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Insights

Can COVID-19 Have a Positive Impact on Education?

Can COVID-19 Have a Positive Impact on Education?

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc in everyone’s life. There is no one in the world who has remained untouched by the effects of the virus. Some have lost their job; some have lost their family and friends. Children across the world have lost the school-going experience. However, it may not be all bad. After all, every cloud has a silver lining. Thus, COVID-19 has a positive impact on education as well.

 

Rise of blended learning methods

 

The pandemic forced educators across schools, colleges, and universities to adopt a blended mode of learning. It is a big possibility that face to face delivery along with online modules will become ‘the new normal’. Initiatives like this are vital.

 

This is, however, not without challenges. Teachers have had to quickly adapt to technology and be trained in the same so that they are equipped to deal with this method of learning. This may well become a basic requirement for all teachers in the near future. Blended learning may also open up avenues for curriculum development and pedagogy facilitated by the new way of delivery and assessment of learning outcomes being adopted. This can also be seen as an opportunity for curriculum designers to improve upon the quality of the learning material.

 

Mental health of children

 

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of mental health in a way no event before this ever did. Human beings are social animals and being deprived of social interaction for such a long period of time has taken its toll on many. Children are among the worst affected in this regard. Not being able to go to school or the playground, there have been significant changes in their behaviour. This has led many parents to become concerned over their child’s mental health and well-being. In a way, this is a welcome change from the focus on pure academic advancement.

 

All-round development over report cards

 

It is important to keep children engaged in various activities in the absence of being able to go out. Baking, drawing, painting, and gardening are some of the skills that children have picked up in the pandemic. All of these contribute to the overall development of children and thus open up the path to non-traditional curriculum.

 

At the same time, it is important to understand that many children do not access to such opportunities. Due to this, returning to school is important for them.

 

Change in expectations

 

In India, the pandemic forced an event that was possibly unthinkable before—cancellation of the Board exams for 12th and 10th standards. Changes like this will force the educators and policymakers to rethink the necessity of assessments in the traditional mode of learning.

 

The advent of blended learning and unforeseen circumstances may lead to development of curriculum which focuses not just on academics but also on resilience, critical thinking, leadership, courage, and decision-making.

 

Learning management systems: A booming industry

 

Before the pandemic, companies that were developing learning management systems were thought to be a niche as not too much mainstream learning was happening online. Its scope was mainly limited to professional learning or those who had greater access financially. The stay-at-home imposed by COVID has changed all this.

 

Learning management systems can potentially now grow at a very fast pace. Those companies in the sector which have already strengthened their base over a period of time will be at an advantage. At the same time, new players may arrive and even out the playing field a little. This might make e-learning more affordable. This is yet another positive impact on education as well as industry.

 

Collaboration: Paving the way for a positive impact on education

 

Teaching and learning do not need to be compartmentalized and restrictive any longer. The pandemic has presented the opportunity for collaborations between students and teachers regardless of geography, socio-economic background, or any other factors.

 

Is there a positive impact on education?

 

As per this article by the World Bank, the pandemic will be leaving a long-term negative impact on education. However, as illustrated above, there can be a significant positive impact as well.

 

As the human race, we can make the best out of the situation. We can innovate and improve the existing pedagogy.

 

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In The Spotlight

Doctor’s Day: Smile Salutes Our Healthcare Workers

Doctor’s Day: Smile Salutes Our Healthcare Workers

National Doctor’s Day is observed every year on July 1. The day commemorates the birth as well as the death anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, former chief minister of West Bengal. The day is dedicated to all the doctors and healthcare workers who have been serving people by risking their lives.

 

As a result of the pandemic, the role of frontline workers has become more important than ever. Smile Foundation celebrates the lives and contributions by our doctors, nurses, and health care workers. Here are some of their moving stories to celebrate Doctor’s Day.

 

Inspiring stories from the ground on Doctor’s Day

 

Swapna, Community Mobilizer, Smile on Wheels

 

 

Swapna works with our Smile on Wheels programme in Hyderabad. In her role as community mobilised, she keeps a tab on the well-being of the people in the local community. “I was raised to believe that extending care to those who need it the most is the biggest act of kindness. As a result, my biggest desire was to become a doctor someday. During the course of achieving my dream, I found an opportunity to work in close contact with the community. I faced the harsh reality and realized that working as a doctor would not fulfill the true purpose of my life. I still wanted to help people, but feeling the pain of those who struggle to pay the doctor’s fee changed my perspective.”

