Category: Press Releases

New Delhi : Under Smile Foundation’s Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP), 13 new centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Gurgaon have started functioning with effect from 1st of April 2015. Out of the 13 STeP centres, 10 centres are being supported by Ericsson and three by FIS. Smile Foundation is now operating a total of 45 STeP centres across India.

Smile Twin e-Learning Programme, launched in 2007, provides access to education to underprivileged youth through training in basic computer, telecom and retail sales management skills – along with proficiency in spoken and written English. The curriculum also includes sessions on personal development, career counselling and placement support.

More than 1500 urban underprivileged youth will be directly benefitted through these 13 new STeP centres alone.

Under this Smile Foundation-Ericsson partnership, 20 more STeP centres in Gurgaon, Noida, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata are being set up and will function soon. Further, in collaboration with FIS, five more STeP centres will begin its operations in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Chandigarh.

Speaking about the launch of new centres, Mr. Vikram Singh Verma, COO, Smile Foundation says, “Knowledge of market-oriented job skills such as English, basic computer, personality development, retail management, relevant soft skills etc. is essential in seeking a job. For the underprivileged youth in our country, there is an urgent need of employability training that demands addressing. We would like to thank Ericsson and FIS for helping us extending our reach further.”

Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) is a national level livelihood programme of Smile Foundation that trains urban underprivileged youth with market-oriented job skills such as English, basic computer, personality development, retail management, relevant soft skills etc and makes them employed in retail and service sectors across India. So far, more than 16,000 youth have been trained and 11,500 have been placed in over 140 brands across India. Most of the youth, both girls and boys, have become the first generation blue-collar workers in their families.

Mumbai :Smile Foundation has received the 1st ICAI CSR Award, for the ‘Best CSR Project in Women Empowerment.’

The award has been instituted and conferred by the Committee for Cooperative and NPOS Sector and IND (AS) Implementation Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

Mr. Vikram Singh Verma, Chief Operating Officer, Smile Foundation received the award in Mumbai. The Chief Guest Mr. Anant Geete, Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises of India graced the awards ceremony along with Chairman of the Committee for Co-operatives and NPO Sectors, ICAI; President, ICAI; V-P, ICAI; Chairman, WIRC; Chairman, CMII Committee of WIRC, among other dignitaries.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is the national professional accounting body of India. It was established in 1949 under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. ICAI is the second largest professional accounting body in the world in terms of membership. ICAI is the only licensing cum regulating body of the financial audit and accountancy profession in India.

“An encouragement in the form of this award from a revered institution like ICAI has renewed our commitment to work harder in the areas of child development with special focus on the girl child. This recognition will also act as a morale booster for our community workers, project managers, supporters, partners and our very own girl children alike,” said Mr. Vikram Singh Verma, Chief Operating Officer, Smile Foundation.

Girl child has been on the centre-stage of Smile Foundation’s national level programmes. Swabhiman, meaning self-respect in English, is an especially designed programme focusing on girl children and women empowerment. The USP of Swabhiman is its innovative and highly effective approach named 4 S Model which means Seeking Healthcare as a Behaviour, Support through Education, Support from Men through Male Involvement, and Sustaining Change in the Community. As many as 150,000 girls and women have benefited from Smile Foundation’s Swabhiman programme in the last 10 years.

New Delhi :Baxter International Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc.) and Smile Foundation have partnered for a women and girl child empowerment project under the latter’s Swabhiman programme in six slum areas across Delhi, India.

Baxter International Foundation is extending a support of US$100,448 towards this two-year Swabhiman project, primarily focused on healthcare of women, girl children and adolescents. The project will cover the migrant community living in the slum areas of East and South Delhi. Managed by Smile Foundation, the initiative aims to create awareness and increase accessibility to healthcare services for 150,000 women, children and adolescents.

Under the project, four health camps per month will be organized across the six identified slum areas. Besides these health camps, curative services, community engagement and awareness activities will be organized.

The six areas covered in the project are New Ashok Nagar, Shashi Garden and Bismil Camp in East Delhi, and Chattarpur Nut Colony, Chattarpur Pahari and Ambedkar Colony in South Delhi.

About Baxter International Foundation:

Baxter International Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc. The Foundation’s fundamental purpose is to make a positive and lasting impact on healthcare and the health of communities globally.

The mission of Baxter International Foundation is to increase access to healthcare for the disadvantaged and underserved in the United States and around the world.

