MUMBAI SMILES : PEACEFUL STRUGGLE AGAINTS POVERTY

In World Kids, we try to give visibility to the largest possible number of projects and NGOs related to childhood and education. Each of these organizations performs an extraordinary educational work in its field, focusing on cultural, artistic or sporting aspects.

Today, it is my special pleasure to dedicate this post to Mumbai Smiles Foundation: an exciting project of peaceful struggle against poverty.

Education, healthy and socioeconomic development are the main framework of action for this Foundation that has worked for over ten years together with the most underprivileged communities of Mumbai. The NGO was established in 2005 by journalist and writer Jaume Sanllorente.

Mumbai Smiles represents an integrated program that aims at ending the poverty and to guarantee access to the fundamental Human Rights which are violated in Mumbai’s poorest communities. The Program covers Education, Health, Welfare, Awareness, and Education for development.

The scope of the project is immense, but in today’s post, we will focus on the educational aspect and on its extraordinary Balwadis pre-school education project for slum’s children between the ages of 1 to 6 years. From the very beginning, Mumbai Smiles has based its philosophy on defending Education as a fundamental right for each and every child as the key to ending the vicious cycle of poverty and gender inequality.

The shortage of economic resources and living conditions of many families, as well as the lack of opportunities, draw such a complex picture of Mumbai slums often forcing the children to look for their own income either working or begging.

This situation often gets worse, since many children work in conditions of exploitation or fall into the hands of child trafficking networks. It is here where education opens doors and opportunities. The pre-school education project Balwadis has, among its main objectives, to promote the importance of school attendance from an early age, not only to ensure a good level of knowledge and development for children, appropriate to their age, but also for families to value education more than to make them work and bring money home.

Hence the work is done with families through meetings and recreational activities involving them in their children’s education like drawing contests, costumes, and sports is essential.

More than 700 children from Mumbai slums are cared for in the 28 Balwadis sustained by Mumbai Smiles.

Bombay Smiles applies a methodology and quality standards in their teaching materials. Through animations, books, and music, children acquire their first knowledge and make contact with their environment.

More than 7,000 people have benefited from the projects sustained by Mumbai Smiles over these more than 10 years of work. The support of cooperating partners, donors and corporate partners is crucial.

Additionally, we all can do much to change things in our day to day. Believe it or not, small gestures and commitments can help to build a fairer environment. You can join this peaceful struggle in multiple ways: becoming a member, making a donation, taking part in working groups, leaving your legacy, helping to spread up their work or buying through Mumbai Smiles online shopping store. You will find complete information at www.sonrisasdebombay.org