Category: Press Releases

#AddHope joins the cause along with #QuakerFeedAChild at Crowne Plaza Today, Gurugram

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Mumbai, December 25, 2017 : In a one of its kind of attempt to understand and directly connect with the children of underprivileged sections of the society, renowned bollywood actor Ms. Kangana Ranaut joined hands with Smile Foundation and has pledged support to the cause of nutrition under # Quaker Feed A Child initiative.

Quaker India, in association with Smile Foundation, brought its #Quaker Feed A Child program – an initiative that aims to further the cause of nutrition support among children by providing underprivileged children with a nutritious meal.

The well-known actor spent considerable time with the children of Smile Foundation, raised awareness on the importance ofnutritious food and have taken an oath to support the cause of nutrition. Also, at this occasion Ms. Kangana Ranaut presented gifts to the children, cut Christmascake and also served a nutritious meal to children atPa PaYa, a well-known restaurant in Mumbai.

The occasion provided a wonderful platform to the child beneficiaries of Smile Foundation to share the same stage with Ms. Kangana Ranaut. As an expression of their gratitude, children presented hand crafted gifts. Speaking on this occasion, Ms. Kangana Ranaut said “India is one of the world’s highest demographics suffering from the problem of malnutrition. The problem of hunger and malnutrition in India cannot be solved in a day, and it requires the support of the civil society to eradicate this social menace. If we all make an effort to bring a smile to even one child, I think we’ll get the true blessings we yearn for in the festivities. That’s the core of Quaker Feed a Child and I am happy to be a part of it.”

“Celebrities are ambassadors of the society they are from, to the rest of the world. They have the power to influence on millions. People across ages and segments consider them as role models. I would like to thank Ms. Kangana Ranaut for her support and to add more strength to the cause of Smile Foundation”. Said Mr. Santanu Mishra, Executive Director and Trustee, Smile Foundation.

About Smile Foundation :

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization benefitting over 400,000 underprivileged children, their families and the community directly through more than 250 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.

Website :http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

Facebook : www.facebook.com/smilefoundationindia.org

Twitter : https://twitter.com/smilefoundation

Mumbai 3rd April 2018 : Smile Foundation, a national level development organisation and The Pomegranate Workshop present the culmination of a dynamic arts program at The Maulana Azad School, Dharavi on 11th April 2018 at 11 am.

Students of grades 5,6,7,8 at Maulana Azad School, supported under the Mission Education project of Smile Foundation,have been part of 2 arts based programs conducted by The Pomegranate Workshop – My Voice, My Community and Graphic Novel Making over the last 3 months.

On 11th April the students will present their Graphic Novel anthology and also exhibit all their art and paintings which they have worked on in the course of these two dynamic programs which focussed on stories and art from the community and neighbourhood.

The students will present the works themselves, including a beautiful wall painting which they accomplished during the program.

About My Voice, My Community : This arts based program had the students exploring their own neighbourhood, the inhabitants, streets, shops and people stories which they then translated into art of their own. Right from three dimensional forms to cityscape cutouts and an entire wall painting, the students have spared no effort to translate their perspective through paints and various other materials to tell their story. The lead facilitator for this module is Madhumita Srivastava, an architect and graphic designer who completed her post graduation from Parsons Design School, New York.

About Graphic Novel Making : The students reflected on stories they want to tell, scenes they would like to depict even as they practised the skills of sketching, understanding body postures, depicting objects as well as the grammar of comics which include understanding comic panels, interaction of image and text and genres of comics to tell their stories. The lead facilitator for the Graphic Novel module is Chaitanya Modak, a comic book creator, designer and alumni of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

Venue for the exhibition – Maulana Azad School, Opp block No 5, Transit Camp, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Dharavi (near Dharavi police station)

About Smile Foundation :

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization benefitting directly over 600,000 children and their families every year, through more than 250 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 950 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India.Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families and the community.

About The Pomegranate Workshop :

The Pomegranate Workshop is a Mumbai-based arts education company that has, for the last eleven years, worked with leading schools to deliver co-curricular arts programming. Pomegranate’s student theatre productions have been featured at the National Center for the Performing Arts, Mumbai and in 2016, Pomegranate’s Antigone 2.0 was picked in the top 10 Theatre Picks of Mumbai by the Mumbai Theatre Guide. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, Pomegranate’s student films have made it to an aggregate of 15 International Film festivals including Norway, Los Angeles, Turkey, Kenya, Bucharest and have won several awards including ‘Best Film’ in the youth category at the 19th International Childrens Film Festival of India (ICFFI). Pomegranate has worked with the National Gallery of Modern Art, The Prince of Wales Museum and has conducted several learning events in collaboration with the Australian Consulate in Mumbai. Pomegranate works with several large education NGOs on capacity building programs.

