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Smile

Celebrating India’s First Woman Teacher: Savitribai Phule

Savitribai Phule

Every year on January 3rd, India observes Savitribai Phule Jayanti, not merely a birthday but a day dedicated to honoring a remarkable woman who tirelessly advocated for girls’ education, igniting a revolution in India.

Born in 1831, Savitribai faced the injustice of being denied access to education during a time when girls, especially those from lower castes like herself, were barred from learning. Despite these challenges, she envisioned a world where every girl, regardless of background, could read, write, and stand independently.

Savitribai Phule boldly challenged the entrenched gender norms of the 19th century, a period marked by British colonization in India, where women’s issues were often overlooked. Alongside her husband Jyotirao Phule, she pioneered women’s education by establishing India’s inaugural school for women in Pune in 1848. Savitribai, becoming the country’s first female teacher, went on to create 17 more schools.

In their relentless fight against caste-based discrimination, Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj, a social reform organization aimed at dismantling the oppressive caste system.

A fervent promoter of widow remarriage, Savitribai campaigned against prevailing customs that condemned widows to lives of deprivation, advocating for their right to remarry.

Devoting their lives to social reform, the Phule couple combated untouchability and labored to uplift the lower castes through education and awareness initiatives.

Beyond her impactful social work, Savitribai Phule excelled as a poet and writer, penning powerful verses that brought attention to gender and caste discrimination, leaving an indelible mark on Marathi literature.

In recognition of her monumental contributions, Savitribai Phule is revered as one of India’s foremost social reformers. Smile Foundation celebrates Savitribai Phule Jayanti as a day to honor her enduring legacy and her profound contributions to education and social equality.

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Smile

Dreaming a ‘Child Labour Free’ India

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Some of the kids we work with at Smile Foundation as part of our initiatives exhibit extraordinary leadership characteristics and become changemakers. These are the kids who grew up to work for change by challenging long-standing customs like child marriage, dowry, trafficking, and gender inequity and child labour in India. These kids have already made a difference in their communities or are well on their way to do so.

However, even in 21st century, the horrors of child labour still haunt India. The sooner it gets eradicated, the better. 

What causes Child Labour in India?

It’s critical to consider child labour from the viewpoint of the children, families, and communities involved while discussing the issue. The underlying factors that especially expose children to child labour are listed below– 

Inadequate access to Decent Education

The accessibility and calibre of education are among the most crucial elements. The school setting must be friendly, with reasonable class sizes, a curriculum tailored to the area, and fees easily accessible for remote areas. It is one thing to get kids into school and away from dangerous jobs, but keeping them there entails making high-quality education available to everyone.

Poverty

Poverty is unquestionably the main factor pushing kids into the workforce. Families are forced to send their children to work in order to boost the family income when they are unable to provide for their fundamental requirements, such as food, water, education, or healthcare. 

Given its connections to other major contributors to child labour, such as poor literacy and numeracy rates, a lack of adequate employment prospects, natural catastrophes and climate change, wars and mass migration, poverty is regarded as one of the most significant causes of child labour. 

Without addressing one, we cannot end the other; poverty and child labour are not mutually exclusive.

Wars and Mass Migration

“There is a significant relationship between child labour and war and catastrophe circumstances.” Children represent more than half of all those who have been affected by warfare, according to the ILO.

Owing to an increase in financial shakedowns, a collapse of peer assistance, schools, and basic amenities, and disruption of child protection services, these children are more exposed to types of exploitation, including child labour. Conflict-affected nations have a rate of child labour that is extremely high compared to world-norm. 

Climate Change

One issue that is growing in importance is the impact of climate change and natural catastrophes. Farmers in rural regions who witness their crops being damaged by climate change are forced to put their kids to work. 

Extreme weather events, changed rainfall patterns, and soil erosion are particularly dangerous for rural communities whose livelihoods depend on predictable seasons. Families struggle to make a livelihood and are more likely to send their kids to work on nearby farms when crops are lost or farming land is devastated.

Difficulty Finding Suitable Employment

Children frequently have little option but to labour in dangerous conditions if they can’t find jobs that offer them social safety, fair compensation, equality for men and women, and a place to voice their thoughts. Hazardous employment performed by children who are older than the legal minimum age to work is also regarded as child labour.

Inadequate Knowledge About Child Labour

The common notion is that employment helps kids develop their skills and personalities. Parents are more inclined to send their children to work when they are unaware of the risks associated with child labour and how these risks affect their child.

Types of Child Labour in India

The three primary kinds of child work in India are industrial, domestic, and bonded child labour. The information on the aforementioned Indian industries that use child labour, as well as demographics, are provided below.

Commercial Child Labour

Children under 18 are most frequently employed in the industrial sector which is undoubtedly dangerous to them. Over 10 million children, including over 4.5 million females, between the ages of 5 and 14 labour in unorganised or tiny enterprises. 

Some of the major employers of children are small businesses, such as the garment industry, brick kilns, agriculture, fireworks industries, diamond industries, etc. Such businesses are occasionally run out of people’s homes, which makes it challenging for the government to take necessary action.

One of the biggest and most prominent employers of children in India is the unorganised industry. Working in roadside dhabas and cafes, tea shops, or grocery stores, children might be easily seen. Children are preferred by the operators of these tiny firms since they are manageable and simple to fire.

Using Children at Home

10% of all child labour in India is committed domestically. They include both boys and girls who work as domestic help for rich families to take care of their daily chorus. At a time when they ought to be in school and playing with friends, these kids have no choice but to help other families out. 

