Mumbai Smiles celebrates Children‘s day with colossal enthusiasm

Mumbai Smiles celebrated Children’s Day, which is observed on 14^th November every year, with great vigor in five areas across Mumbai. The areas covered balwadis at Marol pipeline(8 balwadis), Sangharsh Nagar, Chandevali (6 balwadis), Powai(6 Balwadis), Kanjurmarg(2 Balwadis) , and Vikhroli ( 1 Balwadi) from the 14^th to 27^th November 2013.

For balwadis of Marol pipeline, the celebration was conducted at Dr Lelevadi ground. For all the others, the event was organized within their respective community area. Across all the centers, craft work and drawings made by Balwadi students were exhibited. Students participated in various activities like dancing, singing, reciting poems etc. At each of the centers, the program duration was 3-4 hours. Approximately 1300-1400 people attended the program across all the centers

Mrs. Yadav and Mr. Narendra Kumar were the chief guests at Marole pipleline centre. Mrs Yadav delivered a short speech at the end of the program informing people about the positive influence of Balwadis. Her own children had studied at Balwadi. Mr Narendra Kumar, Executive Director, Mumbai Smiles, India, discussed about clean development and various other projects of Mumbai Smiles. Mr. Ishwar Tayde was the chief guest at Sangharsh Nagar centre. He is the local corporator at Sangharsh Nagar. He made all the space arrangements for the event and coordinated the various activities at the event. He spoke highly of Mumbai Smiles and its various projects in his speech. He also supported the event last year. Anil Shikhre (Secretary of SRA Federation) and Pandurang Ohal were the chief guests at Powai centre. They both spoke on nutrition and lauded Mumbai Smiles for their contribution in this area

Apart from the various activities organized for children, people present were made aware about the different projects of Mumbai Smiles in the areas of health, education, livelihood generation and awareness building. For Eg: Balwadi project was emphasized upon in the education area and Hope project for children living with Cancer in the health area.

Furthermore, people were made aware about Children’s rights day, which is observed on 20^th November every year. Vikas, a Mumbai Smiles team member, educated everyone about various rights of children such as right against exploitation, right to nutrition etc.