COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT REPORT

ON

“WELFARE OF CHILDREN IN EDUCATION” WITH REFERENCE TO SMILE

FOUNADATION NGO

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Degree of

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MBA

SUBMITTED BY

GAURAV YADAV
ROLL NO. 2001022033
UNDER THE GUIDANCE
OF
DR. ADEEL MAQBOOL
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE & BUSINESS

MANGEMENT FACULTY OF COMMERCE AND MANAGEMENT

INTEGRAL UNIVERSITY

KURSI RD, LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH 226026 SESSION: 2021-2022

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 DECLARATION

I, GAURAV YADAV hereby declare that the presented Community Development Project Report

titled “” is uniquely prepared by me after the completion of 7 to 10 days work at SMILE

FOUNDATION NGO, New Delhi. This has been undertaken for the purpose of partial fulfillment of

MBA program at Faculty of Commerce and Management, Integral University, Lucknow.

I also confirm that the report is only prepared for my academic requirement, not for any other

purpose. It might not be used with the interest of the opposite party of the corporation.

(Signature of the Candidate)

Name of the Candidate: GAURAV YADAV

Enrolment No.: 2000102552

Roll No. 2001022033

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I express my sincere gratitude to SMILE FOUNDATION NGO for allowing me to be part of their

team and giving me opportunity to be a medium of change in the lives of these deserving people

I would also like to thank Dr. Adeel Maqbool Faculty Guide, Department of Commerce and

Business Management, for his regular support and help in the successful completion of my report

I would like to thank colleagues and friends for their help and assistance in the compilation of this

work.

Name: Gaurav Yadav

Roll No. 2001022033

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

Sr. No. Title

Page No.

i Title Page 1

ii Declaration 2

iv Acknowledgement 3

1 Introduction 4

2 About the NGO (if any) 7

3 Conceptual Background of Topic 9

4 Investigation 11

5 Planning 13

6 Action Taken 16

7 Reflection 19

8 Bibliography 21

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 INTRODUCTION

Community development is a holistic approach grounded in principles of empowerment, human

rights, inclusion, social justice, self-determination and collective action. Community development

considers community members to be experts in their lives and communities, and values community

knowledge and wisdom. Community development programs are led by community members at every

stage - from deciding on issues to selecting and implementing actions, and evaluation.

Outcomes of community development

There are potential outcomes at both individual and community level. Children and families directly

involved in community development initiatives may benefit from increases in skills, knowledge,

empowerment and self-efficacy, and experience enhanced social inclusion and community

connectedness. Through community development initiatives, community members can become more

empowered, such that they can increasingly recognise and challenge conditions and structures which

are leading to their disempowerment or negatively impacting their wellbeing . At a community level,

community development and empowerment initiatives can achieve long-term outcomes such as

stronger and more cohesive communities, evidenced by changes in social capital, civic engagement,

social cohesion and improved health

Role of NGO in Community Development

NGOs have many programs, functions and roles which assist community to become empowered, and

eventually attain sustainable development. NGOs, through capacity building, develop community

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capacities such as ability, skill and knowledge of mobilizing resources, planning and evaluating

community initiation and solving problems to gain the mastery over their lives. It also motivates the

community to participate in the projects and help them to improve quality of their lives. Participants

are expected to coordinate meetings, plan community activities, and be practical in community

initiatives. In this way, NGOs contribute towards sustainable community development. Furthermore,

NGOs mobilize the communities to be self-reliant. It assists the communities to discover their own

potentials and rely on their own resources. In short, this paper demonstrates that all these programs

and functions of NGOs could contribute towards the realization of sustainable community

development. Non-Governmental Organization is a positive approach to rural development.

This report talks about how SMILE FOUNDATION is doing their bit for the betterment of the

underprivileged women of our society by giving them an identity and making them self-sufficient.