The primary cause of youngsters working as domestic helpers is poverty. Typically, parents consent in the hopes of receiving financial support and a secure home for their kids.

The statistics paint a bleak picture–  the majority of domestic employees, or 25% of all those working, are girls under the age of 14. These kids labour for the family as live-in servants, doing chores including cooking, cleaning, taking care of the family’s pets or younger kids, and other duties.

Child Labourers in Bond

A youngster who is forced to work as a slave to pay off his parents’ or guardian’s debt is said to be engaged in bonded child labour. Although the prevalence of bonded child labour has significantly decreased in recent years as a result of strong government oversight and legislation outlawing it, it still occurs covertly in outlying areas.

Children who live in rural areas and work in agriculture are more likely to be subjected to this kind of labour. Poor farmers who are heavily indebted to lenders sometimes agree for their children/siblings to work as labourers for rich lenders. 

Until the last ten years, there were thousands of bound labourers employed in a variety of businesses, but as of today, the numbers have greatly decreased, and the government asserts that there are no longer any bonded child labourers in India.

Laws prohibiting child labour and requiring children to attend school, as well as the combined efforts of UNICEF (United Nations Children Emergency Fund), NGOs, and other pertinent organisations, make this feasible.

How to Make a Child Labour free India

In order to stop exploitation by groups or multinational corporations, strict application of labour rules is necessary. The current legislation prohibiting child labour has to be amended significantly if effective controls are to be put in place. 

It is necessary to raise the minimum child labour age in India from 14 to at least 18. More professions that are not covered by the definition of hazardous activities in the legislation need to be added to the list. 

Solutions to Child Labour in India 

  1. To stop child labour, poverty must be eliminated so that impoverished people are spared from having to put their children to work in order to make ends meet.
  2. Because uneducated people are unaware of the consequences of child labour, awareness and education are powerful tools against the practise of child labour in India.
  3. Eliminating or controlling unemployment is another strategy for preventing child labour in India. Many families struggle to cover all of their bills due to insufficient work. They will be able to teach their kids to read and write so they may grow up to be respectable members of society if work prospects are improved.
  4. We must first alter our own perspectives in order to end child labour in India. First and foremost, we must make sure that no youngster is kept at work in our own house or workplace. We must keep in mind that when we compensate young children for their labour, we are not giving them any favours; rather, we are toying with their future.
  5. In order for people to comprehend how child labour is affecting India’s future, we also need to raise awareness of the issue. They will have to comprehend that India cannot progress if child labour weakens the nation’s youngsters both psychologically and physically.
  6. Owners of businesses such as factories and stores should swear an oath not to use child labour and to forbid others from doing the same.
  7. We want the effective execution of laws that impose severe penalties on vendors, merchants, and mill owners who hire children for low salaries in order to prohibit child labour in India.
  8. Additionally, India should enact stronger and tighter rules against child labour so that no one would dare use it.

Smile Foundation 

Smile Foundation, through its Mission Education (ME) initiative, has so far directly steered more than 200,000 kids toward empowerment through education.

You may assist a child in breaking free from the chains of poverty. For a little monthly and yearly commitment, you may provide that youngster with advantages that could change their life. Your online gift will make sure the kid has access to education, dietary assistance, and healthcare throughout every stage of their young life. You can help a young child achieve their dreams.

Donate for child education to assist us in our mission to enroll every kid in school and to help a child experience the true joy of learning

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Education

Mind Sharpness Games For Students

Mind Sharpness Games For Students
Mind Sharpness Games For Students

The story of Abhimanyu, a great young warrior from the epic Mahabharata, tells us that our minds are impressionable and begin to form consciousness from the fetal stage. Medical science confirms so too!

The process of shaping, sharpening, and conditioning of minds that starts in the mother’s womb accelerates upon birth. A young mind learns from every sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. An engaged mind is an inspired mind. And what better way is there to engage students than mind-sharpness games? 

Catch Them Early!

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.”

Carl Jung

From an early age, a child needs curated intervention to acutely sharpen their minds. Studies have shown that games can sharpen the minds of students. Why? Because it makes the learning process natural, organic, interesting, engaging, and fun. 

Children are the future of mankind, cliché, but points me towards another absolute truth. Nobody can! It is also true that children have the attention span of sparrows. So, it is crucial to keep the mind of students engaged as then learning outcomes will be fruitful.

To achieve this parents/ guardians/ teachers need to introduce age-appropriate mind sharpness games at different stages of a child’s growth.

Activity, Stimulation and Retention Through Mind Sharpness Games

This blog does not promote any single type of game to sharpen the minds of students. But we discuss how games are an effortless method of leaving a long-lasting impression on the minds of students. 

There is no dearth of games, whether on-screen or off-screen, indoors or outdoors. However, the usage of games needs to be well-targeted, well-intentioned, and properly administered with child safety measures in place. This serves the purpose of increased brain activity, stimulation, and retention. 

Aamir Khan, an actor from Bollywood, also known as Mr. Perfectionist, has shown to the world in his hugely successful movie, Taare Zameen Par, that games when administered in a focused manner; can be combined with traditional educational methods that lead to increased creativity, innovation, and out-of-box thinking. 

