Smile Foundation

Celebrating Girl Child week
2007-09-17 08:00 - 2007-09-24 17:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | New Delhi
Workshops to build the livelihood skills of the underprivileged girl children and women, and street play performances are the highlights this year.
Capacity building of victimised and underprivileged girls marked the Girl Child week celebrations by Smile Foundation this year too. A series of street plays and skill building workshops were organised throughout the city sensitizing people about the plight of girl child and motivating them to be a part of the development process.
Last year, Smile Foundation for the first time organised a street play workshop under Swabhiman, a health and empowerment programme for girl child and women. The workshop was held at Neb Sarai, a Swabhiman Intervention area.
Today, Smile Foundation has a full-fledged street play group, with at least 45 performances held at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Delhi Haat, DAV College and 10 urban slums (Nut Colony and Ambedkar Colony in Chhatarpur, Kumhar Basti and Harijan Basti and Gali number 1 to 4 in Neb Sarai, New Ashok Nagar, Shashi Garden (Mayur Vihar), Indira Camp and Valmiki Camp in Begumpur and Sriram J. J. camp) of Delhi to its credit.
Through the street play performances, a total of 100,000 privileged and underprivileged mass including about 80,000 women were sensitized about the significance of family planning and various reproductive health issues including immunization, early registration, condom promotion, HIVAIDS, safe motherhood, female foeticide etc.
Watch these community girls perform and it would be difficult for you to distinguish between a professional street play group and these adolescent slum dwellers.
Continuing with the legacy, this year too Smile Foundation organised a series of street plays at different locations of the city. Along with this, are several skill building workshops organised to provide livelihood skills to victimised and underprivileged girls. The workshop which started on September 19 ended on September 25.
The week long workshop included making of various artifacts like paper bags, decorated pots, anklets, necklaces, etc. The girls exhibited their artifacts at Lady Sriram College on September 19 and Gargi College on September 23 where the articles sell like hot cakes. “Ab hum apna khud ka kaam shuru kar sakte hain (Now we can start our own work),” says Snehalata, a resident of New Ashok Nagar.

Smile felicitated among the Best 10 NGOs in India
2007-12-16 | Mumbai, India
Smile Foundation has been felicitated among the 10 best Non Government Organisations by MUKTI FOUNDATION.
Ms. Smita Thackeray, Chairperson of Mukti Foundation, said on the occasion of honouring Smile and nine other organisations, “The journey in social work has been very rewarding and gratifying. As the Mukti Foundation completes its 10th year in service, we would like to felicitate 10 best NGOs with excellence in their respective fields across India.”
Around 100 children from Smile’s projects in Mumbai represented Smile Foundation during the felicitation ceremony held in Mumbai.
Mukti Foundation had followed a rigorous process in scrutinizing and selecting 10 best NGOs working for different causes ‘who have done substantial social work in the society’ across India. Smile Foundation was selected for its outstanding contribution towards development of underprivileged children across India.
On the occasion, ’10 on 10′- a musical concert was organized at MMRDA grounds BKC in Mumbai, featuring 10 artists comprising of film and television stars, singers, musicians and bands. Part of the proceeds from the concert was also dedicated to the child welfare projects of Smile Foundation.
“We hereby proudly announce that you are one of the organizations who has been chosen for felicitation at the Mukti 10 on 10 Concert,” says Ms. Thackeray while selecting Smile Foundation among the 10 Indian NGOs of excellence.
Sudesh Bhonsale, renowned singer and entertainer, and Sameera Reddy, Bollywood actress, performed at the concert among others and also encouraged the children.
Mukti Foundation was established in 1997 with the prime objective to deal with the social issue like Child Welfare, Women Development, Drug Abuse, HIV/AIDS etc.
Smile appreciates Mukti Foundation’s effort in encouraging good practices in the non government sector.