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 ABOUT THE NGO

Smile Foundation, an Indian social development organization, is directly benefitting over 15 lakh children and
their families every year. We have more than 400 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and
women’s empowerment in over 2,000 remote villages and urban slums across 25 states of India.
The groundwork for a better life lies in education. It is the most powerful catalyst for social transformation.
However, a child cannot be educated in isolation. Only an empowered family, especially the mother, would be
willing to educate their child. Thus, rather than focusing on only one stage of a person's life, we believe in the
lifecycle approach.
Education empowers an individual to earn their livelihood and also increases one's awareness on a range of
issues. From healthcare, to appropriate social behavior, to understanding one's rights – Smile Foundation seeks
to educate, empower and cultivate better citizens.

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MISSION

Smile Foundation, a non-profit organization in India is to empower underprivileged children, youth and
women through relevant education, innovative healthcare and market-focused livelihood programmes.

Smile Foundation is to deploy best possible methodology and technology for achieving ideal SROI (social
return on investment), to practice and promote good governance. To link business competitiveness of the
corporate with social development initiatives; also to sensitize privileged children, youth and citizens in general
to promote Civic Driven Change.

VISION

 Work as a catalyst in bringing sustainable change in the lives of underprivileged children, youth and
women, with a life-cycle approach of development.
 Enable the civil society across the world to engage proactively in the change process through the philosophy
of civic driven change.
 Adopt highest standards of governance to emerge as a leading knowledge and technology driven, innovative
and scalable international development organisation.

We believe in urgent action, innovation and the necessity of transformation- within the world and our

own generation

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 CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND

Smile Foundation, an NGO working for child education believes that education is both the means as

well as the end to a better life: the means because it empowers an individual to earn his/her livelihood

and the end because it increases one's awareness on a range of issues - from healthcare to appropriate

social behaviour to understanding one's rights - and in the process help him/her evolve as a better

citizen. Education is the most effective tool which helps children build a strong foundation; enabling

them to free themselves from the vicious cycle of ignorance, poverty and disease.

Smile Foundation realized that Education for Children cannot be achieved without the family,

particularly, unless the mother is assured of health care and empowered. Moreover, when an elder

sibling is educated and relevantly skilled to be employable and begins earning, the journey of

empowerment continues beyond the present generation.

Smile Foundation extended its thematic areas of intervention by supporting family health, livelihood,

and women empowerment. Children, their families and the community become the target group for

Smile Foundation's activities as child education cannot be done in isolation and nothing else but

education for children can bring long lasting change in the society.

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 INVESTIGATION

Child Labour Policy and Child Education in India

What happens when a country of the size of India has over 3 million children living on the streets? Or has over
150 million children working as bonded laborers? Or one out of every six girl child does not live to see her 15th
birthday? What happens when despite having a national policy for compulsory primary child education in
India and a child labour policy only 50% of children have access to education?
The statement "Children are the future of the nation" stops making sense, then! In fact, it sounds like an
ominous prophecy. For how can we explain that even after 60 years of independence, half of India's children
are illiterate? Despite identifying primary child education as a key thrust area and possessing one of the
largest networks of schools in the world?
Clearly, we have a lot to answer for. And as concerned citizens do something about it; something meaningful,
something concrete, something urgently. No more do we have the luxury of blaming the system or postponing
our actions. The time to take collective as well as individual responsibility to remedy the present situation is
here. Right now! And also we need many more Smiles to cater to the vast (increasing) number of children in
our country's population.
Where there is a Will, There is a Way - Story of Suryakanti

And change a generation!