 

Swapna met tons of people who felt it is better to hold on to their daily wage to feed their families rather than giving it to a doctor. They were suffering in silence. Thus, she decided to start visiting remote communities in rural areas and inaccessible slums. She listened to their problems and extended help. “My job now is to mobilize such people and sensitize them into seeking proper healthcare provided free of cost through the medical unit of Smile On Wheels,” she says. Now when someone asks her what she does, she proudly replies, “My job is to help people!”

 

Vani, ANM, Smile on Wheels

 

 

“I have been working as a nurse for more than 20 years. Seeing the grateful emotions reflected in a patient’s eyes pushes me to work harder for them. The amount of love I receive when I am serving them fills me with immense gratitude,” says Vani, an ANM worker for Smile on Wheels. Her undeterred service towards people belonging to far-flung villages and slums during this time of crisis is an inspiration in itself.

 

Srabanti, ANM, Smile on Wheels

 

 

In a pandemic-gripped world, people in remote regions have lost access to effective healthcare. Our tele-counseling initiative, ‘Baaton Baaton Mein Sehat‘, has rallied to help those in need. ANM Srabanti Das from the Smile on Wheels programme in Kolkata is one such person who is striving hard to keep track of the health of people from tight-knit slum clusters and far-flung rural areas by providing them with essential consultation and awareness on COVID-19 during this difficult time.

 

Deepak Kumar, Ambulance Driver, Kolkata Municipal Corporation

 

 

Smile Foundation salutes individuals like Deepak Kumar who have been waging the war against COVID-19 at the frontlines. “Coronavirus has turned all our lives upside down. For the past two months, I have been ferrying COVID-19 patients to the hospital. I work like this for 14 hours every day, but I have no idea how many of these patients make it out alive out of the hospital. I always keep a smile on my face despite the dreary circumstances,” says the untiring and selfless Deepak.

 

He further adds that despite the demanding schedule and meagre pay, he and his wife feel grateful to be able to serve these patients. He recently provided ration to a few needy families in his locality as a way of easing the burden of the crisis.

 

Sunita, ANM, Smile on Wheels

 

 

Sunita works with the Haryana chapter of Smile on Wheels as an ANM. The pandemic posed many challenges to her which she has never encountered before. However, she laboured on and continues to do so. “Having double roles to perform as a homemaker and as a health worker was a bit tough in this pandemic, especially with my sick mother-in-law at home. But I know that health cannot wait for anyone at home or on the ground,” she shares.

 

Dr. Anurag Sobhari, EGI Project, Gurgaon

 

 

Dr. Anurag Sobhari has been working as a doctor with Smile on Wheels in Gurgaon since the past five years. During these COVID times, the role he plays as a doctor has definitely increased tremendously and has become quite vital. He shares his experiences.

 

“The people who need health care services were unable to get them because of COVID-19. People are scared to go to the hospitals for check-ups due to the fear of catching the virus. So we are taking OPD to the doorsteps in slums for the underprivileged and marginalized people. The patients who come to our Smile on Wheels van always tell me that they are facing many problems due to the lockdown and this pandemic. I have even had to do home visits sometimes.”

 

Ritu, ANM, EGI PROJECT, Gurgaon

 

 

Ritu, and ANM with Smile on Wheels in Gurgaon shares that the SoW vans have played an important role during the pandemic for the elderly, women, as well as children.

“As a health worker, it is my responsibility to serve the community in any situation. Sometimes my parents are concerned about my health and safety due to the possibility of exposure to the virus. But I tell them that the pandemic is a tough time and we should try to help those in need,” she adds.

 

Sujata, ANM, Smile on Wheels

 

 

Sujata is a resident of village Patlikuhal in Himachal Pradesh. Her home is around 24 kms from Kullu where the Smile Foundation office is. So she has to travel around 50 kms daily to and from work. She has been working in the Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) in Kullu.

 

“Our team members remained fearless in the face of COVID. We were always ready with our MMU to serve the people in need. PoC tests were also conducted whenever required,” she shares.

