Children's Day with Ajay Devgn, Neelesh Misra and Chhota Bheem
Children from Mission Education centres across India had a gala time on Children’s Day and celebrated the day in its true spirit with a mélange of colourful and fun activities.
In Mumbai, the kids were invited to be part of a television show ‘Celeb with a Cause’, on premiere entertainment channel Zoom. On the show they met renowned Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and interacted with him about their dreams and aspirations. Ajay motivated the children to continue with their education while also cherishing their dreams.
Children from the Goregaon Mission Education centre were treated to an enriching storytelling session, conducted by Neelesh Misra, popular for his show ‘Yaadon Ka Idiotbox’, on 92.7 Big FM.
Children from another centre in Mumbai visited OYE FM’s radio station to meet their favourite animated character, Chhota Bheem. They also recorded some interesting bits of conversation with Chhota Bheem, which were broadcasted on the radio channel.
Second year of Nutrition Support for Smile kids
The second phase of Casa Herbalife was launched in Chennai, as part of Herbalife Family Foundation’s continued support to Smile Foundation. The second phase is providing nutritional support to 1000 children under Mission Education programme.
The first phase of the programme, launched in Mumbai in 2011, is already supporting 1000 children in western India. The second phase is covering 1000 more children in Mission Education centres located at Vellore, Chennai, Madurai, Hyderabad and Lucknow.
Additional Director-General of Police, Ms. Sri Lakshmi Prasad graced the occasion and launched the programme along with Mr. Ajay Khanna, Country Head, Herbalife; Ms. Smita Kalappa, National Director, CFC, Smile Foundation and Smile kids.
NDTV's 'Our Girls Our Pride' Campaign
Smile Foundation children in Kolkata and Mumbai joined forces with NDTV in support of the latter’s national level campaign, ‘Our Girls Our Pride’ to sensitize the civil society towards the cause of girl children.
A painting event was organized on October 26, as part of the campaign. The idea was to create murals/wall paintings with various artists participating in the event. Simultaneously, there was a drawing competition for the children on the theme ‘Our Girls Our Pride’.
More than 150 children from Mission Education centres in Kolkata and Mumbai participated in the competition, depicting the theme through drawings ranging from school going girls to illustrations of Durga.
Harley Davidson ride in support of Mission Education
Tusker Harley Davidson Bangalore, in association with H.O.G (Harley Owners Group), organized a ride to support the education of underprivileged kids on October 27. Flagged off by children from Smile Foundation, the ride was joined by 20 HOG’s from the garden city who rode “Miles for Smile”.
The resources raised from the ride were extended towards the education of 60 kids under Smile Foundation’s Mission Education programme. The HOG’s had also put up placards on the importance of education to sensitize the public towards the cause.
The sensitization cum resource raising campaign was organized under Smile Foundation’s ‘Celebrating Responsible Luxury’ initiative, in which luxury brands across the spectrum join hands to put smiles on the faces of underprivileged children, by endowing the gift of education to ensure a better future for them
Isha Koppikar celebrates birthday with Smile kids
Bollywood actress Isha Koppikar celebrated her birthday with a difference, choosing to spend the day with Smile Foundation children in Mumbai. The children were equally excited to be with “Isha didi”. They had got a cake, card and flowers to wish her. Isha was moved by this simple gesture and indulged them with games, little gifts and chocolates.
Expressing her joyous feeling, after cake cutting ceremony, Isha said, “The feeling of making these children happy even for a day brings fulfilment in my heart. Because it is each child’s right to live their life basking in happiness and joys, without worrying about anything but just being happy and being kids. But unfortunately these children have seen the bitter side of life too early and I feel honoured to be able to make a positive difference in their life and bring them some hope and joy.”
Air France-KLM employees become Santa for Smile kids
For children from Mission Education centre near Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Christmas was ushered in a couple of days earlier, by Air France KLM. Employees from Air France-KLM donned the Santa cap and celebrated Christmas with the kids, in the true festive spirit, spreading smiles and cheer.
The children at the centre had written their wishes on cards which were put up on a Christmas tree at Air France-KLM’s office. Each employee picked up a wish and made them come true for the kids with not a single wish remaining unpicked.
On December 23, the employees visited the centre and personally gave the gifts to the children. They interacted with the kids, danced, sang and had a lot of fun. The children’s joy knew no bounds as all their wishes got fulfilled.
Assam socialites “Dine to Make Childhood Shine”
Dignitaries from different walks of life joined hands at a mega fundraising cum sensitization event, ‘Dine to Make Childhood Shine’ at Terra Mayaa, a premiere restaurant in Guwahati, Assam, to support the education of underprivileged children at Mission Education UTSAH centre in Hafiznagar slum area.
The event, held on October 4, was celebrated as part of the Joy of Giving Week. The highlight of the event was a dance recital by children from the Mission Education centre, who had relentlessly prepared for two weeks under volunteers to deliver a flawless performance. This was followed by a gala dinner for the guests.
Dy. Commissioner, Kamrup Metro, Ashutosh Agnihotri; members of the Assamese film fraternity, Zerifa Wahed, Nishita Goswami, Kopil Bora, Diganta Hazarika and eminent personalities like Dipannita Jaiswal, Anurag Singh, Garima Saikai Garg and Florence Handique Rabha, attended the event besides Juhi Saboo Singh, co-founder, Terra Mayaa and representatives from UTSAH.
Karthik Jayaram pledges support for Smile kids
South star Karthik Jayaram welcomed the New Year with Smile kids at his film’s sets in Bangalore, where he had planned many surprises for them.
Delighted to be amongst the children, Karthik said, “We all celebrate New Year big time by partying. This year though I wanted to do something different. I strongly believe that children are the next change makers and education is the most effective tool to prepare them. It feels great to be associated with Smile Foundation and be a reason for these kids to smile.”
