August 2024
Celebrating 10 Years of Good Cinema
The 10th edition of the Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY), held in partnership with the European Union, was a grand success, marking a significant milestone in the journey of this one-of-its-kind festival. Hosted from April 9th to 15th, 2024, this year's festival was celebrated in New Delhi and over 100 other locations across India, reaching more than 500,000 young viewers. This year's festival showcased over 150 films from 50 countries, offering a diverse range of genres, including feature films, short films, documentaries, and animations. In addition to film screenings, SIFFCY 2024 featured 50 workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions, engaging young minds in various creative and educational activities. The event also included the participation of over 50 national and international professionals, jurors, and filmmakers from 12 different countries, with 100 young jurors from 10 countries participating virtually. SIFFCY was created with the vision to engage, educate, and empower young minds through the medium of good cinema. This initiative by Smile Foundation uses the powerful tool of cinema to impart life lessons, inspire creativity, and foster a deeper understanding of social issues among children and youth. By showcasing films from around the world and hosting workshops, panel discussions, and masterclasses, SIFFCY provides a platform for young audiences to explore diverse cultures, perspectives, and ideas.
Ed Sheeran visits Smile Foundation’s centre in Mumbai
Smile Foundation children in Mumbai had a once-in-a-lifetime experience as the global music icon Ed Sheeran visited our Mission Education centre. He shared his world with our children, narrating his experiences, singing with them, and motivating them to follow their dreams. Meeting achievers, especially young people who have made it big from humble backgrounds, is always an encouraging opportunity for the children and opens up a whole new world of possibilities for them.
6 Corporate Teams Run for Smile at the Tata Mumbai Marathon
Hundreds of supporters came together and joined Smile Foundation at the Tata Mumbai Marathon to support the #ShikshaNaRuke initiative. Corporate teams from Schindler, Indostar Housing Finance Limited, CBC Corporation, M&G, Capri Loans, and Anunta Tech ran to support the education of children and spread smiles. Actor Mahesh Shetty championed the cause with Smile, even as student volunteers from Thakur College dazzled the crowd with their lively performances.
Western Digital runs for Smile at TCS World 10K Bengaluru
More than 200 employees of Western Digital participated in the TCS World 10K marathon in Bengaluru to extend their support to Smile Foundation’s #ShikshaNaRuke initiative. The initiative focuses on identifying out-of-school children from remote villages, tribal areas, and urban slums, ensuring they receive quality education. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for providing the platform, as well as to Procam Group and Aidebees for their support.
AVI Oil supports STEM lab and smart classrooms in Haryana
To provide quality learning opportunities for underserved students and foster interest in science and technology, Smile Foundation collaborated with AVI Oil India Pvt. Ltd. to inaugurate a new STEM lab and Smart Class in the Mission Education Center of Ballabgarh, Faridabad, Haryana. AVI Oil India Pvt. Ltd. has provided continued support towards the Mission Education programme since 2017, helping us reach out to hundreds of children and provide them with better education opportunities.
Cofresco Team visits Smile on Wheels project in Bengaluru
Mr Hans Van Gele (Chief Operating Officer), Mr Kai Dornbusch (Chief Marketing Officer), Mr Oliver Strelecki (Chief Executive Officer) and Mr Ashutosh Singh (Country Manager) from the Cofresco Team joined the Smile Foundation team on ground and interacted with the underserved communities of Bengaluru. More than 61,000 children and families have received free doorstep healthcare in the last 3 years through the Cofresco supported Smile on Wheels mobile healthcare project.
Career Counselling session by M&G team for youth trainees
Employees from M&G Global Services held a productive career counselling session for the youth enrolled in Smile Foundation’s STeP programme in Mumbai. Their interactive sessions, filled with fun activities and insightful discussions on career opportunities in various rapidly growing sectors, were truly beneficial. The STeP initiative, a national livelihood programme, equips urban underprivileged youth with job skills relevant to the market, enabling them to secure employment across diverse industries in India.