Inspiration: Mantra for this Women's Day
2008-03-06 | New Delhi
International Women’s Day this time is quite special for the eight community girls from Smile Foundation. They are by now ‘Swabhiman Role Models’ in their communities. So what’s that they have been waiting for this day?
Reena, Rubina, Babita, Sona, Kiran, Chandrakala, Sameera and Sunita, are just eight of the trained catalysts of Swabhiman programme from Smile Foundation, who in their teens, have already achieved the status of ‘role models’ in their communities and are getting trained to be ‘change makers’ in future
‘Inspiration’ is the theme on this International Women’s Day for the unsung girls in the communities where Smile Foundation has been working through its programme named ‘Swabhiman’ – meaning self respect in Hindi. Swabhiman is a programme for empowerment and development of underprivileged girls and women. Swabhiman is working for a population of 80,000 in Delhi and 60,000 in rural Haryana.
Dr. Kiran Bedi spent quality time with the ‘Smile Role Models’ with interaction, advise, sharing experience and giving them tips on how to lead other girls and women in their respective communities.
“I feel that the root cause of all problems faced by women will be solved if they become economically self dependant,” said Dr. Kiran Bedi. “Decision making without bothering about social approvals is another solution for Indian women, particularly in low communities, to lead a life with self respect.”
Dr. Bedi also advised Smile Foundation to work more on social security of the community girls and women so that they could live in a much better environment. Apart from formal and non formal education which Smile Foundation has been carrying out, Dr. Bedi advised distant education and increasing mental IQ by utilizing time in reading newspapers and also watching news should be encouraged.
During the interactive session, Dr. Kiran Bedi appreciated the good work being done by the Smile Community Girls and also encouraged them to continue with the same in future as well. Smile Role Models emerge from among the Community Girls.
A week long drive and campaign is being carried out in all over Swabhiman areas in Delhi. Nukkad natak (street play), role plays, songs, interactions etc. under the theme ‘Inspiration’ are going on, targeting adolescent girls directly and their influence groups like boys, elderly, children etc. indirectly.
Themes of the campaign are related to new mothers, nutrition and health rights of women, awareness against female foeticide, decision making power, basic health and hygiene, gender issues etc.
Smile Foundation is running its Swabhiman programme for adolescent girls and women in various underprivileged communities since 2005. In the process, adolescent girls are selected regularly and trained properly to emerge as ‘Swabhiman Role Models’ and ‘Master Trainers’ in their communities. They have been setting examples in the communities, and in the process inspiring others to ensure respect for girl child.
The objective of the special drive on International Women’s Day is to bring these ‘Role Models’ into the focus so that they can act as ‘inspiration’ for other girls.
Dr. Kiran Bedi, an inspiration for all men and women in relation with women empowerment, has invited a select group of eight ‘Swabhiman Role Models’ to her residence to act as an ‘inspiration’ and celebrate International Women’s Day in a special way for these unsung achievers in various communities.
Brief about the selected eight ‘Swabhiman Role Models’ from various communities of Delhi, invited by Dr. Kiran Bedi, are as follow:
Week long advocacy campaigns going on as part of International Women’s Day celebration by Swabhiman
Name: Sona
Age: 18 years
Sona, born to a conservative family, was married without her consent at a tender age of 14 years to a person who was abusive. She was tortured and ill treated almost on daily basis.
Then, she came to know about Smile’s Swabhiman and started attending counseling and training sessions of Smile Swabhiman. Gradually she became aware of her rights and mustered up courage to divorce her ill tempered husband.
Today she works as a domestic help and during her spare time counsels and motivates other women to come out of exploitation and suffering. She is also planning to enroll herself in an adult education programme and improve her prospects through education.
Name: Kiran
Age: 16 years
Kiran had to discontinue her education after 8th class as her parents did not want to support her education beyond middle school due to financial constraints and societal pressures. Little Kiran was inconsolable when she was told by her parents that because of her gender, she could not study further as her parents otherwise would not be able to find a match for her. They also told her that they do not have enough money to send her to school as they have to educate their sons.
Kiran came into contact with Swabhiman team who were visiting her community. She started attending the counseling sessions of Swabhiman. Kiran enlightened by the counseling sessions, decided to sponsor her own education through the earnings she would make by teaching students of junior classes. Kiran today is not only continuing with her education but is also working as a volunteer for Swabhiman and motivating girls her age to raise their voice against wrong done to them.
Name: Reena
Age: 26 years
Reena, a victim of early marriage and exploitation fought of all adversities to study and stand up on her own feet. Today she is employed as a CHE (Community Health Educator) in Swabhiman and devotes her entire time in educating other suffering women about their rights and inspires them to lead a life of independence and worth.
Name: Babita
Age: 15 years
Babita is another active volunteer of Smile Swabhiman who was earlier exploited by some frustrated male relatives of her village. After coming in contact with Swabhiman her life changed for better. Today Babita moves about in her community and educates them on how not to get exploited and defend themselves.
Name: Chandrakala
Age: 21 years
Chandrakala is associated with Smile Swabhiman as a Community Health Educator. She has studied till the XII standard. Chandrakala looks after her ailing father who is currently suffering from Tuberculosis and has not been employed for the last 7 months. She also looks after her sister’s three children who are no more. Thanks to the counseling sessions of Swabhiman, Chandrakala always wears a smile on her face despite all her hardships. She has attended extensive trainings on HIV/AIDS. She enjoys her work and spreads awareness on issues concerning women such as on safe motherhood, gender discrimination, nutrition, sexual abuse etc.
Name: Rubina
Age: 17 years
Rubina wanted to study like her brothers but her father packed her off to her granny’s home against her wishes. Courageous as she was, she learnt farming and started working on the farm. She used the money earned through farming to further her studies. Today Rubina is not only a confident young girl who is aware of her rights but she also works as a volunteer of Swabhiman and encourages girls of her village to take up education seriously and know their rights.
Name: Sameera
Age: 14 years
Sameera lost her elder brother and father in an accident a few years back. She works as a sweeper in Chhattarpur temple during the morning and attends her school during the day. After school hours she works as a volunteer for Swabhiman and spreads awareness on the importance of education among the girls of her community.
Name: Sunita
Age: 18 years
Sunita used to work as a domestic help in a bungalow. She had come into contact with Smile Foundation team when they had gone to her community. She was a regular in all the counselling and training sessions of SMILE’s Swabhiman programme. One day her employer tried to molest her. Enraged, she picked up a broom and started beating her employer and also ran out of the bungalow to raise an alarm. She forced her employer to seek an apology from her in front of his wife. This incident in her life made her join Swabhiman as a volunteer. She now goes about the village telling them how to lead a dignified life, despite being community women.
Swabhiman, launched in August 2005, is an effort from Smile Foundation focusing on welfare and empowerment of girl child and women. The programme reaches out to more about 1, 40, 000 population.

