New Delhi: In an effort to build exemplary role models where they are needed the most, Smile Foundation a national level development organization has selected 50 bright, scholar girls from marginalized and poor communities from the slums of Delhi to equip them to face challenges of the modern times.

Held under Smile Foundation’s Swabhiman programme, the capacity building programme imparted practical skills and information to these young scholars, enabling them to explore their potentials and established a positive self image and develop better career perspective. The event took place on 27th and 28th June, 2016 at Viswa Yuvak Kendra, Chankyapuri, New Delhi.

The workshop was conducted under the guidance of subject experts, trainers. It gave them a platform to meet the real life role models from various fields- women entrepreneur, teacher, nurse, fire brigade official, journalist, police woman officer etc.

The program aimed at –

a) Encouraging young girls to share the issues which affect their lives and enable them to understand their potentials and make relevant choices for themselves

b) Providing them a strong Leadership orientation so as to enable young girls to put their best abilities for achieving their life goals as per their interests and aptitude

c) Providing them access to information and opportunities available.

The workshops during this camp empowered these young girls through various activities such as Yoga, Self exploration session, abhivyakti: effective communication through Media and theatre workshop, career counseling session, planning a common future and meeting the real life heroes.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-founder & Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said “In India, the girl child are usually deprived of their basic rights and education. Through this workshop we want to empower and inspire the younger girls to develop a road map for the future and make them self-aware, confident, take full charge of their own development and become a role model for thousand others.”

Smile Foundation, through its Scholarship programme has initiated efforts for the attitudinal shift of marginalized communities towards the girls’ education. The support is for school and college level girls in Delhi only. Most of the scholars strongly agree that due to Smile’s support they are motivated to achieve desirable education. Their families are also encouraged to continue the education of girl children further. They appreciate changes in the scholars in terms of their confidence, personality and information level.