Literacy Updates and Child Education in India

The litercay ratio of India is 65.38% with male literacy at 75.85% and female literacy at 54.16% Of the 193
million Children in the age group 6 to 14 years, 8.1 million children are out of school as of Sept 2004 as per
Government statistics.
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Net primary enrolment ratio in 2001/02 : 83 7%
Children reaching grade 5 in 2000/01 : 59 8%
Ministry of Finance / Press Information Bureau Data
Number of Primary Schools in India : 0.664 million (2001-02)
Number Upper Primary Schools in India : 0.219 million
Population in the age group of 6-14 years : 193 Million
Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools : 0.133 million; Enrollment : 30.5 million
Findings from the Survey : Social infrastructure like education is as important as physical infrastructure, not
only for sustaining high growth but also for enhancing welfare. The root of poverty and child labour
causes often lies in illiteracy.
Census of India 1991
State with highest literacy rate: Kerala (89.8)
State with lowest literacy rate: Bihar (38.5)
District with highest literacy rate: Kottayam, Kerala (95.7)
District with lowest literacy rate: Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh (19.0)
Definition of a Child in India
As per the child rights charter, a universal definition of "child" includes all persons under the age of 18.
40% of India's population is below the age of 18 years which at 400 million is the world's largest child
population.
Facts on Education and effects of child labour in India
Less than half of India's children between the age 6 and 14 go to school.
A little over one-third of all children who enroll in grade one reach grade eight.
At least 35 million children aged 6 - 14 years do not attend school.
53% of girls in the age group of 5 to 9 years are illiterate.
In India, only 53% of habitation has a primary school.
In India, only 20% of habitation has a secondary school.
On an average an upper primary school is 3 km away in 22% of areas under habitations.
In nearly 60% of schools, there are less than two teachers to teach Classes I to V.
On an average, there are less than three teachers per primary school. They have to manage classes from I to V
every day.
High cost of private education and need to work to support their families and little interest in studies are the
reasons given by 3 in every four drop-outs as the reason they leave.
Dropout rates increase alarmingly in class III to V, its 50% for boys, 58% for girls.
1 in 40, primary school in India is conducted in open spaces or tents.
In Andhra Pradesh (South India), 52 upper primary schools were operating without a building in 2002, while in
1993, there were none.
In Maharashtra (West India), there were 10 schools operating without a building in 1993, this has climbed to 33
in 2002.
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More than 50 per cent of girls fail to enroll in school; those that do are likely to drop out by the age of 12.
50% of Indian children aged 6-18 do not go to school.
Source: 7th All India Education Survey, 2002
Statistics and effects of Child Labour in India
17 million children in India work as per official estimates.
A study found that children were sent to work by compulsion and not by choice, mostly by parents, but with
recruiter playing a crucial role in influencing decision.
When working outside the family, children put in an average of 21 hours of labour per week.
19% of children employed work as domestic help.
90% working children are in rural India.
85% of working children are in the unorganized sectors.
About 80% of child labour is engaged in agricultural work.
Millions of children work to help their families because the adults do not have appropriate employment and
income thus forfeiting schooling and opportunities to play and rest.
Children also work because there is demand for cheap labour. High incidence of child labour is a result of high
incidence of adult unemployment.
Large numbers of children work simply because there is no alternative - since, they do not have access to good
quality schools.
The effects of child labour in India is such that many times poor and bonded families often "sell" their children
to contractors who promise lucrative jobs in the cities and the children end up being employed in brothels,
hotels and domestic work. Many run away and find a life on the streets.
There are approximately 2 million child commercial sex workers between the age of 5 and 15 years and about
3.3 million between 15 and 18 years.
They form 40% of the total population of commercial sex workers in India.
80% of these are found in the 5 metros.
71% of them are illiterate.
500,000 children are forced into this trade every year.
Data on Health
70 in every 1000 children born in India do not see their first birthday. The total number of such children works
out to 2 million.
58% of India's children below the age of 2 years are not fully vaccinated. And 24% of these children do not
receive any form of vaccination.
95 in every 1000 children born in India do not see their fifth birthday.
Only 38% of India's children below the age of 2 years are immunized.
74% of India's children below the age of 3 months are anaemic.
Over 60% of children in India are anaemic.
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Acute respiratory infections are leading causes of child mortality (30%) followed by diarrhoea (20%) in India.
One in every 100 children in India between age group of 0-14 years suffers from acute respiratory infection.
Almost one in every five children in India below the age of 14 suffers from diarrhoea.
58% of India's children below the age of 2 years are not fully vaccinated. And 24% of these children do not
receive any form of vaccination.
Only 38% of India's children below the age of 2 years are immunized.
Almost one in every five children in India below the age of 14 suffers from diarrhoea, an easily preventable
disease.
Special Statistics on Girl Child
1 out of every 6 girls does not live to see her 15th birthday.
Of the 12 million girls born in India, 1 million do not see their first birthday.
Of the 12 million girls born in India, 3 million do not see their fifteenth birthday, and a million of them are
unable to survive even their first birthday.
One-third of these deaths take place at birth.
Every sixth girl child's death is due to gender discrimination.
Females are victimised far more than males during childhood.
3 lakh more girls than boys die every year.
Female mortality exceeds male mortality in 224 out of 402 districts in India.
Death rate among girls below the age of 4 years is higher than that of boys. Even if she escapes infanticide or
foeticide, a girl child is less likely to receive immunization, nutrition or medical treatment compared to a male
child.
Updates on Nutrition
More than 50% of India's children are malnourished.
While one in every five adolescent boys is malnourished, one in every two girls in India is undernourished.
23% of India's children are underweight at birth.