GE Healthcare – Modern Medicare Excellence Awards for Smile Foundation as ‘NGO of the Year’
2008-03-14 | Mumbai, India
Name of Award: GE Healthcare – Modern Medicare Excellence Awards
Venue: The Hyatt Regency, Mumbai
Background
This award is instituted by GE Healthcare a division of global giant – General Electrical. GE Healthcare is into manufacturing and marketing of specialized hospital & pharma equipments. The objective of this award to recognize real heroes in health care areas especially related to hospitals, individual doctors and other NGO organizations who are contributed to the society in a large way.
Sponsors & Partners

BD, BeaconMedes, Esate India, Medworld
Television Partner – CNN IBN
Knowledge Partner – Frost & Sullivan
Event Organizers – INFOMEDIA India Ltd

The Jury

Dr. Y P Bhatia – Chairman Accreditation Committee
Mr. Sandeep Sinha – Industry Manager, Frost & Sullivan
Mr. Ganesh Lakshmanan – Business Head, Modern Medicare
Dr. B S Ajaikumar – CEO Healthcare Global Enterprise
Mr. Ameera Pater – Executive Director – Metropolis Health care

Final Nominations for ‘NGO of the Year’

Spastics society of India, Mumbai
P.N.R. Society, Bhavnagar
Rugna Seva Sadan, Mumbai
Smile Foundation
CHETANA

Awardees and Categories
Face of the Year – Dr. V Mohandas – Mohandas Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai
Hall of Fame 2007 – Ruby Hall Cancer Centre, Pune
Young Achiever – Dr. Manish Bansal – RG Stone Urological Centre, Mumbai
Administrator of the Year– R D Tulsairaj, Executive Director – Aravind Hospital Madurai
Entrepreneur of the Year – Dr. N Sethuraman – Meenakshi Mission
NGO of the Year (this award recognizes the NGO for its phenomenal work within the healthcare industry by supporting medical
causes and thereby offering various services) – SMILE FOUNDATION
Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year – Meenakshi Mission, Madura
Marketing Campaign of the Year – LifeCell Asia Cryo Cell Pvt. Ltd., Chennai
Safe Practice Hospital – Wockhardt Hospital, Bangalore
Special Award – Institution – Frontier Lifeline, Chennai
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of a variety of hospital and pharma equipments. It has instituted an award to recognize individuals, institutions in the field of healthcare who through their outstanding contributions have made a noticeable impact to the healthcare scenario in India. The award titled ‘Modern Medicare Excellence Award’ was instituted in 2006.