Orion Mall @ Brigade Gateway join hands with Smile Foundation to honor the women achievers on the occasion of International women’s day

Bangalore, March 8, 2018 : On the occasion of International Women’s day, Orion mall, one of Bangalore’s premium mall,in association with Smile Foundation, a national level development organization, is going to honor the women achievers across the society. The one off event will also consist a panel discussion on “She Can Fly” – a forum to discuss challenges and celebrate the success of women achievers at 7 pm on March 10th at the Lakeside of Orion Mall @ Brigade Gateway.

The high-power panel comprising women achievers from various fields will include Shreya Krishnan – Director Communications (“Company name”), Geetha Menon, activist, SunithaVenugopal, Director, Communications and CSR, Walmart Labs, Reeth Abraham, athlete, Anita Kholay, racer, Pallavi Foley, jewellery designer, Beena Patra, designer and ReshmaKunni, designer. These women who have made a significant impact on society will share their experiences and their learnings on this platform, making it a true celebration of women power.

“She Can Fly”, an initiative by Smile Foundation is an effort to enable, equip and empower girl children with quality education, proper nutrition, good health, adequate skills, and above all a lot of self-confidence to help them live their lives to their fullest potential. The initiative also focuses on to sensitize the society on the importance of education for the girl child.

On this occasion, Vishal Mirchandani, CEO, Retail and Commercial, Orion Mall said “At Orion Mall, it is our constant endeavor to go beyond being a retail destination and offer value to the community. This panel discussion that will, no doubt, be an enriching experience for everyone present, is our way of saluting the spirit of women.”

“A girl child comes into this world with just as many expectations, dreams and aspiration as a boy, but soon finds out that her way towards achieving them is much more challenging. She aims to fly high, but her wings are cut by the ruthlessly unjust gender bias that our society is ridden with. Through this initiative, we want to sensetize civil society and partner them in the process of empowering, educating and making our girl child stronger, to stand her own ground. “SaysMr. Sanjeev Dham, COO Smile Foundation.

She Can Fly, let’s give her the sky!”

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization benefitting over 600,000 underprivileged children, their families and the community directly through 250 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.

New Delhi : 14 underprivileged children hailing from the slums of New Delhi, have made a short film called “Delhi Dreams” and the movie is scheduled to be showcased during the upcoming Cannes film festival 2018 at the British Pavilion on 9th May, 10.30hrs. The film was the culmination of the meeting of fourteen students from NaiDisha, a Mission Education center of Smile Foundation during Smile Foundation’s annual International Film Festival – SIFFCY 2017 (Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth).

The movie depicts stories of ambition and aspiration of 5 underprivileged children hailing from New Delhi. Thanks to Smile Foundation, a leading pan-India development organization their dreams have found a platform.

Smile Foundation joined hands with Films without Borders (FWB) (a UK based leading organization that educates youth living in difficult situations around the globe) to host a film-making workshop for children with an objective to educate, engage and empower children through cinematic experience. After a rigorous audition, 14 children from Smile Foundation’s Mission Education center, were selected for portrayal in the movie.

The children were trained under the multi-talented, passionate film professionals Ms. Jill Samuels and award-winning photographer and cinematographer Richard Blanshard who visited India in November 2017 to conduct this workshop during SIFFCY 2017. The product of the workshop was “Delhi Dreams”, which was also premiered during SIFFCY 2017 and all the children were also felicitated there.

“Smile Foundation has been doing films, which are creative, innovative and are a balance of the right content and the right quality, as a medium in sensitizing the masses, and engaging them proactively in the process of initiating social change. I am extremely happy that we, with the help of Films without Borders have been able to take this effort to a logical destination” Said Mr. Santanu Mishra, Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation & Chairman – SIFFCY.

“The workshop that we conducted during SIFFCY in association with Film without Borders, has not only helped these children to unearth the raw talent but has also helped them build their confidence, enabled them to learn about themselves. We are extremely happy and proud that the film has reached such a prestigious international platform”, said Jitendra Mishra, Festival Director– SIFFCY.

Roshni, Shikha, Arbaaz, Bharat, Murshed are the children whose lives, dreams have portrayed in this movie.

