Last week in Delhi, we met with the minds behind the Smile Foundation….and it gave us something to smile about. Not only was it refreshing to learn about their “business model” approach to philanthropy, but their heartfelt call to arms for all successful business people within India to help their fellow citizens. Their focus: children’s health and education, two key factors that lie at the core of development.
Smile’s “social venture philanthropy” model allows them to approach effective peanut-sized NGOs as if they were budding entrepreneurs. They don’t talk charity, they talk business - partnering with NGOs and expecting a socially-rewarding return on investment (that being better access to health and education programs for marginalized children). Aware that community-based NGOs often know what’s best for the community - as it’s usually theirs as well - the Smile Foundation has sought out over 100 health and education NGOs to “seal the deal.”
Will and I were able to visit two of their partner projects during our time in India and were more than impressed. Not far away from our hotel in Delhi, was the Salaam Balaak Trust, which educates, supports and shelters some of the 100,000 street children in India’s capital city. They offer tours of Delhi and an insight into street life from former street children for only $4, which I recommend to everyone. We were surprised to learn from our guide that the majority of kids that take the street are NOT orphans, but children that have run away from abusive homes. They value their independence, above anything, and find ways to survive with next to nothing. Considering their strength of character and fighting spirit, just imagine the enormous potential of such children when given an opportunity to go to school, to improve their situation…
Another partner project we were able to visit was the Smile on Wheels mobile hospital in Jaipur. Their team graciously allowed us to tag along for a day to film them in action as they traveled to various slums. There, they announced their arrival over loud speakers, and waited for some of Delhi’s poorest to line up outside their truck, awaiting medical consultation and prescriptions. It was on this day when I truly understood why the Smile Foundation had picked their name. One could think that it refers to a child’s face once they are given access to education and proper health care, but in fact, it refers to the children BEFORE the help ever arrives.
We are often overwhelmed with commercials from humanitarian organizations, urging us to give money to “little Johnny” in X country, appealing to our emotional guilt while watching tears roll down his face. Yes, I agree, it is completely depressing! The commercial ends leaving viewers with the idea that these children should be pitied, that they are simply sad, poor kids, waiting for you to rescue them. I assure you this is not the case. While we visited the slum neighborhoods in Jaipur with the Smile on Wheels team, tons of smiling children came out to meet us – curious, energetic, and playful. After many “I like you”s in broken English, a few kisses on the cheek, and numerous requests for our signatures (don’t ask me why), I was having so much fun I almost forgot about the dire conditions surrounding us. A goat and some pigs poked around the hills of garbage lining the road, the smell of urine wafting by us, the filthy clothes the children were wearing. But to them, none of that really mattered, they were happy with what they had, they were smiling. And I was smiling just being around them.
The Smile Foundation bases its work on five core principles: scalability, accountability, sustainability, communication, and transparency. To me, their method is effective because they are supporting pre-existing small-scale NGOs, who have already carefully addressed how to solve and approach the needs of their community (ex. The mobile hospital). The funding they are given isn't for laptops or 4x4s but basic needs to get them off their feet. I would recommend anyone visiting India, to get in touch with the Smile Foundation and learn more about their projects!
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