 

Smile Foundation salutes all the frontline health workers on the occasion of Doctor’s Day. Kudos to our warriors who are fighting the COVID pandemic.

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In The Spotlight

An Effort to Reduce Vaccine Hesitancy

An Effort to Reduce Vaccine Hesitancy

Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists started working vigorously towards creating a vaccine. It is common knowledge now that various vaccines have been successfully created across the world, and a couple of them are available in India as well. At this point, it is imperative that the entire population is vaccinated at the earliest. For this, it is important to reduce vaccine hesitancy. While the jabs may not be able to prevent infection completely, they have proven to prevent the severe effects of the coronavirus on the human body.

 

The importance of vaccination in health care

 

Vaccination has been one of the greatest contributions towards saving millions of human lives every year.  More than 1 billion children have been vaccinated for various diseases over the last decade. Immunization is a major component of primary health care. It helps in eradicating many infectious diseases.

 

Currently, 4-5 million deaths are prevented through immunization for vaccine-preventable diseases. Yet there is a gap in the global immunization coverage. Nearly 20 million children have insufficient access to vaccination.

 

Why do we come across vaccine hesitancy?

 

There are a number of misconceptions against vaccination. One of these is that diseases started disappearing due to better hygiene and sanitation, not due to vaccines. Another is that vaccines do not protect us as we can still get sick from the same disease but with mild symptoms. People also think that the risks of a vaccine outweigh its benefits.

 

The concept of vaccine opposition isn’t new. It has been around since vaccines were invented. Even way back in the 1800s, during the outbreak of smallpox, vaccinations were considered to be against religion/god. There were also political objections and criticism based on sanitary reasons since the smallpox vaccine consisted of cowpox blister.

 

There is another widespread assumption that immunisation is no longer necessary because these diseases have been eradicated. However, the truth is that vaccines will only keep diseases from resurfacing as long as they are utilised to prevent them.

 

Being naturally strong versus getting vaccinated

 

Since there has been no evidence that immunization works over going natural, it all comes down to personal choice. A person’s immune system might perform well even though they refuse to be vaccinated. But we can be sure the immunized person is safer because their body already knows about the potential infections.

 

A vaccine introduces the virus into your body in its weak form so that it has least impact. As a result, the body continues to perceive it as a pathogen and produces antibodies to attack it. The second dose, referred to as a booster dose, stimulates a second infection in the body. Consequentially, once the body detects that another infection of the same virus has entered the body, it develops unusually large amounts of antibodies against it, killing the infection produced by the vaccine very rapidly. So, once the vaccine’s weakened virus is killed, there is already a surplus of antibodies in the system that operates as a line of defence when you get sick.

 

What is telecounselling and how can it be used to reduce vaccine hesitancy?

 

 

Telecounselling is any type of counselling service provided over the telephone. It can be used to address the vaccine reluctance of people. Counsellors listen to the concerns of the patients, actively listening to doubts and fears. The main concerns are: Is this going to be of any use to me? Is it safe? And so on.

 

Understanding the situation of the patient, supporting the patients’ beliefs, and engaging in truthful communication while giving them the correct message can help reduce vaccine hesitancy and achieve a higher number of vaccinations.

 

How can you help as an individual in the present situation?

 

Engage in open conversations with vaccine-hesitant people

 

The most effective way is listening to the concerns of the hesitant person. Respect their opinions and gain their trust, so that they are open to considering your opinion too. Trying to convince a person to get vaccinated is not our job but to be open to a conversation is. Using scientific facts and statistics and trying to understand their concerns will help in the discussion.

 

Help COVID patients in this time of need

 

You can help your friends, relatives, and neighbours by bringing to them essential supplies. Home-cooked food also aids in the recovery of COVID patients. Instead of shunning them, help them towards a speedy recovery.

 

Donate to a COVID-19 relief fund

 

The pandemic has affected the lives of many, especially the vulnerable communities across India and across the world. Donating through fundraisers or NGOs can be a great help to those in dire need of basic amenities.

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Insights

Can we predict the effects of the pandemic on the girl child?

Can we predict the effects of the pandemic on the girl child?