National Launch of Action for Children
2008-04-01 08:00 - 17:00 | New Delhi
An Act for Positive Impact
Smile Foundation formally launched ‘Action for Children‘ in India on 1st of April 2008 in New Delhi the presence of representatives of Wild Geese, Ms Lyda Res and Ms Rachida, Mr Yamada Koji, Deputy Resident Representative of (Japan International Cooperation Agency) JICA, and Mr Naimur Rehman, Director, One World South Asia.
‘Action for Children’ launched across India by Smile Foundation is supported by a consortium of three Dutch agencies namely, Wild Geese, Net4Kids and Kids Rights. The consortium is promoted by the Government of The Netherlands.
The objectives are to involve privileged people in helping underprivileged sections of the society, and make local development initiatives sustainable locally by involving corporate and civil society groups.
India has the maximum number of homeless, destitute and working children of the world. Out of 500 billionaires of the world, India is home to 50 billionaires. Do the two statements not sound contradictory? How can a country with so many rich people have a very high percentage of its children living in abject poverty?
If all the ‘fortunate’ Indians come out of their indifference and apathy towards their ‘not so fortunate’ countrymen and decide to bail them out of their difficulties, India could become one of the most prosperous and powerful countries of the world.
‘Action for Children’ [AFC] is an interesting initiative of Smile Foundation which is directed to stimulate ‘fortunate’ Indians to ‘Stand up and Act’ to transform the lives of underprivileged children and contribute to nation building in the process.

“We are impressed by the efforts in preparing the right platform for the launch of the programme in India. We are confident that Indian development sector would support Smile Foundation to make the programme a big success.”
Ms. Lyda Res,
Wilde Ganzen, The Netherlands

“Action for Children is a programme which will sensitize the privileged people in order to help underprivileged people. Hence, we do not need to rely on external resources and funding to sustain NGOs and other development initiatives.”
Mr. Naimur Rahman,
Director, One World South Asia

“In a developing country like India, there is a wide gap between the rich and the poor. Now there is a way in the form of Action for Children to bridge that gap.”
Mr. Yamada Koji,
Deputy Resident Representative, JICA

“Action for Children programme is nothing but an extension of what Smile Foundation has already been doing for the last six years in various forms. However, with the support of the Government of the Netherlands through a consortium [Wild Geese, Net4Kids and Kids Rights], more than 100 NGOs across India will be sustainable locally by Smile Foundation. We can make it a revolution in the sector.”
Mr. Santanu Mishra,
Trustee, Smile Foundation

The programme is based on the premise that development is a people’s issue and not just government concern alone. It aims to sensitize people through advocacy on child related issues and seeks to involve them in mobilization of resources for grassroots initiatives targeted to bring about a qualitative change in the lives of underprivileged children by encouraging the privileged to stand up and ‘Act’ to make a difference in the lives of the disadvantaged.
The programme permeates from the context that:
• The situation of children in India leaves much to be desired.
• Fund raising in India needs to be broad-based.
• Public support for the cause of children and its socialization is required to be strengthened.

In line with this emerging scenario, the ‘Action for Children’ programme aims at encouraging various civil society groups like Rotary, Lions clubs, trade, industry and professional associations, schools, colleges, youth clubs/youth wings, corporate employees etc, including Community Organizations, to get involved in child development initiatives.
This will not only involve local people in relevant development initiatives, but also ensure that development activities become locally sustainable and not dependant on external support alone.
A programme like ‘Action for Children’ is the need of hour to bring about a qualitative change in the lives of millions of underprivileged in our country.
To know more about Action for Children, kindly click here

