Smile Foundation is an Indian development organisation based in New Delhi, India. It was established in 2002 and has a presence in 25 Indian states. As of 2018, the foundation reaches around 600,000 children and their families. The organisation works for the welfare of children, their families, and the community through a lifecycle approach.
The organization has two working models: social venture philanthropy and outreach. Social venture philanthropy is a model based on the business concept of venture capital. Under this model, Smile Foundation implements its development projects through community based organisations, to broad base investment and optimize social return on investment. Outreach is the model under which the organization directly implements development projects for underprivileged communities in villages as well as urban slums across the country.
Programmes
Smile Foundation works for the welfare of children, their families, and the community through intensive programmes focused on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment.
Education
Smile Foundation started its Mission Education program in 2002 to provide education to underprivileged children in India. The programme focuses on children living in difficult circumstances such as child labor, children affected with HIV/AIDS, street and runaway children, children with rare disabilities, disaster struck children, and slum children. The organization has also launched a digital literacy project as part of its Mission Education Programme that aims to increase literacy among underprivileged children.
Health
Smile on Wheels is a national level mobile hospital programme initiated in 2006 that focuses on providing curative and preventive healthcare services to the underprivileged. The programme seeks to address problems of mobility, accessibility, and availability of primary healthcare focusing primarily on children and women, in urban slums and remote rural areas.
Livelihood
Smile Twin E-learning Programme is a skill training and livelihood initiative started by Smile Foundation in 2007 that helps unprivileged youth acquire the skills required to get jobs in the retail and service sectors. The programme trains the youth in English proficiency, basic computer education, and soft skills.
Women Empowerment
Smile Foundation’s women empowerment programme Swabhiman, meaning self-respect in English, was initiated in 2005. The programme focuses on adolescent girls and women and helps them with education, awareness, life skills, access to menstrual and reproductive healthcare, financial literacy, and skill training for financial independence.
Partnership
In August 2018, the Smile Foundation and Triumph Motorcycles partnered to organize Ride for Freedom, a group ride across 16 cities in India to support girls' education. Proceed from the ride were donated to the #SheCanFly campaign organized by the foundation. Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson has developed web-based training modules for the Foundation's Smile Twin E-learning Programme. In 2018, Ericsson announced it would also provide internet connectivity at 34 Smile Foundation education centers across India.