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 Child Rights in India - Right To Education And Health

In the history of human rights, the rights of children are the most ratified. The United Nations Convention on
the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines Child Rights as the minimum entitlements and freedoms that should
be afforded to every citizen below the age of 18 regardless of race, national origin, colour, gender, language,
religion, opinions, origin, wealth, birth status, disability, or other characteristics.

Summary of UNCRC
Article 1
Everyone under 18 years of age has all the rights in this Convention.
Article 2
The Convention applies to everyone whatever their race, religion, abilities, whatever they think or say, whatever
type of family they come from.
Article 3
All organisations concerned with children should work towards what is best for each child.
Article 4
Governments should make these rights available to children.
Article 5
Governments should respect the rights and responsibilities of families to direct and guide their children so that, as
they grow, they learn to use their rights properly.
Article 6
All children have the right to life. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily.
Article 7
All children have the right to a legally registered name, and nationality. They have the right to know and, as far as
possible, to be cared for, by their parents.
Article 8
Governments should respect children's right to a name, a nationality and family ties.
Article 9

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Children should not be separated from their parents unless it is for their own good (for example if a parent is
mistreating or neglecting a child.) Children whose parents have separated have the right to stay in contact with
both parents, unless this might harm the child.
Article 10
Families who live in different countries should be allowed to move between those countries so that parents and
children can stay in contact, or get back together as a family.
Article 11
Governments should take steps to stop children being taken out of their own country illegally.
Article 12
Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect
them, and to have their opinions taken into account.
Article 13
Children have the right to get and to share information, as long as the information is not damaging to them or to
others.
Article 14
Children have the right to think and believe what they want, and to practise their religion, as long as they are
not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Parents should guide their children on these matters.
Article 15
Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other
people from enjoying their rights.

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Mr. Santanu Mishra

Co-Founder & Executive Trustee | Smile Foundation

“Whose children we are talking about? Are they not our children? If yes,
can we leave them to fend for themselves- defenseless, without care,
devoid of any right and privileges? Are not WE, the society (men and
women) responsible for introducing them to world? Then, why such
apathy? Is it not a crime?
Does it not stir our conscience and provoke us to safeguard our children's
well being- according appropriate status?
Child rights and its accordance is the pillar for nation building, a brighter
tomorrow.”