For more information on Baxter International Foundation, please visit:- http://www.baxter.com/about_baxter/sustainability/international_foundation/index.html

About Swabhiman Programme:

Swabhiman, meaning ‘self-respect’ in English, is an endeavor of Smile Foundation designed to bring pride and dignity to marginalized and socially excluded women and girls, and enable them to realize their self-esteem and optimum potential in every sphere of life through innovative community engagement strategies.

This women empowerment programme works through a highly effective approach named ‘4 S Model’, which stands for Seeking Healthcare as a Behaviour, Support through Education, Support from Men through Male Involvement, and Sustaining Change in the Community.

For more information on Swabhiman Programme, please visit:-http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/swabhiman.html

An initiative by Smile Foundation to raise support for education of the girl child

Mumbai :Smile Foundation, a national level development organization, showcased the 7th edition of its fundraiser ‘Ramp for Champs’ today at Hotel Renaissance, Powai. With a special focus on education for the girl children, funds raised from Ramp for Champs will be utilized through Smile Foundation’s national level programme – Mission Education.

India’s only national level charity fashion event, the Ramp for Champs Mumbai edition had a robust line-up of 50 participating achievers and personalities from all walks of life. A number of responsible corporate had also joined the event to celebrate the very best of fashion and creative talent along with supporting a noble cause.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Neeraj Agarwal, Executive Director, Corporate Communication, LIC India said, “How we care for our children, protect their welfare and give them at least a fighting chance for a brighter, fulfilling future reflects our attitude to society. This event is a bridge to their aspirations and our willingness to support their cause. We appreciate Smile Foundation’s service in bringing dignity, in a holistic way, in the lives of innocent children and communities.”

The event started with a very special performance by singers Abhiruchi Singh who has dedicated a song “Udd Chali” to Smile Foundation’s girl child empowerment initiative. Ace singer Divya Kumar and choreographer-actor Ganesh Acharya also performed during the event, captivating the crowd with their mesmerising performances.

Star designers Archana Kochhar and Preety’s Designer Hut extended their support to the cause by showcasing their special collections, not with models but with their muses, including celebrities and their high profile clients.

Ace-Couturier Archana Kochhar who is also the Goodwill Ambassador for Girl Child Education with Smile Foundation has great fellowship for fashion and is feasting her clients through three operational prêt stores in Mumbai. Her muses for the show had eminent personalities from all fields like acting, singing, chefs, working women to homemakers. Her power list consisted of Huma Qureshi, Krishika Lulla, Urvashi Sharma (who walked with her two beautiful daughters Parinishta and Samaira), Dimple Nahar, Shobha Lakhani, Ragini Khanna, Manara Handa, Rashmi Desai, Nazneen Patel, Surbhi Jyoti, Aishwarya Sakhuja, Nataliya Konzenhva,Teejay Sidhu, Tia Bajpai, Ekta Kaul, Harshali Zine, Poornima, Bhoomi Trivedi, Rajneesh Duggal, Chef Vikas Khanna, Mukesh Chabbra, Karan Tacker, Karan Veer Vohra, Ameet Sareen, Divya Kumar, Gaurav Sethi and Sahil Anand.

Preety’s Designhut started as a humble small scale business venture, but has gradually evolved into an emerging empire of traditional attire. Preety’s collections are inspired from the Mother Earth “Bhoomi” – a perfect blend of heart and soul. Her muses for this event were Tapsee Pannu, VJ Andy, Bhumi Chawda, Anjali Ahuja, Tina Chopra, Charmi Shah, Chahat Khanna, Chanchal Jain, Kavita Paudwal, Rinku Dudani, Shibani Kashyap, Jharna Savla, Bobby Khan with wife, Tina Dutta, Simple Kaur, Shraddha, Evelyn Sharma and Mahaakshay Chakraborty.

This Ramp for Champs was presented by LIC of India, with Copper Stone as the Co- Partner. Other valuable partners were Nerolac, Colors, Big Brother Foundation, The Renaissance Hotel, Truefitt & Hills, Proton Communications, Chandrakala Sanap, Gaurav Sethi Photographer, Stardust Magazine and Moryaas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd.