Be A Reason for Someone to Smile
2008-04-12 | Mumbai, India
SMILE for a SAFE Earth
Kajol Played cheerleader to Smile Children, giving company were Ajay Devgan and Tanuja ji, during a show organized by Zee TV.
Smile Foundation children were over the moon to meet their favourite star, Kajol. The Zee Family was more than obliged to invite Smile Children on the show Rock N Roll Family.
It was also endearing to see Kajol also responding to these children’s attention. The most touching moment was when the children presented Kajol with a hand made doll for her li’l princess, daughter Nysa.
“Smile children wanted to gift something to Kajol which she would feel special about. The children came up with the idea of making a doll and gift it to her daughter instead,” says Shilpi, (Communication Manager, Smile Foundation).
Not only Kajol but even Ajay Devgan and Tanuja ji were little moist eyed seeing the warmth and affection of these kids for whom the stars are demi-gods.
All SMILE children present were fans of Kajol. Kajol, fond of Smile Foundation kids, also was very happy for the opportunity through ‘Rock N Roll Family’ show on Zee TV which brought three generations dancing together. It brought an emotional touch to the programme too.

SMILE for a SAFE Earth
2008-04-22 | Kolkata
SMILE for a SAFE Earth
Smile Foundation children celebrated ‘Earth Day’ in Kolkata in associating with SAFE (South Asian Forum for Environment).
Locality: Anwashah Road, Kolkata
Day: Earth Day, April 22, 2008
FolEarth Day’ is being celebrated all over. But how many of us may are aware of it or even with the concept of preserving our Mother Earth, her beauty and resources for a better quality of life?
Children from Smile Foundation projects in Kolkata, themselves belonging to underprivileged communities, took to the street for sensitizing their elder citizens.
The programme started with a walk by SMILE children, which was joined by socially conscious citizens in huge numbers.
SMILE children interacted enthusiastically with everybody on basic awareness on environment issues. The children asked questions and shared views on the issues with all shop-keepers, pedestrians and even road side vendors. This was followed by an interactive awareness session on ‘Environment and its effect on Health’ to consolidate the experiences gathered by these children in their short interactions.
The programme ended with children’s decision to –
•Keep the environment clean and beautiful.
• Throw garbage in proper places – in garbage bins and dustbins.
• Save every drop of water
• Protest against cutting of trees and exploitation of ponds and other water bodies
• Keep your self clean
• Wash hands before taking food
Calcutta Telephones (BSNL) supported the programme. Soma Kanjilal, Debjoy Mallick and Soma Chakraborty from Smile Foundation and SAFE’s Director Dipayan Dey took the lead in fruitful implementation of the drive.

SMILE for a SAFE Earth
2008-04-22 | Kolkata
SMILE for a SAFE Earth
Smile Foundation children celebrated ‘Earth Day’ in Kolkata in associating with SAFE (South Asian Forum for Environment).
Locality: Anwashah Road, Kolkata
Day: Earth Day, April 22, 2008
FolEarth Day’ is being celebrated all over. But how many of us may are aware of it or even with the concept of preserving our Mother Earth, her beauty and resources for a better quality of life?
Children from Smile Foundation projects in Kolkata, themselves belonging to underprivileged communities, took to the street for sensitizing their elder citizens.
The programme started with a walk by SMILE children, which was joined by socially conscious citizens in huge numbers.
SMILE children interacted enthusiastically with everybody on basic awareness on environment issues. The children asked questions and shared views on the issues with all shop-keepers, pedestrians and even road side vendors. This was followed by an interactive awareness session on ‘Environment and its effect on Health’ to consolidate the experiences gathered by these children in their short interactions.
The programme ended with children’s decision to –

Keep the environment clean and beautiful.
Throw garbage in proper places – in garbage bins and dustbins.
Save every drop of water
Protest against cutting of trees and exploitation of ponds and other water bodies
Keep your self clean
Wash hands before taking food

Calcutta Telephones (BSNL) supported the programme. Soma Kanjilal, Debjoy Mallick and Soma Chakraborty from Smile Foundation and SAFE’s Director Dipayan Dey took the lead in fruitful implementation of the drive.

