Author: Smile Team

SICHREM – a community-based organization in Bangalore received a series of training on resource mobilization and organizational sustainability organized by Smile Foundation. The multifaceted training program delved into critical areas such as visibility building, sustainability practices, effective communication, governance, and donor engagement strategies. By addressing these key components, SICHREM not only fortified its organizational framework but also honed its ability to extend outreach, fostering a broader impact within the community.

Engaging in a transformative three-day Training of Trainers program, a cohort of 12 dedicated individuals, including nine seasoned trainers, immersed themselves in a comprehensive curriculum. This thoughtfully curated program delved into three essential modules: Leadership, Communication, and Program Management.

The overarching objective of this initiative was to empower trainers with the requisite expertise, equipping them to fortify the skill set of personnel within grassroots Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). By focusing on these core modules, the training aimed to enhance the overall operational efficiency and effectiveness of CBOs at the grassroots level.

A comprehensive two-day Local Fundraising (LFR) refresher training program held in New Delhi served as a unifying platform for twelve representatives hailing from community-based organizations (CBOs) spanning Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. This initiative was a vital component of a broader collaboration between Smile Foundation, Change The Game Academy (CTGA), and the Wilde Ganzen Foundation from the Netherlands. The overarching objective of this collaborative effort is to uplift the management skills of CBOs, fostering a more impactful and sustainable approach to their initiatives. The diverse representation from various regions reflects the collective commitment to strengthening the capabilities of community-driven organizations for more effective and meaningful contributions to society.

A Trainers’ Refresher was held under the Empowering Grassroots programme to enhance the programme quality and focused on reflecting, sharing, and learning as a team. The overall result of the Trainers’ Refresher was an enhanced understanding of the programme goals and values and improved coordination among the trainers to ensure a better learning experience for the participants.

Smile Foundation, through the Empowering Grassroots programme, helps develop small social initiatives towards local sustainability and self-reliance.

Smile Foundation, under its Empowering Grassroots programme, organised a Training Trajectory on Local Fundraising for eight partner organisations of Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, in Ranchi. This training programme helped social entrepreneurs who are working at the grassroots level, to adapt to sustainable ways of raising funds through effective communication, strong leadership and good governance thereby increasing transparency and accountability.

The initiative was aimed at helping them to gain credibility and support, in addition to encouraging them to become self-sufficient by honing their skills in identifying, accessing and mobilizing locally available resources.

Empowering Grassroots Programme team participated in an international Training of Trainers (ToT) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 49 trainers from 11 countries – Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Gambia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, South Africa, Uganda, Ghana and India received intensive training on fundraising from local in-country resources.

Led by experienced trainers and co-trainers from various countries, this 11-day residential program was aimed at empowering participants to become catalysts of change in their own countries. By enhancing their capacity, the training hopes to create a ripple effect as participants share their expertise and build a network of empowered trainers, who will drive positive change from the grassroots up.

Under its Empowering Grassroots initiative, Smile Foundation conducted a comprehensive workshop on Local Fundraising (LFR) for seven grassroots organisations from across the country.
The training covered a wide range of topics, including understanding the concept and significance of LFR, exploring different sources of income, donor identification & appreciation, effective communication, institutional fundraising, proposal writing, and creating organizational collaterals.

Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, participants had the opportunity to develop their LFR plans, create teams, and present their ideas. The training provided an effective platform for these organizations to enhance their fundraising efforts and achieve their goals in a sustainable manner.