New Delhi, June 6, 2022: Reiterating its commitment to creating positive change at the grassroots by empowering individuals and nascent organizations, Smile Foundation organized a two-day trainer refresher program for its Change the Game India pool of trainers.

Built on Smile Foundation’s 20 years of experience working at the grassroots in India, Change the Game Academy brings Change the Game India program to strengthen the capabilities of social changemakers and grassroots organizations working for better governance and self-sustainability. The program enables such organizations to gain credibility and support. It also helps them become self-sufficient by honing their skills in identifying, accessing, and mobilizing locally available resources.

Two Master trainers along with other trainers of Change the Game India attended this two-day in-person refresher program after three years. The refresher program also served as a meeting for the trainers to catch up and share updates on the development of the program, globally and nationally. The trainers also shared their expectations and challenges as a team. Additionally, special sessions were organized on specific topics such as digital fundraising, governance compliance, laws and regulations, and corporate social responsibility.

“The last two years of the pandemic proved the importance of having strong networks that can support and strengthen communities at the last mile. With Change the Game India Program, we aim to train small organizations working at the grassroots to create the maximum impact and utilize resources to their potential. Following the philosophy of Social Venture Philanthropy, we have been working to empower such organizations towards better governance and help them design their own funding strategies to advance towards sustainability,” said Vikram Singh Verma, Executive Director, Smile Foundation addressing the closing session of the program.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “Social entrepreneurs are the key in helping develop grassroot programs and initiatives that make a real impact and help the country tread the path of development. Their contribution is immense. With in-depth training programs such as these, we look at strengthening efforts of organizations working at the grassroots to help build a sustainable and stronger India.”

The senior leadership, while appreciating the initiative, impressed upon the need for introspection on how as a CtGI trainer one has benefited personally so one could convey the same to the participants.

Change the Game India has developed an innovative blended-learning program that helps change-makers from civil society organizations and social entrepreneurs from all over the country learn and imbibe fundraising best practices. Currently, through Change the Game India initiative, Smile Foundation has supported 185 organizations in India.

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban slums in 25 states.

Change the Game India

As a partner in co-creating Change the Game Academy, Smile Foundation has major ownership as the national partner in India, along with the responsibility as the nodal partner for Asian region. Change the Game India aims to empower the grassroots, including communities and social entrepreneurs, in India by building their capacities & mentoring them towards self-reliance & self-sustainability by helping them adapt sustainable ways of raising funds. This is done with a vision that it would enable them to address the needs of the civil society by supplementing and complementing the efforts of the government and in line with global development strategies.

Contact

Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/