SMILE Kids on 9x TV Ginni & Jonny Chak De Bachhe
2008-04-30 | Mumbai, India
Don’t Employ Them; Empower
Event: An outdoor Awareness and Sensitization campaign Against Children working as Labour
Objective: Sensitizing privileged people and sending an appeal to empower underprivileged children through education
Date: April 30, 2008; Wednesday [On the eve of International Labour Day]
Location: Churchgate, Mumbai [towards Mantralaya]
Time: 11 AM to 12 O’ Clock
Organiser: Smile Foundation, 102, ‘Sheraton Classic’, Ram Mandir Road, Vile Parle (East), Mumbai – 400 057.
Contact: +91-22-26104106, 26104107
Query from media, privileged citizens and general public are welcome.

An Action for Children in Mumbai
2008-06-08, 2008-06-28 08:00 - 2008-06-29 17:00 | Mumbai, India
When heavy rains had brought Mumbai city to a halt, spirits of children from Sparsha – a charitable trust were rising high to participate in their annual function ‘Baalotsav’ organized jointly by Sparsha and Smile Foundation on June 8, 2008.
‘Sanskar’, a project by Sparsha and supported by Smile Foundation, aims to transform the lives of children living in the slums of Mumbai through the power of education. Every year “Baalotsav” is organized to showcase the talents of these children to the larger community where they reside and boost their self-confidence.
Moved by the enthusiasm and spirit shown by children, approximately 500 people attended Baalotsav. Speaking on the occasion Sarika Desai, Director, Sparsha said, “Slum children do not always have it easy. Many of them are pulled out of school and are forced to support their families. They rarely see education as a necessity. Their background makes it difficult for them to educate themselves but it is a crucial time for the children and we do not want them to work at a small age. We want them to become something and make their parents feel proud.”
The support of Smile Foundation to project “Sanskar” through its “Action for Children” programme had been invincible. Based on the premise that development is not just the government’s responsibility alone but people’s concern too, the programme aims to involve privileged masses to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged.
The programme ended with some of the children receiving prizes for their work. The parents of these children were also a part of the event and they were as excited to see their children exude so much confidence.

Transforming Lives by the Power of Education
2008-07-03 | Mumbai, India
About the Founder – One of the main founders of the organisation is Begum Bilkees Latif. She is the wife of former Governor of Maharashtra, I.H. Latif. She currently is the President of SHED.
About the Organisation – SHED has been working for the slum dwellers in Mumbai and its surrounding areas since last 25 yrs. Their prime objective is promoting the welfare and improvement in the living conditions of those peoples living in urban slums and tribal areas. SHED provides them basic amenities, such as health and family welfare clinics and regular medical checkups. In addition it provides nutritional programmes for children and expectant mothers and recreational and educational facilities for children and grownups. SHED also promotes environmental and personal cleanliness and hygiene among the slum – dwellers, villagers and tribals.
Association with Smile Foundation – SHED in association with Smile Foundation runs Smile Twin –e – Learning Programme in Andheri. The programme is designed to increase the employability prospects of underprivileged mass by equipping the adolescent youths in marketable skills like English and Computer. This helps them get employment in service sectors and particularly retail outlets, BPO’s etc. Besides necessary orientation, the job oriented Smile Twin e-Learning Programme trains youth in soft skills, basic management including retail and sales, personality development, career opportunities & counseling, team work and leadership qualities. The students are sensitised about the gender issues, reproductive and sexual health issues and diseases like HIV/AIDS.
Other Activities at SHED
Education – The organisation provides pre-primary and non-formal education in urban slums and tribal areas. In addition it facilitates coaching classes, literacy for adults, community libraries and vocational training.
Health – SHED provides health and family welfare clinics, health awareness, AIDS awareness and reproductive child health awareness.
Community Mobilisation – It mobilizes the community with mahila mandals, youth groups, career guidance and awareness programmes, counseling centers, etc.
Environment Awareness – It promotes and spreads awareness about environmental cleanliness, garbage disposal, water hygiene and sanitation, afforestation and rainwater harvesting.

SMILE Kids on 9x TV Ginni & Jonny Chak De Bachhe
2008-07-11 | Mumbai, India
SMILE Children on the popular reality show “Ginni & Jonny Chak De Bachhe”. Below are a few captured moments with the celebrities of the show.