Types of Mind Sharpness Games

The simplest of games such as catch can improve the ability of the mind to perceive the speed, direction, distance, and angle of an object. It improves hand-eye coordination, on the other hand, indoor games such as ludo and snake & ladder teach us primary mathematics and in general, it conditions the mind to stay away from snakes because they are dangerous (not all of them are poisonous, and kids interested in serpentology can educate other kids about it)

It’s often seen that a child will forget alphabets or numerals when taught by a teacher in a School or tuition, however, the recall of learning is higher when the same is tutored through say a game or in a more engaging way where the mind and body are compelled to work together. 

Building legos, or bringing the pieces of a puzzle together shows a particular piece will fit at a particular place and needs matching with the surrounding design. These sharpen minds because a child does not tend to forget the rules of a game thus positively impacting memory retention. 

Every Game Has Its Winning and Learning Parts

A child will know that the carrom’s queen has to be won in the end. A knight in chess is the only piece that can jump other pieces because the knight represents a horse which is the only animal piece of the chess board that in real life is capable of glorious jumps. 

It moves two squares vertically and one square horizontally, or two squares horizontally and one square vertically, jumping over other pieces. In order to participate and win, the mind has to adapt, move and change strategy in tandem with his/her opponent thus stimulating brain functions. 

Technological innovations have paved the way for onscreen; online & indoor gaming. Recently, online/screen gaming or electronic sports (E-sports) has been recognized by the Government of India as a sporting event. Research has shown that these mind-sharpness games have the ability to sharpen the mind of students just as well as the games involving physical activity.  

Our opponents in games need not be just our next-door friends but they could be anyone across the globe. A chess prodigy in India can practice with a worthy opponent from Russia. Further, there may be physical difficulty where a child cannot go out (think of children who are differently-abled) or just does not want to go out, she can engage with others online. 

Learning Through Games: An Enhancement to Traditional Methods of Learning 

Mind sharpness games cannot replace the formal system of education, the difficult concepts of mathematics and science including social sciences need classroom teaching and nuances of behavioral methods need expert instructions. However, an institutionalized classroom education may not inspire students to think out of the box and be creative.

So, games can complement traditional learning methods. Playing cards, consciously or subconsciously, are a good lesson in probability or permutation. A theoretical physics concept can be explained practically by outdoor games such as football or cricket. A child can learn the force and angle it needs to use in order to hit the ball in a desired direction at a suitable pace. 

Social concepts of human love and bonding should be taught through games. Team games make us a collective winner or give us the strength to own collective responsibility so that no one person faces adversity alone. These are values that make us more human and these values must be inculcated from a tender age.

After a long hard day, an adult needs to relax, so this is true for a child who needs to cool down. For a child, games are one of the best ways to de-stress and a stress-free mind is a healthy mind. In such a free environment, the odds of growth are highest. 

Building More Than Sharpness of Minds Through Games

Fundamental Duties enshrined in the Constitution puts an onus on every citizen to develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform and to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.

We may yet not realize it but games make children inquisitive, they sharpen our minds. We can very well say that games develop the overall personality, worldview, and outlook of students. 

While games do sharpen the minds of students, it contributes much more. It imbibes team building, sportsmanship, and understanding the concept of brotherhood. 

This goes on to show the children that together we can prosper and face difficulties and losses without much pain. It teaches us to win and at the same time losing does not mean the end of the world. It makes the child ready for his adult life. 

Closing Lines: Bringing Fame Home Through Games

The next time your child plays a video game, any physical sports, or carrom board, she is not wasting her time but as a parent, if you are not able to curate studies and games together then you may very well be failing your duty.  After all, it is through playing only, we can get our Olympic medalists, world cups, and champions. 

Learn about Smile Foundation’s flagship initiative, Mission Education, and engage with us on how to thoughtfully integrate games and learning.

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Insights Smile

Important to Empower the Grassroots for Social Change

Important to Empower the Grassroots for Social Change

A grassroots organization is one that starts a socio-economic movement with the people of a certain district, area, or community. Grassroots movements and groups use coordinated action at the local, regional, national, and worldwide levels to affect change. Thus, it is important to empower the grassroots to effect real social change.

Importance of Grassroots Organizations

Grassroots organizations are important because constructive change rarely occurs or lasts when it comes from the top down. Activities of grassroots organizations are associated with bottom-up decision making rather than top-down. They are sometimes rightly thought to be more natural or spontaneous than more established power systems.

People active in grassroots movements typically have the best understanding of the local issues. This is because they are members of the community most affected by the issue at hand. They are also more likely to be familiar with local important contacts who have the capacity to bring about the desired change. They are the ones who can persuade community leaders that the change is a good thing. Like Mr. Kalappa Lakshmaiah who had to walk 16 km every day to attend his high school classes and so, he ensured that the next generation will have their own school in the village to go to.

Members of grassroots movements generally have a more realistic view of where the rubber meets the road. Grassroots movements can exemplify a distinct style of thinking or express a problem that is significant to a segment of the general public.

What can Community-based Organizations (CBOs) offer to Big Urban Development Processes?

If community-based organisations are to be effective in significantly modifying current urban development patterns, it must occur on numerous levels. First, local residents, particularly women, should be involved in neighbourhood organizations. Second, they must work together across settlement lines to document needs and define priorities. Third, settlement networks must be integrated at the city level. This can be done by collaborating on inclusive solutions with local government officials and politicians while eliminating exploitation of the grassroots process.

All these together can contribute in empowering the grassroots.

Empowered Grassroots Organizations Address Issues Differently 

Local community groups and local governments work together to provide the most effective initiatives. National governments can play a significant role in supplying resources. However, municipal governments are crucial in working on urban poverty. Local governments are connected to the people and may respond to their demands. They have an impact on local land development, service access, and regulatory frameworks for the growth of informal settlements.