Several studies have been conducted on the impact of the COVID-19 induced school closures across the world. Most of them have drawn similar conclusions. Closure of schools will lead to lower levels of schooling and learning, reduced earnings in the future, and an increased drop-out rate. For women and girls, the socio-economic risks posed by the pandemic are manifold. It is likely that they are at higher risk in the realm of education too. As a result, the long-term effects of the pandemic on the girl child and on women will be significant. UNESCO has projected that 11 million girls may never return to school following the pandemic.

 

The education and welfare of girls have been deeply challenged by the pandemic. This is especially true for girls from low-income households and those in rural areas and underdeveloped countries. Economic distress can put girls at greater risk of exploitation, child labour, and gender-based violence. The lockdowns imposed due to coronavirus may harm girls’ autonomy. The attitudes and practices that regard girls as ‘lesser’ than men may become front and centre again.

 

Dropout rates for girls may increase

 

A study by the Malala Fund has found that more than 20 million girls (from pre-primary to upper secondary) are at risk of dropping out and may never return to school. This is a sharp increase in the number of girls who would not be able to return to school after the pandemic settles down.

 

Many girls may be pushed into child labour during the lockdown period while schools are closed. Once caught in the web, it is very difficult for them to get out.

 

Lack of access

 

Millions of girls are not able to access essential health care facilities due to the pandemic-induced closures.

 

Due to travel restrictions, many girls are not able to access reproductive health services. Some countries have the practice of ‘after school girl clubs’ which are safe spaces for girls to share their troubles. All of these are inaccessible to girls now.

 

Threat of sexual abuse

 

UNESCO’s COVID-19 Global Education Coalition has reported that teenage pregnancy across sub-Saharan Africa could increase by as much as 65 per cent as a result of school closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Sexual and reproductive rights of girls are highly compromised in a lockdown situation. This is because girls are unable to seek safety from their abusers outside their homes. This could lead to increase in adolescent pregnancy rates in many societies. There was also an increase in rape cases, leading to unwanted pregnancies. Such survivors are more likely to drop out of school.

 

Child marriage on the rise

 

Latest numbers suggest that child marriage has quadrupled in Maharashtra’s largest district since the pandemic hit. Many families are struggling to make ends meet, and getting their daughter married off means one less mouth to feed. Some parents are also concerned about the future of their daughters if the parents die.

 

Moreover, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it is now possible to have a wedding with lesser expenses because of the limited number of guests. For low-income families, this is almost an opportunity to get their daughters married off without having a large gathering and spending a lot of money.

 

More responsibility for girls

 

If there are any ill or elderly family members, or any young siblings, it is expected that the girls of the family will take care of them while schools remain closed. As a result, this may lead to dropping out of school, early marriage, and other things that could have long-term impacts on the girl child.

 

Additionally, girls and young women from families facing severe economic distress are more likely to take on work that puts them at high risk.

 

Are there any positive effects of the pandemic on the girl child?

 

Despite all of these factors, there may still be hope. Parents who were earlier concerned about the safety of their daughters travelling to school may find the online mode of learning more preferable. This way, their daughters can learn in the safety of their homes.

 

However, this is again contingent on a number of factors. Some of these are the availability of a smartphone, tablet, or device at home; Internet access; parents’ ability to help their child with online learning; and readiness of teachers to adapt to digital methods of teaching.

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Partners In Change

Virtual Education with Basic Phones

Virtual Education with Basic Phones

Digital devices divide classrooms in terms of access to learning materials during lockdowns amid the COVID surge. For instance, most of the students in Siddharthnagar cannot access an android device on a daily basis. They have only one device in their family, which is mostly used by their father or the earning member of the family. Thus, it remains “out of bounds” for them. It is time we ask whether the smartphone can be replaced with a basic phone for virtual education.

 

Many government schools formed Whatsapp groups last year to share study materials for students. However, the question remains—how many of these groups are actually effective?

 

Smile Foundation’s virtual education interventions

 

Smile Foundation has been attempting to fulfill the goal of continued education for the vulnerable. Last year, Siddharthnagar’s Smile team was able to mobilise the community and find some volunteers for our Shiksha na Ruke campaign.

