited resources, they have been able to ensure sustainable livelihoods, and Smile Foundation has all its operations in place. By focussing on the most vulnerable people, such as the women, children, and the disabled, they are employing the defined strategy of the trickle-down effect. These communities have been the most downtrodden and stuck hardest by the adversities of the pandemic. As per research, there was a 45% loss of jobs in female workers compared to men and 65% of the youth aged 14-25 compared to those aged 26-45.

 

Contributions made by Smile on Wheels vans

 

“I have never had such convenience of access to medicines and medical consultations since I lost my job,” says Ms. Asha. She is a migratory worker serving domestic households. There was a sense of satisfaction and an air of confidence among these beneficiaries. This has been their support system throughout the pandemic. During the second wave, there was a shortage of medicines, oxygen cylinders, and disarray in the functioning of healthcare. However, non-profit initiatives strategically located their limited supplies to aid the communities.

 

“In the second wave, my husband was susceptible to the virus. We waited in long lines, but they would always tell us to come back some other day. We never received the treatment we needed. With this van in place, we are getting timely assistance,” shares the contented Ms. Durgawati. The Smile Foundation has been catering to regions such as Noida, Faridabad, Gurgaon, and other remote locations in NCR. It serves hundreds of patients and beneficiaries in these areas.

 

Smile on Wheels van: A blessing in disguise

 

 

All these people have been at the mercy of over-burdened public health facilities during the course of the pandemic. They are at higher risk of COVID as well as non-COVID related ailments. For the time being, we all need to be clear that even if we all wear masks and the government continues vaccinating people, the pandemic will still continue to spread. We need to make all the effort to stop short of another terrible COVID wave and lockdown.

 

We must maintain optimism that even with the spread of the virus, we must brace ourselves for a possible third wave. Our frontline workers, doctors, police officers, and the operating non-profits will discover every drop of superhero blood to save the sick. The most crucial necessity of the hour is to secure the economic stability and well-being of the weak, whom we failed miserably the last time around.

 

In the past, pandemics have shown that they occur in waves, that systems must be awake throughout each wave, and that tracking viral changes is critical. Arguments of “natural immunity” must also be avoided because India lost 40 million people between 1817 and 1920 due to the cholera, plague, and influenza pandemics.

Those sobering figures, as well as the sorrow, death, and suffering experienced by COVID-19’s second wave, should serve as a cautionary lesson for pandemic planners. “We have already failed before. If a third wave attacks us, only these non-profits have a way to cater to us,” is the common opinion among all these beneficiaries about the Smile on Wheels van.

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In The Spotlight

International Youth Day: Stories of Inspiration from Smile Foundation

International Youth Day: Stories of Inspiration from Smile Foundation

International Youth Day is observed on August 12 every year. It is a day that has been demarcated by the United Nations to recognise and focus on the problems that youth face. The idea of International Youth Day was first floated in 1991 at the Vienna session of the World Youth Forum. It was recommended in 1998 at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon. It was first celebrated in 1999.

 

One of our core values at Smile Foundation has been to empower the youth of today so that they can become successful, independent leaders tomorrow. We believe in celebrating youth every single day of the year.

 

The STeP Programme and International Youth Day

 

India is among the youngest nations in the world. We produce a large number of graduates each year. Unfortunately, rampant unemployment is a huge problem for India. This is due to a variety of reasons, including lack of jobs and job creation as well as under-skilled job seekers.

 

Through our STeP initiative (Smile Twin e-Learning Programme) launched in 2007, Smile Foundation aims at creating a pool of young and independent youth between the ages of 18 and 24. Most of these young people have passed their class 10th and 12th examinations, or have finished their graduation. These job seekers belong to the marginalized sections. Through skill enhancement in tandem with market requirements, the programme seeks to bridge the gap between demand and supply of skilled manpower in the fast emerging sectors of India.

 

To commemorate International Youth Day, we would like to share some of our most endearing success stories. These young individuals are sources of inspiration to thousands like them.

 

Ramesh Awasthi – Student of STeP in 2015

 

Twenty-three-year-old Ramesh came to India from Nepal in 2015 in the hopes of a better and brighter future. Soon after he arrived, he enrolled at a STeP centre to undergo skill training. ‘I learnt a lot of things at the STeP centre—personality development, e-mail writing, English speaking, basic computers. After completion of the training, I got my first job as a data entry operator for a salary of Rs 7,000,’ he shares.