Why should municipal governments work with grassroots organizations?

Clientelist political ties are widespread, especially in resource-constrained contexts. These things restrict resources from being used effectively, drive communities to compete with one another, and reinforce vertical power relations. This is disadvantageous to many of the most vulnerable residents.

Grassroots organizations networked at the city level can fight these practices and help local governments become more responsible. They can provide innovative answers to current problems by collaborating with local governments and communities. Moreover, they can establish an alternative neighbourhood-based voice that confronts prejudice and discrimination against the poor in both resource-rich and resource-poor circumstances. Women are frequently involved to be part of these neighbourhood initiatives. They are adept at establishing connections as well as making practical changes. As a result, new public roles for women are created as part of empowering the grassroots.

Challenges Faced by Grassroots Organizations

There are a limited number of problems that communities confront while attempting to collaborate with national government departments and development agencies on a regular basis. First, projects are not flexible enough to allow local community groups to choose their own priorities and how to effectively handle them. A substantial local involvement is not possible unless these programmes are restructured. Those most in need will only join in once the project is approved and activities begin. This is not to say that there are no rules or accountability. Instead, the rules must be more process-oriented. This means that rather than solutions, communities must document requirements and designate priorities, such as improved water providers.

Once it is accepted that there is a need and that resources are available, local citizens can be engaged in developing solutions to improve their position. If the solution is already predetermined, it is unlikely to work because local ownership will be too weak.

The Need to empower Grassroots Organizations

Development of the grassroots combines holistic methods and local capacity building to embolden vulnerable groups. This helps them grow in accordance with their own needs and values. As a result, grassroots organizations may assist communities in leading happy, healthy, and prosperous lives that they value and have reason to cherish.

Grassroots projects give communities the ability to shape their own development. At Smile Foundation, we firmly believe in the power of the grassroots. Through various trainings and workshops in our Empowering Grassroots initiative, we seek to empower and educate our partners who are working at the local level. These include things such as mobilizing support, local fundraising, strengthening resources, and so on.

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In The Spotlight

Knowledge is Power

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Nelson Mandela rightly said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. An educated person has the ability to differentiate between right and wrong or good and evil or to form an opinion of their own. Although India’s education sector has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few decades, many of its children still fail to receive a quality education.

While some do not have access to schools, others are hindered by socio-economic reasons like family income level, parents’ level of education, race and gender. Graduating school is the only way for children to get out of the malignant cycle of poverty pervasive in many underserved localities throughout India. A well rounded system of education doesn’t measure a student’s merit just by academic results. Instead, it identifies the talents, interests and aspirations of every student and helps them develop their strengths and serve worthy causes.

There is an inversely proportional relationship between education and poor health. If the people are educated, we can expect a decline in prenatal deaths and maternal mortality rate, while simultaneously improving children’s health. Educating women and girls abut reproductive healthcare and their rights regarding marriage empowers them to make decisions about their lives. Early marriage and pregnancy cut educations short and often lead to underweight, undernourished children, as well as domestic violence. Thousands of under-aged girls marry each year, some as young as 8 or 9. Education helps everyone understand the harm of this practice.

The spread of disease in developing countries like India is often exacerbated by a lack of public knowledge about how it is transmitted. An appalling high number of children in India are still out of school working in hazardous conditions, living on the street, braving hunger, poverty and violence. Childhood for them has become an endless struggle to survive.

But despite their circumstances, they have not stopped dreaming. Their dreams are as colorful as any other child’s and they have just as much potential to fulfil them. Their eagerness to learn and express is half the job done. As a society, it is our responsibility to manifest consciously on an equitable, inclusive and robust education system for all.

The Mission Education programme of Smile Foundation identifies such out-of-school children from remote villages, tribal areas and urban slums, and provides them quality education. In addition to this, it also looks after their health, nutrition, and holistic development through participation in co-curricular activities.

Smile Foundation believes that whether you are addressing healthcare, poverty, population control, unemployment or human rights, there’s no better place to start than in the corridors of education.

To change lives by providing education to our children, please consider making a thoughtful donation here. 

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Insights

Impact-based organisations and India’s economic growth

Impact-based organisations and India’s economic growth

In a world with myriad social and environmental challenges, impact-based organisations stand at the forefront, driven by a mission to create positive change. Development entities, also known as nonprofits, employ a strategic and comprehensive approach to address issues ranging from education, healthcare, and livelihood to poverty alleviation and environmental conservation.

At the core of every impact-based organisation lies a clearly defined mission and vision. These guiding principles serve as the North Star, directing efforts toward a specific social or environmental issue that demands attention. Before launching into action, development organisations conduct thorough needs assessments and research. This phase is crucial for gaining insights into the root causes and dynamics of the issue at hand, laying the groundwork for informed decision-making.

Program Designing

Armed with knowledge, these organisations embark on strategic planning. Goals, objectives, and measurable outcomes are meticulously outlined, forming the blueprint for effective program design. One of the cornerstones of impact-based organisations is Community engagement. Building trust, understanding local needs, and involving community members in the decision-making process are key elements ensuring the relevance and success of their initiatives. Impact-based organisations have years of experience in understanding the community and re-designing programs based on the needs of the said community.

