Dear readers and supporters,

Recent incidents of violence against women have jolted our collective conscience. Questions are being raised on the safety and security of women in our society. The protests following the incidents saw participation of men in large numbers, challenging the gender stereotypes. This is a positive development as far as gender rights and equality is concerned. There is a need to change the way we look at gender relations. Our cover story is one step in that direction.

Individual giving is a lifeline of the society. India has always had a culture of giving, though guided by tradition and belief. Our special story discusses recent studies and trends in giving culture, and the role of individuals in the nation’s progress.

Empowerment of women is one of our key focus areas. We believe gender equality can only be fostered through means of education and economic empowerment. In Bangalore, about 20 young women were placed in the retail sector, while a remedial centre was opened for girls in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh). A behavioural change has been observed in Vijaipur (M.P.) with women of the village coming forward to demand an education centre for themselves.

It has been an encouraging period for us as we try to scale up our operations to reach out to more people. Through our efforts in this direction, a new Smile on Wheels project has been launched in Bangalore while three new Smile on Wheels will be pressed into service in the underserved areas of Mumbai, Rae Bareilly (U.P.) and Ashok Nagar (M.P.) in the coming months.

We hope you will enjoy reading these stories of change and optimism, and be motivated to become responsible change makers in your community.

Warm Regards