 

Since then, Ramesh has never looked back. He moved on to a better job with a higher salary as an Assistant Manager at a reputed restaurant. The confidence that the STeP training instilled in him has enabled him to dream of a better future for himself. Through his hard work, he is building a better life for himself, step by step. Currently, Ramesh works as an accountant at a private firm. ‘I am working in the night shift now because I am also planning to start my own business,’ says the budding entrepreneur.’

 

The young man shares that back in 2015, he did not even have Rs 10 to take a rickshaw ride. Now, he is the proud owner of a motorcycle that he bought for himself through his own hard-earned money.

 

 

Vinay M. – STeP Student from 2015-16 batch

 

Vinay’s story tells how an unemployed youth can be gainfully employed with the right training and guidance. Before he joined a STeP centre in Bengaluru in 2015, Vinay had a hard time finding a job. As part of his training, Vinay learned basic computers, soft skills, and English.

 

 

‘I got a job as an executive at a private company soon after completing my course. My salary that time was Rs 8000. After gaining a year of experience, I got a job as an accountant at a salary of Rs. 15,000,’ Vinay shares.

 

He is thankful to Smile Foundation and STeP for helping him gain the necessary skills he needed to gain employment.

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In The Spotlight

Inspiring Women at the Olympics: Fighting Against All Odds

Inspiring Women at the Olympics: Fighting Against All Odds

Indian women at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 have done us proud. Fighting all odds and working tirelessly towards their goals has finally got them the prize they have been working for. Here’s a look at the inspiring women at the Olympics who have opened up doors for millions of girls to dream.

 

These women prove that if given a chance, they too can excel in the world of sports.

 

Mirabai Chanu – Silver for Weightlifting

 

Mira faced a huge setback in her Olympic dreams at Rio in 2016. The 26-year-old almost gave up her sport. It was her supportive mother who encouraged her to not worry about the past but focus on the future. Her mother runs a small tea shop and there were days when she could barely feed Mira. However, her support for her daughter was undettered.

Her coach, Vijay Sharma, says that she did not go to her home for almost five years. She did nothing but eat, sleep, and train. This kind of dedication is what won Mira the coveted Olympic medal. “I completely failed in 2016. But I learned a lot from that defeat. I told myself that I need to do better at the next Games. That’s why I have improved and won,” she says.

Mira has revealed that is grateful to the truck drivers who stopped at her mother’s tea stall during the early days of her training. They often gave her free rides from her home in the Nongpok Kakching village to the training centre at the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal, 25 kilometres away! Her story will go down in history as one of the inspiring women at the Olympics.

 

PV Sindhu – Bronze for Badminton

 

At the young age of 24, shuttler PV Sindhu has created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. She became interested in badminton at the very young age of 8. Her badminton idol was P. Gopichand and she joined his academy, 56 kilometres away. Her willingness to travel so far for training can be seen as a sign of her grit and determination.

Sindhu has a one-of-a-kind record at the World Championship. She has won five medals over a total of only six appearances! This is the fastest that a player has won so many medals at the World Badminton Championship.

She is also the only Indian singles player to hold an Olympic silver which she won at in 2016. 

 

Lovlina Borgohain – Bronze for Welterweight Boxing

 

Belonging to the tiny Baro Mukhia village of Assam’s Golaghat district, 23-year-old Lovlina became the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal.
The young gun has spent the past several years training, away from the comfort of being close to family. Lovlina stayed away from her family for almost eight whole years. She says that not being there when they were going through problems has been a real struggle and her biggest sacrifice. It was only last year during the COVID lockdown that she spent some time with her family, albeit in unfavourable circumstances. While caring from her mother who was recovering from a kidney transplant, Lovina contacted COVID and had to miss out on a vital training camp in Italy.

During the COVID lockdown last year, Lovlina also helped out her father in his paddy fields. This helped her stay in touch with her roots.

The Olympic medallist’s village is around 320 kilometres from Dispur and a mud-and-stone track connected it to other places. However, a lot can be said about Lovlina’s Olympian feat. Just days after her win, her village can now be accessed through a concrete road.

 

Women’s Hockey Team – A Special Mention

 

In the previous innings of the Olympic Games at Rio, the Indian women’s team suffered a great defeat. The fact that they just narrowly missed out on the bronze medal in Tokyo speaks volumes for the kind of hard work they have put in over the last few years. They definitely need to be counted among the inspiring women at the Olympics.

With a fighting spirit and can-do attitude, the team made Olympic history by gaining the fourth position in the event.

Rani Rampal and her team did not have it easy at all. In a culture where hockey is considered a ‘manly’ sport, the girls and their parents often had to deal with ‘what will people say’. A lot of people told their parents that it is inappropriate to have your daughter running around in short skirts. But none of these things made a difference to the hardworking team who are now gearing up for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

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