Executing Programs

To turn plans into reality, NGOs often engage in resource mobilization. Fundraising activities, which can include seeking donations, grants, and forming partnerships, are crucial for securing the financial resources needed for implementation. With resources in hand, impact-based organizations roll out their programs. This could encompass a wide array of activities, from providing healthcare services and running education initiatives to conducting awareness campaigns and implementing community development projects.

Assessing Impact

Continuous monitoring and evaluation are embedded in the operational DNA of these organizations. Data on key performance indicators is collected and analyzed to gauge whether the intended impact is being achieved. Learning from both successes and failures, impact-based organizations view their work as an iterative process. This adaptive approach allows them to fine-tune and improve programs over time.

Beyond the immediate impact, many NGOs engage in advocacy efforts to influence policies and bring about systemic changes. Collaboration with governments, international bodies, and other stakeholders is common and imperative to extend the sphere of influence.

What about accountability?

Transparency is paramount. Development organisations maintain openness in their operations and financial management. Regular reporting to donors, stakeholders, and the public is crucial to demonstrate accountability and build trust.

Successful organisations don’t rest on their laurels. They seek ways to scale impact, whether by expanding the reach of existing programs, replicating successful models in new locations, or collaborating with other organisations to amplify efforts.

It’s about sustainability

Sustainability is a key consideration. Development organisations work towards models that can continue to have a positive impact even after the initial funding or intervention period. This might involve capacity building, community empowerment, or fostering partnerships.

Collaboration is not just an option; it’s a necessity. Impact-based organisations often join forces with other entities, be it governments, businesses, or communities, to leverage resources, expertise, and networks for greater collective impact.

In their relentless pursuit of positive change, impact-based organisations like Smile Foundation play a pivotal role in shaping a better future for communities worldwide. Through a combination of strategic planning, community engagement, and adaptability, organisations like ours embody the spirit of transformative action, leaving a mark on the landscape of social and environmental progress.

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Smile

Entrepreneurship Skills for Rural Women is a Game-changer

Entrepreneurship Skills for Rural Women is a Game-changer

Beyond the romantic lens of rural women wearing colorful traditional clothes, traveling distances to carry pots of water to their homes, there is a new breed of ambitious women who dream to be the decision-makers generating incomes that feed their families and beyond their own. Entrepreneurship for rural women can be a game changer for them.

Hard facts first– 

  1. Women in rural India are often left behind by their male counterparts. The number of businesses by women is much less than men.
  2. India has 432 million working-age women and 13.5 –15.7 million women-owned businesses that provide direct employment to 22–27 million people.

They are rarely able to find jobs or start businesses that pay well and provide stable employment. However, there is a growing movement of women entrepreneurs who want to change this reality. These women view entrepreneurship as a way to build value and create opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Rural women entrepreneurship

Women entrepreneurs have huge potential to play a crucial role in an emerging economy like India taking advantage of globalization and a technology-driven ecosystem. Leaving behind the perils of the ongoing pandemic, women’s entrepreneurship, in today’s digital age, is a very important tool for development in rural areas.

The good thing is that now women entrepreneurs in even the remotest parts of India can connect with one another as well as experts, investors, and mentors anywhere in the world. There are organizations with communities of women entrepreneurs across India that allow women to share their ideas, collaborate on projects and connect with each other. This is an excellent opportunity for rural women who might not otherwise have access to these resources—or even know how they could get them.

These programs address the fundamental gaps women face in starting a business by providing industry-relevant knowledge and experiential learning. They aim to address the underrepresentation of women in tech by providing you with skills that will help you succeed as an entrepreneur, including– 

  • Understanding how technology works– right from basic computer literacy to advanced coding skills;
  • Developing your own digital product prototype like an app;
  • Launching your own startup.

Benefits of long-term investment in rural women entrepreneurship

According to McKinsey Global, India can potentially add USD 700 billion to the global GDP by increasing women’s participation in the labor force. There are many overt and covert benefits attached with to increasing number of rural women entrepreneurs– 

  • Income generation and thus leaving behind poverty
  • The best form of women empowerment is economic in nature
  • Prevents unsustainable migration
  • Employment generation for others
  • Bolstering the economic development of the country

A blended learning approach of online courses & live sessions

A blended learning approach of online courses and live virtual or in-person sessions work favorably for rural women entrepreneurs. An approach like this helps participants learn about entrepreneurship through interactive activities, case studies and group discussions. It also offers mentorship services from successful entrepreneurs who can offer advice on how best to navigate their personal journey as an entrepreneur or a business owner.

The goal is to provide rural women entrepreneurs with the skills they need to start their own businesses, while also providing them with access to training that is not available in their communities. This will allow them to have more control over their own futures, as well as allow them more independence from traditional sources of employment.

More investments need to be made towards providing the best skill opportunities for them. Think digital skills, soft skills, networking, understanding the business and idea gaps– basically everything that are the pillars of successful business models.

Interaction with other women entrepreneurs

If you want to encourage rural women entrepreneurs make sure that they interact with other female entrepreneurs and perceive them as role models.

Women in rural areas often feel isolated from their communities. Currently, they are in relatively smaller ones working outside of the home, so they don’t have access to extended support networks like men do. Women need others who can offer encouragement and advice when times get tough or when there is no one else around who understands what their business needs are.

Affordability & Access: Concerns for Rural Women Entrepreneurs

Skilling, upskilling and reskilling– all necessary tools for staying relevant and gaining traction in the business world relies on having adequate training programs. Blended learning models are affordable, flexible and accessible for rural women who cannot afford or find time for traditional training programs. They provide access to high-quality content through online learning modules and face-to-face workshops. 