About Ramp for Champs

Ramp for Champs (RFC) is a charity fashion show from Smile Foundation that has emerged as India’s largest cause-related fashion event over the years. Ramp for Champs brings together fashion designers, eminent public figures and corporate to raise supports for the cause of child education. The Ramp for Champs in Mumbai was the seventh edition, with the first one launched in Bengaluru in 2011.

Lauds Smile Foundation’s Child for Child programme

Chennai : Felicitating school principals for being the positive change agents in society, Tamil Nadu Governor Dr K Rosaiah lauded Smile Foundation’s Child for Child programme that aims at bridging the gap between privileged and underprivileged children.

“I am very happy to be present here on this occasion among so many heads of institutions who are being felicitated by Smile Foundation for being socially responsible. Their sensitization programme Child for Child (CFC) in privileged schools is the need of the day. These children are our future. If they are properly educated and taught to be socially responsible, it will bring about a change in their thinking and attitude”, Dr Rosaiah said addressing the school principals gathered from across the state.

“The fact that all of you have come here in support of Smile Foundation and educating underprivileged children speaks volumes about the responsible citizens that all of you are. With your continued support I am sure Smile Foundation will be able to reach out to many more children”, the Governor added.

Speaking on the occasion, Smile Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer Vikram Singh Verma said, “It is crucial to inculcate in children the feelings of empathy and conscience towards those who are less fortunate, so that they grow up as responsible individuals. Under Child for Child programme, Smile Foundation visits various schools and conducts engaging sessions for young minds. It sensitizes children towards various causes and lets them realize their own privileged status. This helps them develop into not only responsible individuals but also as significant change makers who contribute positively to society.”

“Currently, CFC reaches out to nearly one million privileged children in 900 schools spread across 417 districts of the country. Parents and teachers are also involved in the process. Specifically in Tamil Nadu, we have reached out to around 500 schools and covered approx. 40,000 children. School Principals are instrumental in assisting us in the programme by allowing us to conduct it in their schools through sensitization sessions and thereby bridge the gap between privileged and underprivileged children,” Mr Verma noted.

SIDDHI – an innovative art show for charity

New Delhi :Smile Foundation and Yellow Ochre have come up with an innovative art show titled Siddhi wherein two children will be paired with an artist to produce a painting. Ten such paintings will be exhibited and proceeds from the same will be entirely utilized to send children to school.

Siddhi aims to introduce young underprivileged children to the practice of fine art. Not only is art therapeutic, it can also be chosen as a career path. Siddhi literally means accomplishment/ happiness/ achievement. The aim is to help the children achieve this through a process, which will culminate in an exhibition in April 2015.

Mr. Vikram Singh Verma, COO, Smile Foundation says, “It is an interesting concept that resonates with art as a catalyst to bring social change. By involving the privileged section of the society proactively in the process of child development, we aim to bring some real and permanent change in the lives of the most deserving children.”

Yellow Ochre shall aim to make the process of making the artwork inspirational, educative and fun for the children. The process of having children work with the artists will be filmed/ documented for a short film to be produced later.

V. Anamika a Yellow Ochre artist feels that “Things have to be done at a higher level for them to make an impact on the grass-root level. I hope this initiative helps us make an impact. I am happy to be part of this initiative.”

Manu Singh also a Yellow Ochre artist who has recently showcased at the Kochi Biennale says, “Just like food, music and love, art makes us feel good. Art stimulates us. This has been a very inspirational activity for me; I was pleased to see how these children were enjoying painting the canvases with us, and how they talked with such enthusiasm about the artworks. I’m looking forward to getting some of this inspiration out onto the canvas.”

A catalogue of all the artwork, incorporating the process of making them and the inspiration behind them, will be produced. This will be distributed to clients before the exhibition. All the money raised from the sale of the paintings will go to Smile Foundation. The exhibition itself will be held in New Delhi over a period of five days. The private view/opening will be on the 18th of April at the Stainless Gallery in New Delhi.

Yellow Ochre is an art sales & rental platform that has been founded on the belief that art should be accessible to all and everyone should be able to derive pleasure from it. They aim to facilitate the navigation of the formidable world of art with ease, with the range of options they present; they make the process of searching and selecting artworks fun.

Smile Foundation is a national level development organisation benefitting over 300,000 underprivileged children, their families and the community directly through 158 welfare projects on subjects such as education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families and the community.

Smile Foundation believes in the spirit of partnership and actively engages and joins hands with community organizations, civic bodies, corporate, brands, educational and development institutions, as well as the government to strengthen its cause and ameliorate the situation of underprivileged children in India.

