Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organisation based in New Delhi, India.[1] It was established in 2002 and has a presence in 25 Indian states.[2] As of 2018, the foundation reaches around 600,000 children and their families.[3]


Smile Foundation
Founded2002
FounderSantanu Mishra
TypeNon-governmental organization
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
Location
  • India
Area served
INDIA,Delhi
OwnerSantanu Mishra
Key people
Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder & Executive Trustee
Websitewww.smilefoundationindia.org

The organisation works for the welfare of children,[4] their families,[5][6] and the community through a lifecycle approach.[7]

History

Mishra gathered together a group of young corporate professionals and started Smile Foundation in 2002, which mainly works with underprivileged children and their families in the areas of education, health, livelihood, and empowerment.[8]

Working Models

The organization has two working models: social venture philanthropy[8] and outreach. Social venture philanthropy is a model based on the business concept of venture capital. Under this model, Smile Foundation implements its development projects through community based organisations, to broad base investment and optimize social return on investment.[9] Outreach is the model under which the organization directly implements development projects for underprivileged communities in villages as well as urban slums across the country.[10]

Programmes

Smile Foundation works for the welfare of children, their families, and the community through intensive programmes focused on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment.

Education

Smile Foundation started its Mission Education program in 2002 to provide education to underprivileged children in India. The programme focuses on children living in difficult circumstances such as child labor, children affected with HIV/AIDS, street and runaway children, children with rare disabilities, disaster struck children, and slum children.[11]

The organization has also launched a digital literacy project as part of its Mission Education Programme that aims to increase literacy among underprivileged children.[12]

Health

Smile on Wheels is a national level mobile hospital programme initiated in 2006 that focuses on providing curative and preventive healthcare services to the underprivileged. The programme seeks to address problems of mobility, accessibility, and availability of primary healthcare focusing primarily on children and women, in urban slums and remote rural areas.[13][14]

Livelihood

Smile Twin E-learning Programme (STeP) is a skill training and livelihood initiative started by Smile Foundation in 2007 that helps unprivileged youth acquire the skills required to get jobs in the retail and service sectors. The programme trains the youth in English proficiency, basic computer education, and soft skills.[15]

Women Empowerment

Smile Foundation’s women empowerment programme Swabhiman, meaning self-respect in English, was initiated in 2005.[16] The programme focuses on adolescent girls and women and helps them with education, awareness, life skills, access to menstrual and reproductive healthcare, financial literacy, and skill training for financial independence.[1][17]

Partnership

In August 2018, the Smile Foundation and Triumph Motorcycles partnered to organize Ride for Freedom, a group ride across 16 cities in India to support girls' education.[18][19] Proceed from the ride were donated to the #SheCanFly campaign organized by the foundation.[20]

Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson has developed web-based training modules for the Foundation's Smile Twin E-learning Programme.[15] In 2018, Ericsson announced it would also provide internet connectivity at 34 Smile Foundation education centers across India.[21][22]

References
  1. "Smile Foundation Supports Bright Scholar Girls Equipping Them With Real Skills, Shape Their Grand Visions Through Learning Fest". Businessworld. 11 December 2018.
  2. Bhandary, Shreya (1 July 2013). "5,000 underprivileged children to school by Independence Day | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  3. "Triumph Motorcycles and Smile Foundation partner to support Girl Child Education". India Infoline. 16 August 2016.
  4. "Smile Foundation presents 'Cook for a smile' with Chef Vikas Khanna". The Financial Express. 27 July 2014.
  5. "E-learning centre a stepping stone to success for poor youth in Ahmedabad". DNA India. 11 May 2011.
  6. "Training underprivileged youth". The New Indian Express. 24 April 2013.
  7. Bhardwaj, Meera (25 March 2014). "Programme Helps Women Acquire New Skills". The New Indian Express.
  8. Devgan, Kavita (2 April 2019). "This movie buff uses films to inspire children". Mint.
  9. Smith, Zoe (9 July 2013). "Venture philanthropy and the quest for aid effectiveness". The Guardian.
  10. "BAE Systems signs pact with Smile Foundation". Business Line. 9 November 2020.
  11. Bureau, BW Online (31 August 2016). "'Education Is The Only Medium To Bring A Long Lasting Sustainable Change'". Businessworld.
  12. Ahuja, Aastha (28 January 2020). "Knowledge Comes With Free Nutritious Meals At This NGO's 'Mission Education' Programme In West Bengal | Swasth India". NDTV.
  13. "Cochlear Implant surgery changed lives of these children | Bengaluru News - Times of India". The Times of India. 28 March 2013.
  14. Singh, Binay (9 February 2011). "Smile Foundation, a national level development organization, launched its mobile hospital programme -Smile on Wheels in Varanasi today. The mobile hospital was flagged off by the popular actress and TV presenter Roshni Chopra. - Times of India". The Times of India.
  15. "Training underprivileged youth". The New Indian Express. 24 April 2013.
  16. Ahuja, Aastha (10 September 2019). "Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2019: This NGO Is Aiming To Eradicate Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls In A Gurgaon Community | National Nutrition Month". NDTV.
  17. "BMJ India organized a health camp in association with Smile Foundation". This Week India. 25 July 2019.
  18. "Triumph and Smile Foundation Join Hands To Support Girl s Education". Businessworld. 16 August 2019.
  19. "Triumph Independence Day group ride for charity". Autocar India. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  20. Abhinand (17 August 2018). "Triumph Motorcycles India Conducts Freedom Ride Across Dealerships To Mark India's Independence". www.drivespark.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  21. "Ericsson expands 'Connect to Learn' initiative in India". Hindustan Times. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  22. "Ericsson announces the expansion 'Connect to Learn' initiative in India- Technology News, Firstpost". Firstpost. 9 July 2018.
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