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 PLANNING

NGO For Education - Donate for Underprivileged Children's Education

Mission Education
Mission Education is a national level programme of Smile Foundation, an NGO for education which is
committed to providing basic education and healthcare to underprivileged children. Smile Foundation, an
NGO for poor child education believes that whether you are addressing healthcare, poverty, population control,
unemployment or human rights, there's no better place to start than in the corridors of education.
Education is both the means as well as the end to a better life; means, because it empowers an individual to earn
his/her livelihood and the end because it increases one's awareness on a range of issues – from healthcare to
appropriate social behavior to understanding one's rights, and in the process evolve as a better citizen.

Smile Foundation's educational initiatives include Pre-school [3-6 yrs], Non Formal Education [6-14 yrs non-
school going], Remedial Education [6-14 yrs school going] and Bridge Course [14-18 yrs drop-outs]. It is
an education NGOM which works for education for underprivileged children who are under difficult
circumstances, such as child labour, children of poorest of the parents, children inflicted and affected with
HIV/AIDS, street and runaway children, children with rare disabilities, disaster struck children and slum
children. Special emphasis is given on girl education and women education, so that they and their families get
empowered.
Since its inception in 2002, more than 232,000 underprivileged children have directly benefitted from
the Mission Education programme

What We Did Last Year

32,000 Children directly provided education through 240 centers in 23 states

51% of total beneficiaries were girls, to ensure a fair start for all

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87% of eligible children were mainstreamed to formal schools, after successfully passing out from Mission Education centers

100% of teachers received training in academic methodologies, ensuring an engaging environment for the children

Ongoing Education Projects

Skill-based learning for slum children in South West Delhi

This Mission Education project imparts quality education and life skills to underserved children from slums in
and around South West Delhi, with special focus on girl children. Along with academics, emphasis is also laid
on skill-based learning for the children.
The residential colonies in South West Delhi employ more than 10,000 domestic helpers, maids and drivers,
who are immigrant workers living in the slums of Kishangarh, Bhawani Kunj, Shanti Kunj, Andheria Mod,
Rangpuri Pahadi and Chhattarpur. As these people do not have residential proofs or birth certificates of their
children, they face difficulty in sending their children to conventional schools. The centre aims at bridging this
gap by providing education to these underprivileged children and mainstreaming them into the formal education
system.
Activities and excursions are an integral part of the learning process at the centre. Events like Diwali Fete,
Book Fair, picnics, dance, drama and poem recitation are organised to foster the all round development of the
children. Health check-ups and counselling of parents and children on hygiene issues are done on a regular
basis.
Smile Foundation has partnered with Nai Disha Educational and Cultural Society for this project.
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Education for Gild Children in Rasta New Delhi

Smile Foundation and Rasta have become partners to educate girl child between the ages of 3-14 years. The
project "Education for Minority Girls" with support from Smile Foundation will be running 10 education
centers for 300 girls from deserving minority community. The project aims at developing aptitude and interest
in girls for education. The project area lacks significant number of schools and NGOs. Majority of girls receive
discriminatory treatment in all walks of life including education. Most of them are either school drop out or
have never been to schools.
The project targets 100 girls between the age group of 3 to 14 years in the beginning. Three education centres
with 30 girls in each will be established.
Smile Foundation shall support Rasta for the following :-

 Enhancing level of awareness in the community regarding education of children.

 Reducing rate of school drop outs and out of the school children.
 Reducing child abuse cases.
 Rehabilitation of these children in the long run

Special focus on education and development

Rasta is dedicated to the welfare of marginalized children. In the process it incorporates innovative and latest
teaching techniques in the course content for teachers training. Resource personnel from organizations like
NCERT, SCERT and DIET are invited for input to teachers. Lessons are prepared for each class keeping in
mind the scholastic level of each child. The project shall be implemented by preparing the community people to
shoulder the responsibility of the project and with their active participation.