“I am excited that our movie will be screened at the biggest film platform like Cannes. I would like to thank my mentors who have helped us in making this movie; it is not just a movie, it is a dream of every underprivileged child who wants to earn name and fame. We did our best to make this movie and are confident that the audiences will love and support our work,” said Arbaz, one of the film-makers. Arbaz, student of class X wants to become a photographer in future. His father Tahir Husain is embroiderer by profession and mother AsmaKhatun is a home maker.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization benefitting over 600,000 underprivileged children, their families and the community directly through more than 250 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.

New Delhi, June 6, 2018: They are bright young girls bringing about a silent revolution in the slums of Delhi- NCR. They are the role models who are inspiring the women of tomorrow. Smile Foundation, a national level development organization has selected 130 bright, scholar girls from marginalized and poor communities to build exemplary role models through “Learning Fest” – a two-day residential workshop from 6-7 th June, at YMCA, New Delhi.

The workshop will provide a platform to the adolescent girl scholars to learn useful life-skills, exchange their experiences, ideas, aspirations with experts and resource persons as well as a working session as a part of the workshop to enable the participants to build their road maps towards their journey of self-reliance.

As part of its efforts to equip them to face the challenges and complexities of modern times, Smile Foundation, under its Swabhiman programme, imparts practical skills and information to these young scholars, enabling them to explore their potentials and established a positive self-image and develop better career perspective.

The workshop is conducted under the guidance of subject experts, trainers. It gave the students a platform to meet the real life role models from various fields- women entrepreneur, teacher, doctor, lawyer, journalist, woman police officer etc.

The workshops during this camp empowered these young girls through various activities such as Yoga, Self-exploration session, abhivyakti: effective communication through Media and theatre workshop, Self-defence and first- aid, career counseling session, planning a common future and meeting the real life heroes.

The program aimed at –

(a) Encouraging young girls to share the issues which affect their lives and enable them to understand their potentials and make relevant choices for themselves

(b) Providing them a strong Leadership orientation so as to enable young girls to put their best abilities for achieving their life goals as per their interests and aptitude

(c) Providing them access to information and opportunities available

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-founder & Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said “In India, the girl child are usually deprived of their basic rights and education. Through this workshop we want to empower and inspire the younger girls to develop a road map for the future and make them self-aware, confident, take full charge of their own development and become a role model for thousand others.”

Smile Foundation, through its Scholarship programme has initiated efforts for the attitudinal shift of marginalized communities towards the girls’ education. The support is for school and college level girls. Most of the scholars strongly agree that due to Smile’s support they are motivated to achieve desirable education. Their families are also encouraged to continue the education of girl children further. They appreciate changes in the scholars in terms of their confidence, personality and information level.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization benefitting over 600,000 underprivileged children, their families and the community directly through 250 live 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.

Media Contact: Ms. Sayani Bhattacharya | 9654428509|

Email Id: sayani@smilefoundationindia.org

Mumbai, July 19, 2018 : In a one of its kind of attempt to understand and directly connect with the children of underprivileged sections of the society and to raise awareness on the subject of importance of Education – the upcoming action entertainer movie – “Satyameva Jayate” , produced by T-Series and Emmay Entertainment, starring John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee and the debutant Aisha Sharma has joined hands with Smile Foundation, a national level development organization.

Under this partnership, Smile Foundation is going to be the charity partner of this movie and the movie will be supporting #MyMissionEducation, the flagship programme of Smile Foundation.

The film has provided a wonderful platform to the underprivileged children to share a scene with the cast – John Abraham and debutant Aisha Sharma, in the famous “Paniyo Sa” song, sung by Atif Aslam and Tulsi Kumar composed by Rochak Kohli and written by Kumaar. Jaya chourasiya, Bharat Karki, Sania jaiswar, Aman saini, Anita Gupta are some of the children of Smile Foundation in Mumbai who can be seen in the cameo role in the song in this movie. The song has generated a wide viewership in the social media platforms and has crossed 48 million views.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “Smile Foundation believes in civic driven change, under which we continuously strive to sensitize the privileged mass of the country so that they come forward and participate in solving the social issues. It is needless to say that the association will create an impact on the interventions that we intend to create amongst the marginalized section of the society. I would like to thank the team Satyameva Jayate for all their support.”

Jaya Chourasiya, an elated child, who has been featured in the song, said – “Being a part of this movie gave smile on my parents face and clicking picture and seeing John Abraham was a big surprise for me. This was my first experience for seeing the movie set cameras around me. I enjoyed this experience so much!”

The film is scheduled to be released on 15 August 2018.

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is a national level development organisation reaching out to more than 600,000 underprivileged children, youth and women directly every year through more than 250 welfare projects on subjects such as education, healthcare, youth employability, 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.

