Nearly 10,000 children benefit from these projects, more than half of those are girls

Feb 22, 2024: Department of Basic Education (Govt. of U.P.), Smile Foundation and Aditya Birla Capital Foundation (ABCF) organized annual Pratibha Puraskar cum Science Exhibitions in eastern Uttar Pradesh districts of Siddharth Nagar and Shravasti. Meritorious children from 37 government schools from the districts participated in the event. Smile Foundation, however, works with 51 government schools in the two aspirational districts.

Pratibha Purashkar is a platform for students to showcase their talent in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) as well as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics). These students are finalised on the basis of performance in pratibha ki khoj activities which are conducted on school level.

Mr. Jayendra Kumar (I.A.S.), Chief Development Officer, Siddharth Nagar said, “Thanks to the contribution of Smile Foundation which has been working in all 14 blocks, many rural school children of Siddharth Nagar district have now reached the state’s merit list. I would like to appreciate such social organisations for supporting the administration in igniting aspiration of our children.”

In Siddharth Nagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ms. Anamika, District Coordinator (Girls Education) Mr. Surendra, Block Education Officer Mr. Dharampal, and Jila Aapda Vesheshagya Ms. Pushpanjali also graced the occasion and encouraged the children who had come from across the district. Meritorious children were awarded under two categories, namely scientific innovation and art.

Smt. Kritika Sharma (I.A.S.), District Magistrate, Shravasti said, “I appreciate Smile Foundation for its work and the contribution towards our mission of building a brighter future for our children, especially in rural government schools.” She was the chief guest on the occasion and inspected the models on display and encouraged each school child. The exhibition was divided into two categories namely, innovation and art. A majority of the models and ideas were focused on sustainability, preservation of nature, safety and innovative use of science and technology in daily life.

Ms. Sunita Verma, Block Education Officer, Mr. Girish Kumar Mishra, educationist and DIET Lecturer, and Mr. Sant Kumar, State Resource Group representative graced the occasion in Shravasti district.

Smile Foundation has been working in 36 rural schools in Siddharth Nagar for last five years and 15 rural schools of Shravasti district for two years now, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh administration and with support from Aditya Birla Capital Foundation (ABCF). The project is benefiting around 10,000 children directly, comprising of more than 50 percent are girls.

The collaborative project involves establishing and running smart classes, installation of smart TV and solar panels, setting up of foundational literacy and numeracy classrooms, creating nutritional awareness, facilitating education governance among others. Smile Foundation has been facilitating regular training of teachers, stakeholders’ management committee, PTM, Mothers-Teachers meetings, raising community volunteers, promotion of tree plantation and kitchen gardens so that children and families can find low-cost local solutions to improve nutrition.

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organisation working across 27 states of India in the areas of education, healthcare, and skilling benefitting 15 lakh children and their families every year.