 

This year, we have committed to a new solution. Through the appointment of a ‘Shikhamitra’, our team will be able to mitigate the learning gaps by continuous community visits and cluster classes. The best part is when all the students are given a classroom feel through remote classes. All the students can be a part of it; all they need is a basic phone. Students can participate actively in an interactive virtual class through their basic phones.

 

Role of ‘shikshamitras’

 

Our ‘shikshamitras’ are well connected with parents. They are continuously trying to figure out the problems and challenges faced by the children during these difficult times. Being community-based volunteers, it is a source of personal satisfaction for them to see the happy faces of the children.

 

Sometimes, if a student misses a class, the shikshamitras update them over call . There is a long way to go, definitely. But it is an achievement to get them interested in the class at the field level.

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Insights

Marginalised Children Hit Hardest by COVID Pandemic

Marginalised Children Hit Hardest by COVID Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the disparities in our society. Unequal access to healthcare, lack of job safety, not being able to access basic resources like food and shelter. These are just some of the problems the pandemic has presented. Marginalised children are among the worst affected groups.

 

Revelations of NSO survey

 

A survey by the National Statistics Office (NSO) published in 2020 reveals some stark statistics. The ‘Household Social Consumption on Education in India’ report mapped 1.52 lakh students in 1.13 lakh households spread across 8,000 villages and 6,000 urban blocks. The survey period was July 2017 to June 2018.

 

The survey result reiterates the rural-urban divide. It reveals that the differences lie not just in expenditure on education but also in access to digital resources. About 4.4 per cent of rural households and 23.4 per cent of urban households had a computer. As for an Internet connection, 14.9 per cent of rural households and 42 per cent of urban households had it.

 

Among those aged 5 and above in rural areas, only 9.9 per cent were able to operate a computer, 13 per cent were able to use the Internet and 10.8 per cent had used the Internet in the 30 days before the survey. On the other hand, in urban areas the figures were 32.4 per cent, 37.1 per cent, and 33.8 per cent respectively.

 

Impact of the pandemic on marginalised children

 

The pandemic has made these circumstances even worse. Although the figures are slightly better for the urban areas, it is important to remember that the pandemic has forced education to become digital. Marginalised children are the biggest victims of the pandemic. They are the ones who will most likely face very long-term consequences. Children from well-to-do families who have access to computers, smartphones, and tabs are able to continue their education. Unlike them, majority of children are marginalised in all aspects of life, including access to education.

 

Assessment by Smile Foundation

 

A survey by Smile Foundation in their Mission Education programme between July 2020 and August 2020 has also revealed some interesting data. Gargi Kapoor of Smile Foundation writes, ‘With only 51 per cent of the respondents satisfied with the current learning methods, 80 per cent are waiting for schools to reopen. … Almost 68 per cent feel that the online/tele-calling classes are very rarely (sometimes/never) scheduled as per parents’ availability. … 68 per cent of respondents expressed that they need guidance or they are not able to access [mobile phones] properly while 74 per cent are not able to guide their children regularly. Furthermore, 44 per cent mentioned that they do not have adequate availability of educational resources to facilitate home-based learning for their children.’

 

Some of the challenges

 

More marginalised children may drop out of school

 

A UNESCO report says that the closure of schools affected 320 million children in India since the beginning of the pandemic. There are many reasons for this. A few of these are widespread unemployment leading to loss of income, the inability of households to pay for school fees, and difficulty in accessing resources required to continue education. Moreover, since the pandemic began, many children from marginalised communities have had to assist with household chores and also contribute to the income of the family.

 

Digital divide reinforcing income and social inequalities

 

A number of alternate teaching channels have emerged since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is direct online teaching (primarily in private schools), government portals, cable channels, etc. However, due to inconsistencies and disruptions in electricity and Internet services, and inaccessibility to mobile or computer devices, this has not been an easy run. This is true for both students as well as teachers.

 

We need to ensure that children are provided with tabs/computers and also data packs to help them with online learning. The situation has also exposed the flaws in our infrastructure in terms of Internet and electricity. For so many of us working/studying from home, it is common to face delays and disruptions due to improper supply of power and Internet.

 

Gender disparity in education may increase

 

Due to the financial and opportunity costs, families may choose to discontinue their daughters’ education. To make matter worse, the number of child marriages is increasing during the pandemic. Parents feel it is economically viable to have a ‘COVID wedding’ with fewer people.