Reaching out – the novel way
2008-08-08 | Orissa
Jupiter Academy of Lucknow devised an ingenious way of mobilizing resources by sensitizing privileged masses about the status of education and linking it up to poverty. A series of interesting activities were planned to accomplish the desired objectives.
It all started with a mass rally on 10th Aug’08 in Lucknow involving 3000 children from 50 local schools to create awareness about status of education in the state of UP. The rally passed through all the major crossings and points in the city and was covered extensively by both the print as well as electronic media. Video clippings of rally were then relayed in leading cinema halls of city for a period of 1 week with appeals for donation to the cause.
Awareness was also spread about the direct link between illiteracy and poverty. Powerful messages on the subject were relayed on radio channels like Radio city, Radio FM and Radio Mirchi and advertisements put on local newspapers.The activities finally concluded on 17th October – World’s Poverty Day with the organization of a mass awareness rally on the subject in Lucknow. Booths were set up at all happening places of the city like Sahara Ganj Mall, Waves Mall, Fun Republic Mall, Riverside Mall, Charbagh Railway Station, Arambagh Inter State Bus Terminus.
Donation boxes and appeal letters were placed at all the booths with trained volunteers to educate people visiting booths about the cause. This local action comprising of a series of activities was unique in its style and approach and helped to create mass awareness on the subject of education and poverty and made people ‘ACT’ by contributing to the cause.

Making a difference through ‘JATRA’
2008-08-10 08:00 - 2008-10-17 17:00 | Lucknow
Enthused by excellent response to the local action organized by it in the month of Aug’08, Orysed, a non-profit providing non-formal and remedial education to underprivileged children of Subarnapur in Orissa organized a second local action to sensitize civil society.
Subarnapur is a very backward area with limited means of entertainment with ‘Jatra’ a dance-drama opera as the biggest crowd puller in the area. To have maximum impact from the programme, Orysed organized ‘Jatra’ from 17th to 23rd Dec’08 around Christmas coinciding with the joyous and celebrative spirit of people. Around 700 people from nearby villages including senior government officials, politicians, heads of villages and local businessmen enjoyed the show. Orysed not only managed to sensitize a large target audience but also mobilized funds.

Reaching out – the novel way
2008-08-10 08:00 - 2008-10-17 17:00 | Lucknow

An Action with Nagpur Citizens
2008-08-14 | Nagpur
The world has shrunk as a result of globalization. Technological advancement in the field of communications and transport has brought people of the world closer. Cultural differences that alienated people from each other are disappearing fast as a result of improved communication. Yet, surprisingly there is a segment in our country that is leading an isolated life oblivious to the growth and development happening around them. The daily struggle for survival and failure to make their ends meet, takes so much out of this group of people that they are not able to mainstream in the activities of our society and lead a pitiable life of an outcast. Commercial sex workers and daily wage labourers working in risky industries like stone quarries constitute a large chunk of this segment. Pushed to the wall by inexorable destiny and circumstances, these poor people cannot come out of their miseries on their own. They require a helping hand from outside to pull them up.
Amrapali Utkarsh Sangha, a Nagpur based NGO supported by Smile Foundation, is providing helping hand to commercial sex workers and their children in Ganga Jamuna red light area, Nagpur and daily wage labourers working in stone quarries of Nagpur for last several years. The organisation under its initiative, Naveen Bhai Desai Residential School, provides education, healthcare, nutrition, boarding and lodging to children of sex workers and daily wage labourers.
Taking the development issue to local masses, Amrapali Utkarsh Sangha organized an event in the evening hours of 14th of August 2008 at MLA grounds in the Civil Lines area of Nagpur city, Maharsahtra. Around 100 eminent people of city from various walks of life including the top businessmen, local politicians, important government functionaries graced the occasion with their presence. Amrapali Utkarsh Sangha effectively used the platform to showcase the good work being done by them to the gathered audience through a documentary depicting the organization’s journey, successes and challenges. It was an emotionally stirring experience for the audience watching the documentary and can best be summed up in the words of one of the guests, Mr. Sunil N. Thombre, an advocate by profession, who commented, “Amrapali Utkarsh Sangha is doing a commendable job for often ignored but important segment of our society. Imagine operating a stone quarry without the support of labourers, these silent workers and their children must be helped to come up in life and it is the duty of us all present here to join hands with Sangha to enhance the scope of its work.” Adding further he said, “I also appreciate the support that Smile Foundation is providing to Amrapali Utkarsh Sangha.
India requires more such efforts to transform the fabric of our society”. An appeal for support was placed before the gathered audience after the documentary show. Stalls of artificial jewellery and stone artefacts made by the children of organisation’s initiative ‘Naveen Bhai Desai Residential School’ were put up to raise funds. The documentary show was followed by the dinner for the guests.
The funds raised through this event are being matched by Smile Foundation to strengthen the project, with an objective of achieving sustainability and scalability of the initiative.