Mentoring– Opportunities for rural women to get guidance

There are lots of opportunities for rural women to get education, guidance and resources to start their own businesses. Mentors can help them with the following– 

  • Business skills– How do you find clients? What does your business look like? How much money do you need to make and how do you spend it?
  • Personal life– How do you manage family responsibilities while running your business (i.e., how long will this take)? What is important in life outside of work that needs attention or improvement before starting a new project?
  • Personal finances– Do I have enough money saved up so that I am not too dependent on others’ help when times get tough; what steps would be helpful if I wanted to improve my financial situation over time; who should know about these changes if they ever occur (such as family members).

Final Thoughts

More and more women-led businesses will provide a substantial impetus to our economy.  It will enable women from rural India to access the resources and knowledge they need in order to start their own businesses, access funding for their enterprises, and empower themselves through entrepreneurship. The collective dream of “Jobs by women” would soon become a reality if consistent and smart efforts are made towards them– every day without losing sight of the dream.

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Smile

Why should preventive healthcare be prioritised?

Why should preventive healthcare be prioritised?

People are accustomed to habits, and General Practitioners play a crucial role in assisting patients in becoming aware of the negative effects of bad lifestyle choices. However, the truth is that providing accurate treatment to patients is hampered by a great number of barriers. Building self-confidence, having a healthy lifestyle, having more energy, being less stressed, and experiencing emotional happiness all contribute to a good life. Early adoption of preventive healthcare practices is essential for halting the rise of lifestyle illnesses. 

What is Preventive Healthcare?

The goal of preventive healthcare is to lessen the burden of disease and related risk factors by preventing sickness. To stop additional deterioration throughout time, preventive interventions can be used at every stage of a person’s lifespan and along a disease spectrum. 

Why is it important?

People have benefited from preventive healthcare by making consistent decisions and adopting healthy lifestyle, dietary, and eating habits. These acts not only provide the body a fighting chance to stay healthy, but they also aid in the early detection and management of existing issues.

It’s time to switch to a preventative healthcare strategy

Preventive treatment tries to avoid illnesses that are mostly caused by a bad lifestyle. We must combine preventative and curative approaches while improving access to life-saving treatments to effectively address population health as a whole. One of the factors impeding the potential expansion of preventive healthcare and spending on it is a lack of knowledge. Based on current patterns, the current situation is worrisome.

Economical, preventive actions are essential

A reactive approach to healthcare results in unnecessary cost growth. The performance of the medical system will grow dramatically, leading to better care quality, if we are able to keep prices in check and expand access to treatment. To provide incisive preventative care insights, we require a solid national health dataset. Government and commercial healthcare providers can also create forecasts and actions based on data.

The changing use of pharmaceuticals in patient prevention

Patients are now increasingly able to influence and participate in healthcare decisions. Pharma firms have been forced to rethink their place in the patient journey caused by Covid-19. It is time for us to move past our responsibilities as producers of medications and assist patients as they go through the many stages of their care—from instruction and  care— to prevention, diagnosis,  treatment, and care.

Coordination

The importance of partnerships has been emphasised  globally, and the ongoing pandemic has shown the value of several important, extensive coalitions. Collaboration between healthcare and biotech firms is crucial for the growing area of preventative medicine. Corporations and their employee-focused wellness initiatives will also be important. Our collaborative efforts to promote timely immunizations, screening, and simple access to treatment are essential to the effectiveness of preventive medicine.

Technology’s part in facilitating the change

Big data in medicine has a great potential to be understood and interpreted due to developments in artificial intelligence (AI), analytics, digitization, and deep learning. Fitness applications and wearables have greatly expanded the amount of personal health tracking. Without the capacity for patients and medical professionals to make relevant deductions and take meaningful action, the data gathered would be useless. Even today, we rely largely on the patient as the only source of crucial information during a patient care journey. Our capacity to analyse vast amounts of patient data and provide it to healthcare experts will be crucial in enabling preventative healthcare.

Methods of Preventive Care

Here are a few things you can do to keep your health in check and ward off any issues in the future.

Weight Control

One of the major risk factors for diabetes, heart disease, and even some types of cancer is being overweight or obese. Weight control is therefore crucial for preventative healthcare. To lose excess weight, engage in regular exercise and consume a balanced diet.

Mental Health Evaluations

Mental health, one of the key components of well-being, is frequently forgotten when people think of medical treatment. But, mental health issues like depression, affect our lives negatively. 

Additionally, drug addiction disorders, especially ending in overdosing, can be caused by mental health issues. 

The importance of mental health screenings for conditions like depression can assist people in dealing with problems that can have a negative impact on other aspects of their lives. 

Health Checks

Everybody should undergo wellness checks, known as annual physicals, regardless of age or medical history. Here, the doctor will examine your height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, and glucose levels, among other things.

Get your blood tests done at regular intervals to avoid any delay in detections of illnesses or diseases.  

How Smile Foundation is Committed

Smile Foundation has been actively involved in creating awareness among the most vulnerable and poverty-stricken people from the remote corners to urban villages of India. Click here to know more and contribute towards a healthier India. 

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How Activity-based Learning can Help in Knowledge Retention?

How activity-based learning can help in knowledge retention?

As adults when we think back about our school days, we tend to vividly remember a few teachers over others. These are most often the teachers whose classes were interesting. A little thought about what made their classes special would point towards their teaching method which invariably was ‘student centric’. A story-telling session, a word-building exercise, a fun math game, a general knowledge quiz, or a role-play; it might have been any of these that made their classes stand out. We enjoyed these classes because we were actively involved in those classes. This is precisely what activity-based learning (ABL) is all about.