 

The access to digital infrastructure is also disproportionate. ‘Only 33 per cent women had access to Internet, while this figure is 67 per cent for men. This disparity is more prominent in rural India where 72 per cent men and only 28 per cent women had access to Internet’, writes Protiva Kundu.

 

New challenges for teachers

 

The situation has thrown up challenges for teachers as well. They are not well-equipped or trained to shift their mode of teaching so drastically. Government school teachers have to do COVID duty, whereas those in low-paying private schools have had to face salary cuts or unemployment. Thus, the quality of teaching is getting affected.

 

It is important to equip teachers to deal with these unforeseen circumstances and to ensure teacher retention.

 

Our interventions

 

Through the Shiksha Na Ruke initiative, Smile Foundation has provided around 200 tablets to the beneficiaries of several projects in different states. To ensure that there is no misuse, we keep the tablets at the ME centres and students use them under the supervision of their teachers. During the lockdowns, children were attending cluster classes to continue their learning on tablets.

 

We have also provided some of our teachers in Mumbai with data packs. This is to facilitate training and counselling sessions.

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In The Spotlight

Zlin Film Festival and Smile Int’l Film Festival Join Hands for Home Screenings

Zlin Film Festival and Smile Int’l Film Festival Join Hands for Home Screenings

Zlin Film Festival and Smile International Film Festival came together this summer. Together they brought for the children of India a little over 100 minutes of fun and entertainment from 27 May to 1 June. And all this happened in the safety of their homes during the second wave of the pandemic. SIFFCY had organised a virtual film festival last year too.

We showed the children 10 animated, non-verbal, and super entertaining movies. We believe that cinema is a powerful medium and it helps to instill values such as empathy and compassion amongst children. In addition, such value-based movies contribute towards their mental well-being and also teach them to be more responsible.

About Zlin Film Festival

The Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth is the oldest and largest film festival of its kind. It was founded in 1961 and is held in Czech Republic’s town of Zlín, home of Tomas Bata, founder of the Bata shoe empire. The festival’s mission is to present international films produced for children and teenagers, to make them accessible to young audiences, and offer a high-quality alternative to commonly available audiovisual content.

An important aspect of the festival is to educate young audiences through the medium of film. Moreover, it seeks to expand their awareness of the outside world and develop their aesthetic, social, and moral senses.

Our Reach

Hundreds of schools received the invitation to join the film festival. Seven among these exclusively partnered with Smile Foundation to take this festival to all their students. These were Shemrock Senior Secondary School, Mohali; DAV Police Public School, Panchkula; Army Public School, Secunderabad; Bharti Public School, New Delhi; DAV School, Chattisgarh; Allons Public School, Chattisgarh; Delhi Public School, Durg. Two private school associations also partnered with us, namely All India Private School Association and All Kerala Private School Association.  

Over 20,000 children from our Child for Child campaign partner schools watched the films online. Many students from Mission Education (ME) centres also participated with enthusiasm. The movies could be viewed at any time of the day till 1 June. This ensured that the children from Smile Foundation’s ME centres could watch the films on their parent’s mobile phones after they got back from work.

Getting the children involved

Some of the most loved movies were About a Tree, Cloudy, Little Rainworm, and Wildlife Crossing. Most importantly, we did not want this to become a passive activity. For this, the Child for Child team put together a competition for all the participating students. The competition required students to send in a review or an analysis of their favourite movie(s). The response was overwhelming and we received some amazing reviews from over 100 children. Further, some of them even shared video feedbacks and photos of themselves enjoying the movies.

Tokens of appreciation for everyone

Students who participated in the competition received free online passes to attend Anim!Arte – International Student Animation Festival of Brazil. All schools and students who registered for the film festival received certificates of participation.

Children from Niveda Foundation too watched the movies screened during the fesival. After that, they also sent in their wonderful reviews about the movies they liked.

Some of the best reviews from children

I totally enjoyed this movie. This is because the lives of both chicken and the dog and their everyday struggles were depicted in a funny, enjoyable and interesting way. And the story was easy, neat and understandable for every kid. I loved the animation used in the film. The other movies I really liked were “Wildlife Crossing”, “Zizalaci Hrisci” and “About a tree”.