An evening with a difference
2008-09-06 | Jaipur
‘Smile foundation was a part of ‘Ek Shaam Bachpan Ke Naam’ – a musical concert by Mr Pankaj Udhas organised on September 6, 2008 at Birla Auditorium, Jaipur. Important members of state judiciary of Rajasthan including the chief justice of Jaipur High Court, Col. Bhawani Singh, who is the scion of erstwhile princely state of Jaipur and a leading businessmen of Jaipur city, were among the eminent guests present on the occasion. About 2000 people from the elite section of the society attended the event.
Through the event, the masses were sensistised about the issue of child labour, child abuse, child trafficking and the need to safeguard the interests of less privileged children. The event was a big success and achieved the twin objective of sensitisation of privileged masses and raising funds for the marginalised children.

Talent Show Par Excellence
2008-10-26 | Maharashtra
Almost half of India’s population is women. Despite such demographic reality, the status of women in our country continues to remain pathetic, to say the least.
Gender-based discriminations, harassments, violence has come to be associated with women ever since before her birth- starting with female feticide- and graduating into various types, social, psychological, behavioral and physical. The situation becomes worse if the girl happens to be from underprivileged strata of society. Shelter less and vulnerable, these girls are subjected to all sorts of miseries and subjugation from being trafficked to getting molested, raped, sold, beaten and even murdered. These poor girls have it all right from ‘Womb to Tomb’.
It is in this scenario that initiative titled ‘Amcha Ghar’ started by Ms Sushila Singh and Mr Anthony Dias gains considerable importance. Home to 32 girls, Amcha Ghar has been working to empower these girls through education, vocational skills and self defence techniques. Twelve years of training in Amcha Ghar has made these girls strong enough to face the big bad world with confidence and courage.
On 26th of Oct’08, girls of Amcha Ghar were presented with an opportunity to exhibit their skills and talents before an august gathering of eminent people from various walks of life. Girls grabbed the opportunity with both the hands and delighted the gathered audience with their sterling performances. Around 150 distinguished persons of Mumbai city enjoyed the wonderful display of talent at Uttan village near Mumbai. Mr Vinoo Naik- Managing Director of Landscape Industries, who was also the chief guest of the function, praised the efforts of Amcha Ghar in nurturing the talent of destitute and orphaned girls. Mr Narender Mehta, Corporator of Meera Bhayandar, expressed his willingness to be a part of such functions in future too.
Local media encouraged the girls by covering the event. Talent show was a big success and enlightened privileged masses about the plight of underprivileged. Amcha Ghar managed to mobilize substantial resources which Smile would be matching under Action for Children programme to strengthen the project.

'Kolkata Today' and 'Picasso' presents – 'UTSAV' for Smile Foundation Children
2008-10-29 08:00 - 2008-10-31 17:00 | Kolkata
Venue: Gaganendra Pradarshanshala, Kolkata
Date: 29th – 31st October 2008
Time: 2pm – 8pm
A photography exhibition titled ‘UTSAV’ was organized by Kolkata Today in association with Picasso Photographers for three days between 29 and 31 October 2008 at Gaganendra Pradarshanshala, Nandan, Kolkata.
Amongst the still photographs of all festivals by renowned photographers, Smile Foundation placed pictures of different festivals drawn by Smile children! The different hand-made products made by underprivileged children and their mothers also got a place in the exhibition.
Special guests and celebrities like Wasim Kapoor, Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya (Odissi Dancer), Suchandra (Singer), Madhuban (Anchor) and Sampurna (Model) inaugurated the event on the 29th of October.
Soma Kanjilal, Manager, Smile Foundation (Kolkata) briefed activities of the organization to media partners – NE Bangla, ATN Bangla and Sristi TV during the inauguration programme. The activity was aired on 30th October, 2008.