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 ACTION TAKEN

There are lot of action taken by smile foundation in education which are -

Events and Activities

Teachers training and Capacity building

workshop in Dharavi

Celebrity singer Tulsi Kumar celebrates her birthday with Mission Education children

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Amani Project launches its first programme in India with Smile Foundation

The Amani India Project partnered with Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence to weave their programme into
music making curriculum, was launched in Delhi with Smile Foundation and Children in Harmony.
This is an initiative through which children learn to identify, comprehend and manage their emotions through
music – the project brought together teachers, student mentors, and schoolchildren. The project focuses on
music theory, music practice and its association with emotional intelligence training.
Activities included ice-breaking sessions, jam sessions, song composition and practice sessions, working with
mood meters, performing to the different songs and group recitals.
Palak Muchhal, celebrity playback singer, attended the event and actively trained, guided and collaborated with
the young artists – adding value to their different song compositions.
Santanu Mishra, Co- Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation says, “Children learnt to fashion their
own ‘do it yourself’ instruments from objects as they composed music and lyrics. Songs were focused on
empathizing with people who are different. Our objective was to help them become ‘activists’ – activist artists
who put into motion all of the new equity skills they’ve learned in the Amani Project, specifically around (but
not limited to) gender.”
Smile Foundation is a national level development organisation reaching out to more than 600,000
underprivileged children, youth and women directly every year through more than 250 welfare projects on
subjects such as education, healthcare, youth employability, and women empowerment across 25 states of
India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children,
their families and the community

National Girl Child Day celebrated in all Mission Education centres

National Girl Child Day is celebrated to encourage people to give equal opportunities to girl child regarding
education, healthcare, nutrition etc. Smile Foundation celebrated National Girl Child Day on the 24th of

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January 2019 at all the Mission Education centre across the country by engaging in various activities like poster
making, painting around the theme of girl child, female feticide, lack of equal opportunities, child-marriage etc.
The activities were conducted to sensitize the children about their roles and responsibilities towards building a
better society and build the practice of inclusion of one and all. Mission Education is a national level
programme of Smile Foundation, which is committed to providing basic education and healthcare to
underprivileged children.
Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 750,000 children and their families every year,
through more than 350 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in
over 1000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India.

CAMPAIGNS

1)SHIKSHA NA RUKE –A INTIATIVE FOR PROVIDING EDUCATION TO UNDER

PRIVILEDGE CHILDREN DURING PANDEMIC

PreviousNext

Forced to stay indoors with schools being shut down, children became one of the worst sufferers of the
pandemic. While many children shifted to digital mode of learning, the less privileged children did not have
similar access to technology and their education came to a halt.

These children have already had difficult journeys, having fought the shackles of poverty, child labour, and
much more to finally reach school. But the pandemic has reversed their years of struggle.

The biggest question for these children and their families is –

WILL THE PANDEMIC BE AN END TO THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR DREAMS?

With one year's gap in education, over 24 million children* (UN Data) globally are at the risk of dropping out
of school. In India, 5.3 percent of rural children aged 6-10 years did not enroll in school, compared to 1.8
percent in the previous year (ASER Report).

As the phased reopening of schools starts after nearly two years, will these children get back to school? Or will
they be forced to drop out and return to the dreaded reality of child labour and early marriage?

Join hands with Smile Foundation to ensure that #ShikshaNaRuke – education does not stop for any child.
Donate to help these little dreamers continue their education.

PreviousNext

22
Forced to stay indoors with schools being shut down, children became one of the worst sufferers of the
pandemic. While many children shifted to digital mode of learning, the less privileged children did not have
similar access to technology and their education came to a halt.

These children have already had difficult journeys, having fought the shackles of poverty, child labour, and
much more to finally reach school. But the pandemic has reversed their years of struggle.

The biggest question for these children and their families is –

WILL THE PANDEMIC BE AN END TO THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR DREAMS?

With one year's gap in education, over 24 million children* (UN Data) globally are at the risk of dropping out
of school. In India, 5.3 percent of rural children aged 6-10 years did not enroll in school, compared to 1.8
percent in the previous year (ASER Report).

