Click here for Fun Time at Target Special focus Directly benefit 620 underprivileged girls and promote quality education Mainstream a minimum of 90 per cent of these girls into formal schools within two years Counselling of 1240 parents/ guardian, Elder siblings/ adolescent girls from neighbourhood will be enrolled in the Smile Twin e-Learning Programme paving the path for employment Training 31 teachers Spreading awareness about education among slum dwellers Target’s collaboration with Smile Foundation will improve the lives of the underprivileged and will strengthen the development process

Communities benefit from the pursuit of education, both now and in future’, is a belief that Smile Foundation and Target have in common. Target is a leading retailer in the United States and has a legacy of giving back to the community. Since 1946, Target has given 5 per cent of their income to the communities they serve. Today, that equals more than $3 million every week.

In 2008, Target, through its ‘International Giving Programme’ touched more than 124,000 children, volunteered more than 5,000 hours and trained over 1,500 teachers. Their dedication reflects their strong commitment in giving to the society.

Target’s International Giving Programme focuses on supporting quality, accessible education for children and youth to help address these critical needs which benefit not only individuals, but also the entire community. They have partnered with Smile Foundation to help create strong communities, improve local economies and develop a better quality of life through the ‘Girl Child-Specific Intervention’ project in the urban slums of Delhi.

The project will benefit 620 impoverished girls in the age group of 5 to 14 years directly by supporting their education for a year. The support from Target will be extended to selected girls from seven grassroot projects under the Mission Education programme of Smile Foundation namely, Nai Disha (Noida, UP), Sankalp Sakshar Samiti (Noida, UP), Raasta (Delhi), Health & Care Society (Delhi), Neev (Gurgaon), Neetiman Charitable Trust (Delhi) and Tagore Shikshan Sansthan (Alwar, Rajasthan).

The project ‘Girl Child-Specific Intervention’ will aim at providing quality education and holistic development of the children. Parental involvement, capacity building of teachers, gender issues, use of scientific toys for learning, extra curricular activities etc will be the strategic intervention areas under the project. The project also includes support for scientifically designed TLMs (Teachers Learning Materials) and kits, uniforms for children, recreational facilities (indoor games, educational/ exposure visits), books and magazines for children, nutrition, cost of accountancy and overall project management etc.

Despite universalisation of primary education in India, a significant number of girl children are still illiterate. The persistent effort of civil society organisations in advancing non-formal and remedial education to the economically poor sections serves as a breather to curb illiteracy.

The initiative with support from Target will ensure mainstreaming of these girls into formal schools and will enable them to complete their Class X examination. The elder girls/ adolescent siblings of the girl children will also be counseled and motivated to enroll in the Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) and subsequently guaranteed an employment.