'Kids 4 Kids' Initiative Launched by Dr M S Swaminathan

The plight of children in rural areas have struck ‘a group of 16‐year old girls in the urban city of Chennai ’ thus kindling in their hearts the need to help them which in turn led to the forming of ‘K4K’ an initiative of ‘The Smile Club’. 

‘The SMILE Club – K4’K’s initiative was launched by Professor M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman‐Emeritus of MSSRF on 8 October at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Taramani, in Chennai.

Speaking during the launch Bianka Venkataramani, coordinator of The SMILE Club said, ‘The bigger aim is to bring smile into the lips of every single child in the villages of South India and aim to help them by raising funds to help pay their tuition fees, provide their basic school needs, and be a big brother or sister to them who would talk to them about the bigger possibilities life offers”.  

The group of young students started ‘The SMILE Club – K4’K’, an initiative of young students to help their needy brothers and sisters in rural areas. They visited a school in a village and interacted with the poor children. The club wants to extend the invitation to other kids to join them in their plan to get to know the kids in the rural areas and address their needs.

‘The SMILE Club – K4’K’s has partnered with The Hope Foundation, a public charitable trust in the city, and “Every child a Scientist” programme of MSSRF.

The SMILE Club – K4K hosts the Big Brother/Sister Program in which the club helps the needy poor students with school fees, bags and shoes, pens and notebooks in addition to regular visits and interaction.

Dr.Ajay Parida, Executive Director MSSRF, Dr Samuel Abraham, Trustee, HOPE Foundation, Kailu Orton, Member, The Smile Club, Sashna Chandrasekhar, Member, Core Team, The SMILE Club, participated in the launch function.           

The SMILE Club can be contacted at 9840740016/9176356551. Email- thesmileclub.k4k@gmail.com

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