Ishita Seby

I’m studying in class 5 at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Air Force Academy.

I felt very happy watching the movies through Smile-Zlin Film Festival. This pandemic has been very scary. Me and my friends are locked down in our homes and restricted from going outside. As soon as our honorable Principal Madam sent the link, I registered myself and watched the movies.

I liked all the movies as they instilled good moral values. I especially liked the movie “Little Rainworms”. In this story the little rain worms and black bird deal with an illegal dump. They have fun using a meat grinder to turn all of the junk into attractions with colourful swings and slides. They mark their newly built playground and then the worms and blackbird are the first to play on it. I liked this story because I too like to play with clay. The moral of the story is that we can create new innovative things using junk.

This again reminds me about our Principal madam, HM madam and my class teacher who teach us not to waste anything. We can always make BEST OUT OF WASTE and learn to recycle the waste material.

Thank you, Smile Foundation, for the movies. They are innovative and creative. I got great knowledge and had fun watching them all!

Srihita S

I enjoyed the film festival very much. It was very entertaining and meaningful. I liked the idea of making a film with the help of paper and clay. I appreciate it and would love to see more movies like this in future.

Manini Mahajan

Our partners

We would like to thank the Embassy of Czech Republic, SIFFCY, our partner schools, all the participating institutions, and team members from Child For Child and Mission Education programmes who worked with us to make this one-of-a-kind online film festival for children a huge success!

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In The Spotlight

Let Us Strengthen COVID Care Centres and Government Hospitals

Let Us Strengthen COVID Care Centres and Government Hospitals

We are fortunate that the second wave of coronavirus in India has started going down. However, it is not over. The virus is still new for experts. It is unpredictable and we cannot be sure what the future holds. We need to strengthen COVID care centres and government hospitals. We must be prepared for a possible rise in cases in the near future.

 

The crisis

 

When the pandemic first hit, we realised that there was an urgent need for isolation and COVID care centres. The second wave hit India in an unimaginable way. Government hospitals ran out of beds and other healthcare equipment. Doctors and other healthcare workers are risking their lives each day on the frontlines. However, without proper equipment and supplies, our frontline workers cannot save precious lives.

 

Impact on society

 

The situation has resulted in increased inequalities between different sections of society. On the one hand, there are few who had enough money to acquire resources by any means without burning a hole in their pocket. Then, there are middle-class people who have exhausted all their savings in getting healthcare for their family members.

 

And there are others who simply do not have the option to go out of the way financially. They are entirely dependent on the government’s healthcare infrastructure and do not have any spare cash for out of pocket medical expenses.

 

Can we strengthen COVID care centres and government hospitals?

 

Smile Foundation understands the seriousness of the crises which the pandemic has thrown at us. We have broadened our scope to become a COVID-19 relief fund. COVID care centres and government health institutions are facing shortage of oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, BiPAP machines, PPE kits, sanitizers, oximeters, thermal scanners, and masks. These are absolutely essential for the treatment of COVID patients and the safety of doctors.

 

Our target is to equip at least 100 COVID care centres and government hospitals with the necessary provisions. Corporates and institutions have been a big support till now.

 

YOUR contribution!

 

It is important to remember that strengthening the healthcare infrastructure of the country is a step towards development. It is not just about the underprivileged but about helping society as a whole. This pandemic has shown us that health cannot wait. You can do your part by donating to a COVID-19 solidarity response fund for the betterment of the healthcare infrastructure of the country.

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Insights

How Can We Safeguard Children from the Pandemic?

How Can We Safeguard Children from the Pandemic?

The coronavirus pandemic has completely disrupted children’s lives, making them vulnerable to many challenges all at once. A normal school-going child is facing pangs of anxiety due to the sudden change of schooling environment and experience. They are also not able to meet their friends or play outdoors. In such a situation, we need to think about ways to safeguard children from the pandemic.

 

 

A variety of challenges

 

Families have suddenly been thrown together and have to spend a lot more time with each other in close quarters. In the pre-pandemic era, each family member was busy in their world till now. This sudden closeness and lack of space/me-time can lead to many misunderstandings, fights, and interpersonal issues.