Website :http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

Floods have already claimed the lives of more than 300 people and displaced over 2, 30,000 people

Smile Foundation’s relief work begins with the distribution of hygiene kits, food and medical interventions

August 22, 2018: Ravaged by heavy rain followed by floods distressed the normal life and caused havoc damage in Kerala. Reacting to the pressing needs, the disaster response team of Smile Foundation, a national level development organisation, has actively started aiding the immediate relief efforts. A severe calamity, the Kerala floods have already claimed the lives of more than 300 people and displaced over 2, 30,000 people. The team assessed the immediate needs of the flood-affected people, and an early relief effort was initiated, with the objective of reaching out to over 10,000 families. In the first phase, distribution of relief kits, food and other necessary supplies have stated along with a focus on providing essential health services.

The team is working on Ground Zero to mobilize volunteers, procure relief material and reach out to stranded survivors. A distribution system (for food and other relief material) is devised and basic infrastructure is used for the shelter of the survivors. The work began in the tribal pockets of Waynad and Kozhikode, where more than 250 families have been reached with food and hygiene kits so far. Dasanakara, Eruluam , 73 colony, a tribal forest area have been covered so far.

Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-founder & Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “These are moments when the strength of the civil society is under question, but also the time when exemplary stories of humanity shine through. It is not enough that we put our hearts out to those affected by the floods in Kerala. We need to continue to put together all the resources that are available to us – be it human or capital and provide Kerala with all that we can. Smile Foundation’s Disaster Management Team has already started working on the first phase of relief operations; and aim to reach 10,000 families with food and other necessary supplies.”

Smile Foundation intends to provide comprehensive healthcare aid to the flood affected victims. The health vertical of Smile Foundation – ‘Smile On Wheels’ program will start providing healthcare services and will also conduct health camps once the water levels begin to recede. The main objective is to prevent the outbreak of any water borne diseases. “The Smile on Wheels” – the mobile medical unit will consist of a medical team (comprising of two general physicians, two nurses and one pharmacist), a medicine vendor, and a warehouse to stock supplies. A rehabilitation plan will be created and executed to ease the process of recovery. This will be an immensely difficult task as several people have lost their lives, their families, homes, their source of livelihood and much more.

 

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is a national level development organisation reaching out to more than 600,000 underprivileged children, youth and women directly every year through more than 250 welfare projects on subjects such as education, healthcare, youth employability, 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.

Website :http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

Palak Muchhal, celebrity playback singer, present at the event spoke on music theory, music practice and its association with emotional intelligence

New Delhi, 10 September 2018: The Amani India Project partnered with Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence to weave their programme into music making curriculum, was launched in New Delhi by Smile Foundation and Children in Harmony. An initiative through which children learn to identify, comprehend and manage their emotions through music – the project brought together teachers, student mentors, and schoolchildren. Continuing till the 12th of October 2018 at the MP Club, South Avenue, New Delhi, the project focusses on music theory, music practice and its association with emotional intelligence training. Palak Muchhal, celebrity playback singer, attended the event and actively trained, guided and collaborated with the young artists – adding value to their different song compositions.

The event centred on enabling students to learn the basics of music making – beat, rhythm, tone, dynamics, and pitch while establishing an emotional connect with the same. When they combined all of their new understanding through project-based learning, true transformation began to take place. Activities includedice-breaking sessions, jam sessions, song composition and practice sessions, working with mood meters, performing to the different songs and group recitals.

Santanu Mishra, Co- Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation says, “Children learnt to fashion their own ‘do it yourself’ instruments from objects as they composed music and lyrics. Songs were focused on empathising with people who are different. Our objective was to help them become ‘artivists’ – activist artists who put into motion all of the new equity skills they’ve learned in the Amani Project, specifically around (but not limited to) gender. “

Andrew Lewis, Program Director for Children in Harmony said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Smile Foundation for this initial phase of the Amani Project. The objective is to enable these new student leaders to go home, open their own Amani Project clubs and invite their friends to learn about emotional intelligence and making music. We have started in Delhi this year and will be expanding across India in the years to come.”

Erik Gregory, Executive Director of the Los Angeles based non-profit, Children in Harmony said,”We have found the perfect partner in the Smile Foundation. Their existing programs for students across India have had incredible and long – lasting results. Our joint program, the Amani Project, will be yet another success story and will allow students and adults to learn vital life skills that will help them flourish in their communities.”

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is a national level development organisation reaching out to more than 600,000 underprivileged children, youth and women directly every year through more than 250 welfare projects on subjects such as education, healthcare, youth employability, 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.

Website :http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/