As the phased reopening of schools starts after nearly two years, will these children get back to school? Or will
they be forced to drop out and return to the dreaded reality of child labour and early marriage?

Join hands with Smile Foundation to ensure that #ShikshaNaRuke – education does not stop for any child.
Donate to help these little dreamers continue their education.

2) SHIKSHA NA RUKE –A INTIATIVE FOR A GIRL CHILD EDUCATION

A mother, a sister, a daughter, a home-maker, a teacher, a doctor, a leader; women hold our worlds together in a
million ways.A girl child comes into this world with just as many expectations, dreams and aspiration as a boy,
but soon finds out that her way towards achieving them is much more challenging. The mere absence of an
education and the many different set of rules that a girl has to follow according to the norms of the society
makes her suffer mentally, emotionally and physically from a very young age.
Smile Foundation’s initiative ‘She Can Fly’ is an effort to enable, equip and empower girl children with quality
education, proper nutrition, good health, adequate skills, and above all a lot of self-confidence to help them live
their lives to their fullest potential.
This is also a step towards sensitizing the civil society at large and helping create a girl child/women friendly
society to help her thrive.
Let us all come forward and join hands to give wings to her dreams. Empower, educate, and make her strong to
stand her own ground and shine in her efforts. She Can Fly, let’s give her the sky!

GIRL CHILD IN INDIA

62 % OUT OF 17.7 MILLIONS IS OUT FOR SCHOOLS

73% OF GIRLS DON’T GET PAST 10 YEARS OF SCHOOL

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 REFLECTIONS

Roshan
Odisha
"I could not sit for my exams in the 6th standard, I thought I will never be able to go to
school again."
Roshan is currently a student of class VII at a Mission Education Center in Odisha. His
father who used to work as a daily wage earner passed away when Roshan was in the
6th standard. Before joining in the Mission Education center he along with his mother
had to go through very hard times when his father expired and his mother did not have
any money to pay the school fees and he had to drop one year. When identified by a
project coordinator of the Mission Education center Roshan was a boy with little hope.
Soon after joining the center Roshan began to improve in studies, he works harder and
never misses a class. He likes to make new friends and read story books. His mother
now works to earn for the family and Roshan hopes that someday he will be successful
and work of all those children who have to suffer like he did.

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Nahid
Ghaziabad
“I used to miss school earlier, but then Miss Preeti came and told ammi to send me to a
free school, so I come here now.”
8 year old Nahid excitedly gets ready for school, they have art and craft periods at
school today and storytelling too. Nothing can dampen the energy of this little girl. Her
father who worked as a tailor in a factory nearby lost his hand in an accident which led
him to lose his job. Things began to change from then on, Nahid who earlier used to go
to a different school had to drop out and so did her brother Adil who began working in a
shop to support the family.
Nahid was identified by a coordinator from Mission Education who convinced her parents
to send her to the center in Ghaziabad. The family is happy that she gets lunch at school
and Nahid for the love of her Adil saves kheer form lunch. The family still struggles but
Nahid knows that she can make everything go away by working hard at school.

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Lavanya
Hyderabad
“I want to be the Prime Minister.” - Lavanya, 10 yrs
It is hard to miss the sparkle in Lavanya’s eyes when she says this. Full of mischief and
fun now, Lavanya did not have a very happy childhood initially. Abandoned by her father
at birth, Lavanya lost her mother too, in an accident seven years ago. But the little girl
was lucky to get a second mother. Her maternal aunt Padma adopted her and started
bringing her up like her own daughter. Padma works a s a construction laborer and has
to struggle everyday to feed both her daughters Lavanya and Shobha but she never
gets tired because she has big dreams for both of them.
Lavanya studies in the 4th standard along with Shobha at a Mission education center in
Hyderabad. She likes to draw and dance and so does her sister. Lavanya wants to grow
up to be a teacher and teach children who do not have the means to pursue an
education.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.smilefoundationindia.org

www.google.com

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