Activity-based Learning: Concept and Methods

In simple terms, activity-based learning refers to a teaching methodology where the subject matter is delivered through various activities that make learning more interesting and engaging. In this type of learning, the student is the center of the process and the teacher acts only as a facilitator, introducing and guiding them through the activities. Students learn independently and at their own pace.

Unlike conventional teaching where the teacher is the one who lectures and students are passive recipients, activity-based learning encourages children for the following:

  • Engage: Children are involved in doing the activities designed and thus engage in their own learning process
  • Experiment: There is no standard answer to be replicated, hence children get the scope to experiment and arrive at their own solutions to a given problem
  • Explore: Learning through activities creates curiosity in children to investigate and find more information about a given problem/situation
  • Express: When children are thoroughly involved in the learning process it enables them to express their findings/ learning more confidently

Activity-based learning can be imparted in a number of ways. Activities can be designed based on the composition of the class and the subject to be taught. The most common way of activity-based teaching is through group work or group discussion where a class of students is divided into some groups and activities are assigned to them. Each group tries to solve the problem or finish the activity by interacting among themselves.

Besides this, puzzles, games, role play, skits, story-telling, demonstrations using real objects, taking students on an educational tour, playing a subject-related video, and showing a documentary in the classroom are all examples of activity-based learning/teaching methods.

Activity-based Learning: Benefits and Challenges

Every individual has the maximum learning potential in his/her childhood because 90% of brain development happens by the age of 5 years. Childhood is a crucial stage as the first 8 years of life build the foundation for health, learning, and overall life success in the future. This emphasizes the need to choose the right strategy to teach children so that their potential is optimally utilized.

 It is a well-known fact that children are playful by nature. However, they are spontaneous and have a short attention span. Thus Activity-based learning (ABL) is inevitably one of the best ways a child can acquire and retain knowledge.

Some of the Key Benefits of Activity-based Learning are listed below:

  • Ensures better participation of kids in the learning process: When the children are given an activity they are both physically and mentally involved in it thus engaging multiple faculties which provides better stimulation of senses and in turn better learning.
  • Leads to deeper learning and understanding: As the old proverb goes, ‘I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.’ Thus, ABL always gives a deeper insight into the subject matter as children learn through experimentation. They have the scope of making mistakes too and hence gather genuine learning.
  • Encourages creativity and out-of-box thinking: Learning through activities provides an excellent platform for children to come up with innovative ideas for the same problem. Creativity and out-of-box thinking are rewarded and encouraged in this type of learning.
  • Builds team spirit and social skills: When the children are grouped together to perform a task, they collaborate with each other to successfully complete it, thus eventually learning the essence of teamwork. This also builds their social skills and value system.
  • Helps to put learning into context: A key feature of activity-based learning is that it helps children apply their learning in real-life situations, thus establishing the relevance and utility of learning resources and materials.
  •  Leads to better knowledge retention: Since students learn through exploring and experimenting themselves, the learning becomes an output of experience and has clarity and thus stays with the student.

Though activity-based learning has some undisputed benefits, it has its own set of limitations too. Time constraints to design and coordinate activities, indiscipline in students and inconvenience due to the physical environment of the classroom, or disinterest from students who are not aligned to participate in a particular activity can be other challenges in activity-based learning. Also, some subjects are more complicated to be adapted to relevant activities.

Project-Based Learning: Meaning and Advantages

Project-based learning (PBL) is deeper, more detailed, and more complex than activity-based learning. In this teaching method, students are presented with a complicated problem, challenge, or question and asked to find the solution to the same by conducting their own research.

The problems presented are usually real-time problems and students are expected to design workable solutions. A project needs detailed research, and the use of diverse skills and takes more time to completion and execution than any form of traditional academic coursework.

Project-based learning prepares students for real-life situations and increases their workplace readiness too. Moreover, a single project might demand the students to integrate knowledge and information from multiple academic subjects and skill areas, thus giving scope for in-depth investigation and analysis of the problem in question. It boosts the creativity, critical & analytical prowess, and communication and collaboration skills of an individual.

E-learning Education Programme and its Advantages

E-learning or virtual learning has practically revolutionized the education landscape by transforming the process of acquiring knowledge. E-learning education programmes which include online courses, webinars, learning forums, podcasts, video streaming services, etc. are helping educators and students alike by facilitating innovative teaching and learning methods. 

For example, a teacher can explain some concepts better with the help of an educational video, or students from different schools can participate in a seminar and interact with subject experts without anyone having to actually travel to a common location.

It was through E-learning that education in schools and colleges could continue during the pandemic. Now, students can study and even obtain a college degree from a foreign university without even having to leave their homes. In project work too, students find it convenient to research online as the internet offers unlimited resource materials anywhere and anytime.

Donate for Education in India

Education holds the key to a great future. While some students are making breakthroughs in the field of education with the help of modern aids, there are poor and marginalized kids who still do not have access to even basic education. NGOs like the Smile Foundation are dedicatedly working to ensure that every child receives the gift of education. As responsible citizens of the country, you can support this cause. Donate for education and help in building an empowered India.

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What are the significant gaps in the Indian Education System?

What are the significant gaps in the Indian Education System?

India is home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world and occupied a revered seat of learning in ancient times.