1,000 more children across India to receive free nutritional support

Bengaluru : The launch of the third phase of the Casa Herbalife programme has been announced by Smile Foundation, a national development organization that works for underprivileged children and their families in areas of education, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment. The programme is supported by the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF), a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of children by helping charitable organisations provide healthy nutrition to children in need. During the third phase unveiled today in Bengaluru, the HFF will extend grants to provide nutritional support to 1,000 children across India, through Smile Foundation’s ‘Mission Education’ programme.

The third phase beneficiaries are spread across Smile Foundation’s Mission Education centres, including in the North (New Delhi, Gurgaon in Haryana and Chandigarh), East (Kolkata in West Bengal), West (Baroda in Gujarat and Thane in Maharashtra) and South (Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Bangalore in Karnataka).The first and second phases of the programme were launched in Mumbai & Chennai in 2011 and 2013, respectively, to cater to 2,000 children in these regions. Overall, the initiative is benefitting 3,000 children in three phases.

Speaking on the occasion, Vikram Singh Verma, Chief Operating Officer, Smile Foundation said, “We are happy to continue this relationship into the third phase and we believe that together we can deliver the right value. 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. More than 200,000 children have directly benefitted from the Mission Education programme since 2002.”

Ajay Khanna, Vice President and Country Head, Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Two key factors which play a pivotal role in the growth and development of a child are a healthy body and a healthy mind. The quality of life during childhood will be a defining factor in a person’s success as an adult. As a global nutrition company, we advocate the importance of nutrition for a healthy and active life; hence we have strengthened our association with Smile Foundation through this third phase of the programme. We are happy that 3,000 children will benefit from this partnership.”

Mission Education is Smile Foundation’s flagship programme which provides education, healthcare and nutrition support to underprivileged children.

Bangalore : July 01, 2016 : On the occasion of the 77 birth anniversary of the legendary music composer R D Burman, Smile Foundation in association with Fever FM and Alive India is coming up with a special initiative called “U Me & RD” – a musical evening to remember the legend & his unforgettable compositions on July 3, 2016 at B R Ambedkar Bhavan, to support the cause of education for underprivileged Children.

The gala evening will witness another legendary singer Padma shri “Usha Uthup” singing the foot taping numbers of R D Burman along with the celebrated musician Shri Kishor Sodha, who has given soul to many of R D Burman’s compositions. The famous & leading band AURKO will also perform on this special occasion.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Vikram Singh Verma, COO, Smile Foundation said, “Smile Foundation believes in civic driven change, under which we continuously strives to sensitize the privileged mass of the country so that they come forward, take on the social problems of the country as personal challenges and fight them back. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the legendary musician Shri R D Burman, our aim is to raise awareness on this issue through the medium of entertainment. We are thankful to Fever FM and Alive India for their support in this initiative. ”

About Smile Foundation :

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization benefitting over 400,000 underprivileged children, their families and the community directly through 158 welfare projects on subjects such as education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment across 26 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families and the community.

Assam/Guwahati : August 29, 2016 : Ravaged by heavy rain followed by floods distressed the normal life and caused a havoc damage in the state of Assam. Floods have completely ruptured normal life in the state and affected close to 19 lakh people and claimed many lives.

Reacting to the pressing needs and tenacity of the situation in Assam, the disaster response team of Smile Foundation, a national level development organisation, actively started aiding the rescue and immediate relief efforts in Assam. The early relief effort initiated with distributing relief kits and necessary supplies, along with focus on providing essential health services.

In a post-flood situation, health becomes a critical issue and an outbreak of epidemics is a fatal possibility. The difficult terrain, devastated roads and lack of proper healthcare infrastructure have further worsen the situation. To address this crucial need, Smile Foundation is deploying health camps in the worst hit villages to address the immediate medical needs of the survivors. The camps will be providing basic health check-ups, medical diagnosis, pathological test facilities, and free of cost medicines to the affected families.

Further need assessment is being carried out to devise short term and long term plans for rehabilitation and revival of the affected children and families in identified flood affected areas.

Smile Foundation Disaster Response Programme:

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization benefitting over 400,000 underprivileged children, their families and the community directly through 158 welfare projects on subjects such as education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment across 26 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families and the community.

To know more about Smile Foundation, log onto: – www.smilefoundationindia.org