New Delhi, June 06, 2022: Reiterating its commitment to creating change at the grassroots by empowering individuals and nascent organizations, Smile Foundation organized a two-day trainer refresher programme for its Change the Game Indiapool of trainers.

Built on Smile Foundation’s 20 years of experience working at the grassroots in India, Change the Game Academy brings Change the Game India programme to strengthen the capabilities of social changemakers and grassroots organizations working for better governance and self-sustainability. The programme enables such organizations to gain credibility and support. It also helps them become self-sufficient by honing their skills in identifying, accessing, and mobilizing locally available resources.

Two Master trainers along with other trainers of Change the Game India attendedthis two-day in-person refresher programme after three years. The refresher programme also served as a meeting for the trainers to catch up and share updates on the development of the programme, globally and nationally. The trainers also shared their expectations and challenges as a team. Additionally, special sessions were organized on specific topics such as digital fundraising,governance compliance,laws and regulations,and corporate social responsibility.

“The last two years of the pandemic proved the importance of having strong networks that can support and strengthen communities at the last mile. With Change the Game India Programme, we aim to train small organizations working at the grassroots to create the maximum impact and utilize resources to their potential.Followingthephilosophy of Social Venture Philanthropy, wehavebeen working to empower such organizations towards better governance and help them design their own funding strategies to advance towards sustainability,” said Vikram Singh Verma, Executive Director, Smile Foundation addressing the closing session of the programme.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “Social entrepreneurs are the key in helping develop grassroot programmes and initiatives that make a real impact and help the country tread the path of development. Their contribution is immense. With in-depth training programmes such as these, we look at strengthening efforts of organizations working at the grassrootsto help build a sustainable and stronger India.”

The senior leadership, while appreciating the initiative, impressed upon the need for introspectionon how as a CtGI trainer one has benefited personally so one could convey the same to the participants.

Change the Game India has developed an innovative blended-learning programme that helps change-makers from civil society organizations and social entrepreneurs from all over the country learn and imbibe fundraising best practices.Currently,through Change the Game India initiative, Smile Foundation has supported 185 organizations in India.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban slums in 25 states.

Change the Game India:

As a partner in co-creating Change the Game Academy, Smile Foundation has major ownership as the national partner in India, along with the responsibility as the nodal partner for Asian region. Change the Game India aims to empower the grassroots, including communities and social entrepreneurs, in India by building their capacities & mentoring them towards self-reliance & self-sustainability by helping them adapt sustainable ways of raising funds. This is done with a vision that it would enable them to address the needs of the civil society by supplementing and complementing the efforts of the government and in line with global development strategies.

Contact:

Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: https://www.smilefoundationindia.org/