Interacting with the children, Karthik cut a cake and distributed surprise gifts to them. He also gave the children a tour on the sets of his film. The celebrations were joined by actress Neha Saxena, director Nagendra Urs and film producer Rajanna. Taking his support for the kids further, Karthik pledged a token amount the kids’ education under Mission Education programme.
Empowering Grassroots Mumbai
Smile Foundation conducted a two-day free residential capacity building programme ‘Empowering Grassroots’ for community based grassroots organizations in Mumbai, from December 11-12.
25 select organizations participated in the programme which was focused on building the capacities of grassroots NGOs, keeping in mind the CSR mandate under the Companies Acts 2013 and the giving opportunity having emerged with the growing middle class of India.
Local fundraising for project management, communication and sustainability, good governance for organizational development and strengthening, building organisational competencies through 5-C model were among major sessions conducted by various subject experts, trainers and guest faculty.
In the last two years, Smile Foundation has built capacities of 500 grassroots organisations across India, under the Empowering Grassroots programme.
Smile Foundation recognized by ASSOCHAM and IPE Corporate Excellence Awards
Smile Foundation was conferred with the Education Excellence Award 2013, by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industries (ASSOCHAM) and The Education Post. The awards also felicitated Smile Foundation with the certificate of ‘Leader in Social Venture Philanthropy in Child Education.’
Smile Foundation was also presented the Corporate Excellence Award for NGO Excellence. The Awards have been instituted by the Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE); a Hyderabad based non-profit educational society, endorsed by World CSR Day and Asian Confederation of Business.
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2013
Smile Foundation participated for the fourth time in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on December 15, as a “Change Runner” to raise resources for the education of underprivileged children. Blackrock India, Amtek Auto Ltd. and Yum! Restaurants India joined Smile Foundation in championing the cause of Child Education. Their association will also ensure quality education for 130 underprivileged children, through Smile Foundation’s Mission Education programme.
The over fifty member strong Smile team including employees from Blackrock, Amtek and Yum! ran for 6kms. as part of the Great Delhi Run, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
Smile with Hyatt – Making a Difference with Art
Hyatt is celebrating the completion of 30 years in India along with Smile Foundation, with a series of art shows in an endeavour to help raise funds for the education of underprivileged children. Titled ‘Smile with Hyatt,’ the series will showcase affordable artworks by 30 of India’s leading contemporary artists. In tandem with the art shows, Hyatt employees from seven hotels – Grand Hyatt Mumbai, Hyatt Regency Mumbai, Hyatt Regency Pune, Park Hyatt Goa, Hyatt Amritsar, Hyatt Regency Chennai and Hyatt Pune, participated in an internal giving campaign for Smile Foundation called “30 days of Giving”, over the Christmas holidays. Hyatt is also directly supporting the education of 300 underprivileged children at Mission Education centres across India. |
Blackrock Smiles this Christmas
Blackrock employees celebrated Christmas and New Year with Smile kids on December 24. More than 15 employees from the organization visited a Mission Education centre in Delhi to participate in the festivities.
Children from the centre as well as Blackrock employees made greeting cards on Christmas and New Year themes and exchanged them at the end of the interactive session.
Guitar playing, Christmas carols and Bollywood numbers presented by the kids, added fun to the celebration as Blackrock employees danced on various songs.
Upendra celebrates birthday with Smile kids
Kannada superstar Upendra celebrated his 45th birthday with Smile Foundation kids in Bangalore.
The children extended their best wishes to Upendra and danced with him after the cake cutting ceremony along with the actor’s family and friends.
Upendra and his wife Priyanka announced their philanthropic venture for the benefit of the girl child, during the occasion. The event was attended by eminent personalities from the world of cinema, corporate and media.
Smile kids tie Rakhi on the President's wrist
The President of India, Sh. Pranab Mukherjee met Smile Foundation children during a specially organized Raksha Bandhan ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi.
First Lady Smt. Suvra Mukherjee accompanied him in encouraging the children.
The excited children got an hour-long guided tour of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later they tied Rakhi in the traditional manner on the President’s wrist in a symbolic gesture.
The affable President wished the children success and happiness for their future.
As special guests, the children also got a taste of the famed culinary experience of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Yum! and Smile fight against hunger with Sharman
Yum! Brands, Inc. has brought its global World Hunger Relief (WHR) campaign to India along with Smile Foundation, in the form of ‘Hunger to Hope Kitchen’.
The campaign was kick started at a KFC outlet in Delhi on September 18, in the presence of Mr. Niren Chaudhary, President, Yum! Restaurants India; Mr. Vikram Singh Verma, COO, Smile Foundation and Bollywood actor Sharman Joshi.
Yum!’s contribution over the next one year will cater to the nutritional needs of more than 2,000 underprivileged children, under Smile Foundation’s Mission Education programme.
Sharman also visited the Mission Education programme’s Health and Care centre at Shri Ram J.J. Camp in Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, to interact with the child beneficiaries. He encouraged the kids to get education before doing anything else in life and also matched steps with the children on a song they had prepared specially for him.
Priyanka Chopra spreads Smiles on International Girl Child Day
Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra joined Smile Foundation’s mission to ensure quality education for all, on International Day for the Girl Child, celebrated worldwide on October 11.
Promoting the cause of girl child education, Priyanka visited Smile Foundation’s Mission Education centre in Mumbai.
She interacted at length with the girl students at the centre, talking about the significant place of girl children in our society and emphasizing on the education of girls as they play multiple roles in the development of society.
At present, 51% of the total beneficiaries enrolled at Mission Education centres across the country are girls