 

There are added challenges for teenagers. Their sleeping and eating patterns have completely changed and impacted their circadian rhythm. This is adding to the already ongoing hormonal imbalance they face.

 

These are just a few problems that can be dealt with through planning or therapy. 

 

Our survey showed some of the challenges for children during the pandemic.

 

Poor children at a disadvantage

 

The poor are at a bigger disadvantage. Living conditions, getting a meal on their plates, or access to healthcare are only some of the problems they face. Among such problems, education is the last priority for them. Paying for education just adds to their financial burden.

 

 

These children often also have to face toxic households. On the surface, every individual is good. However, one never knows how toxic a person/family can be without experiencing it personally.

 

Most children who go through domestic violence and abuse are held inside their homes by their abusers with no way out. For any organisation trying to help or reach out during the pandemic, there is no means to survey, not enough support to help the child in distress, and mostly no information and no way in. The children are no longer in regular contact with their teachers and welfare workers with whom they can share.

 

Need to safeguard children from the pandemic

 

Like countries such as Brazil, Bangladesh, and Mexico, we can include messages on violence/abuse when you make a call. There should also be a hotline that will respond immediately.

 

Hygiene kits are an important tool to prevent the spread of the pandemic. These must be distributed to vulnerable children and their families. We must give out positive parenting tips, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, and COVID-19 prevention messages through the use of loudspeakers at the community level.

 

It is important to set up a child helpline. This should allow counsellors to reach out to children remotely for case management and psychosocial support services.

 

What can citizens do? 

 

The best we citizens can do is look out for our neighbours or react to signs and reach out to either the abused or a helpline because there is no bigger trauma than going through it all alone. Preventing a mishappening may benefit a child’s life and give him a happy childhood instead of a traumatic one. This is one of the most important problems that need attention.

 

Spread the word around and help a child!

The writer is a volunteer with Smile Foundation.

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In The Spotlight

Provide the Privilege of Home Isolation to the Poor

Provide the Privilege of Home Isolation to the Poor

Among those infected with the coronavirus, only about 4 per cent of the affected people need hospitalization, while nearly 96 per cent can recover through isolation and care. With our healthcare infrastructure overburdened, home isolation has become a valuable and effective means of dealing with the coronavirus.

 

 

What does home isolation mean?

 

As per the WHO, “Being in isolation means being separated from other people, ideally in a medical facility where you can receive clinical care.  If isolation in a medical facility is not possible and you are not in a high-risk group of developing severe disease, isolation can take place at home.”

 

It further states, “If you have symptoms, you should remain in isolation for at least 10 days plus an additional 3 days without symptoms. If you are infected and do not develop symptoms, you should remain in isolation for 10 days from the time you test positive.’

 

Home isolation kits

 

For the poor in India, home isolation presents many challenges.

 

 

First, it requires you to have a separate room and attached toilet. In the homes of the poor in India, space is often a significant problem, even under normal circumstances. Families of four to six members often reside in one- or two-bedroom houses in congested areas. In many instances, these houses do not have attached bathroom or toilets. All the residents of the area use community toilets.

 

Second, self-isolation without the care of doctors and nurses requires that you keep a track of your temperature, oxygen saturation level, etc. Doctors also recommend steam for smoother recovery from Covid-19. Thus, you need to have a thermometer, a pulse oximeter, and a steamer at home. Most families cannot afford to buy these items because they survive on daily wages and a hand-to-mouth subsistence.

 

Third, there should be a designated person to take care of the Covid patient at home. This is not possible for many families, and hiring help is not even an option.

 

Thus, it is important to remember that isolating at home is a privilege that not everyone has easy access to.

 

What can you do?

 

You may be wondering where you can donate for coronavirus relief? Smile Foundation is providing home isolation kits for Covid-19 patients who have mild and less severe symptoms. This can ensure that they get effective care at home, as far as possible. This is one of the many interventions of our Health Cannot Wait campaign, which is aimed at providing aid during the Covid-19 crisis in India.

 

 

Our target is to provide 50,000 home isolation kits to underprivileged Covid patients. The cost of one home isolation kit is Rs 2300. It includes digital thermometer, pulse oximeter, steam inhalation equipment, medicines, and supplements. Donate TODAY towards relief for the Covid emergency in your country.

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