The Indian education system has a glorious past that dates back to the ‘gurukul’ system in the Vedic age. Traditionally, the education system in India was more pragmatic, holistic, inclusive and functional. However, unfortunately, the current education system in India bears very little resemblance to its previous form and is plagued by many operational and strategic problems which call for urgent reforms.

Genesis and Changes in the Indian Education system

The Indian education system has come a long way from ‘gurukuls’ to digital classrooms. The unique history of Indian education system is divided into following periods in time:

Vedic Age: Before the 6th century BC, education was imparted in ‘gurukuls’ where students stayed with gurus or teachers and imbibed all kinds of life skills along with subjects like astronomy, medicine, mathematics, law, art of debate etc. The objective of education was to improve both outer and inner dimensions of the pupil.

Buddhist Period: During the period of 600 BC-1200 AD, learning centers developed around Buddhist monasteries/ viharas. Famous universities like Takshashila and Nalanda emerged during this period and attracted students from many parts of the world. Education aimed at physical, mental and moral development of an individual and gave functional knowledge to tackle real-life situations.

Medieval Period: This was the time of Mughal era (1200 AD-1800 AD) when there was Islamic influence on education. Maktabas and madrasas came into existence which offered Islamic religious education along with subjects like grammar, philosophy, literature, medicine, etc.

British Colonial Era: The essence of the ancient Indian education system was completely altered by the introduction of modern education during the colonial era. The use of the English language expanded. However, the focus of education shifted from functional knowledge to just passing tests and obtaining grades giving birth to an academic rat race causing severe dents to quality of education over time.

Post-independence period: The current system of education in India is an extension of the mass education system introduced during the British Raj. Establishment of organizations like UGC, AICTE, IITs, and IIMs in the years following independence has been instrumental in changing the education scenario. Though there has been a remarkable increase in the number of schools, colleges, and universities post-independence, the qualitative aspect of our educational institutes is still lagging.

Significant gaps in the Indian Education System

The major problems in the progress of our Indian education system can be identified as the following:

Low Budgetary allocation: Though there is an absolute increase in the outlay for school education and higher education in the budget of 2022-23,  the total education outlay has stagnated and is the same as that in 2013-14, when compared as a percentage of GDP. The lack of sufficient funds is a major hurdle in improving the quality of educational infrastructure and teaching resources.

Cost of Higher education: Higher education is a costly affair in India. Privatization of higher education and the growth of profit-oriented education entrepreneurs have made affordability of professional and technical education a major challenge in the current Indian education system limiting access of mainly rural population and economically weaker sections to qualitative higher education.

Outdated Educational system: Syllabus taught in our schools and colleges is mainly general education oriented and does not prepare students for the real world. Moreover, there is very little scope and encouragement for research and development and education imparted is theoretical in nature.

Evaluation and assessment system: While education equipped an individual with life skills in ancient India, today its definition and purpose have narrowed down to only securing a job. Rote learning has become the norm and students are expected to cram the syllabus and reproduce it in tests and exams. Students, parents and teachers have become part of an academic rat race that adversely affects innovation and out-of-box thinking.

Condition of Primary Education: Lack of basic infrastructure like classrooms, learning resources, urinals, etc. in primary schools often results in children dropping out of school. A UNICEF report states that 29% of boys and girls drop out before completing their elementary education. This leads to wastage of financial and human resources.

Importance of English over Indian languages: English being the primary medium of instruction in higher education, students from rural areas or with a schooling background of vernacular medium face huge challenge in following lessons and coping with the syllabus.

Indian education system: Problems and Solutions

The Indian education system is the single largest system of its kind with 1.5 million schools and 250 million children enrolled in the education system. However, the existing gaps adversely impact our current education system from delivering the desired results. Thus, it calls for immediate action to understand and find effective solutions to these problems.

True education is functional and applicable in the real world. Since we live in the age of technology, our education system also needs to be revamped accordingly. Technological awareness should be imparted to students earlier in their careers which helps them to match pace with changing times.

Our curriculum needs to shift from theoretical to practically oriented and prepare students for real-world challenges and jobs of the future. Also, moral education or value-based education should be included and prioritized to build character and encourage children to be better citizens.

Our evaluation system also needs to change to relieve the stress and drive children to study to learn rather than score marks. Knowledge, skills, and application-based assessment would help to break the chain of rote learning.

Teachers are the backbone of our education system. A properly trained, updated and motivated teacher can work wonders on a student. Hence, teachers should be trained and updated as per the current requirements. Hiring qualified teachers and paying them decent salaries is a necessary step to improve our education system.

New Education Policy 2020

In an attempt to revamp the old education policy and adapt it to the present age, the government of India approved the National Education Policy in 2020. The salient features of this new education policy are:

  1. Restructuring school curricula into a 5+3+3+4 format to correspond to different developmental stages of learners
  2. Reforms in assessment system
  3. Emphasis on Indian languages
  4. Center and state shall work together to increase education outlay to 6% of GDP
  5. Ensuring universal access at all levels of schooling
  6. Equal emphasis on all streams of education, academic and vocational education

Donate for Education in India

Quality education is the right of every child but millions of children remain deprived of this fundamental right due to poverty and lack of funds. The government and many other organizations are sincerely working to make education universal. However, the civic society should also lend a helping hand by donating for education in India, for, in an educated child of today lies a responsible citizen of tomorrow.

Please take a look into Smile Foundation’s flagship initiative, Mission Education (ME) to learn more about the efforts made to change the face of education for many underprivileged children in India.

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