Mission Education programme

  • P Project/Program

A Active

Key Information

Mission Education, Smile Foundation’s flagship programme, aimed to improve access to inclusive, equitable quality education for children aged 3–18 living in vulnerable circumstances, including those from low-income families, tribal and remote communities, disaster-affected areas, and street-connected or differently abled children. Aligned with India’s National Education Policy (2020) and SDG 4, the programme integrated education with nutrition and health support to address barriers to enrolment, retention, and learning outcomes.

The programme followed a four-pronged approach focused on strengthening learning outcomes and creating enabling learning environments. Interventions included curriculum-based instruction, STEM and experiential learning, digital education, sports and extracurricular activities, and nutrition and healthcare services. To improve school infrastructure, the programme supported classroom and laboratory refurbishment, the establishment of STEM, library, and numeracy labs, the use of Building as Learning Aid (BALA), and the installation of solar panels to enhance access to reliable power in underserved areas.

Lead Implementing Organization(s)

Location(s)

South Asia

India

Activity URL

https://www.smilefoundationindia.org/education/

Government Affiliation

Unknown

Years

2010 -

Partner(s)

Not applicable or unknown

Ministry Affiliation

N/A

Funder(s)

Not applicable or unknown

COVID-19 Response

Unknown

Geographic Scope

National

Meets gender-transformative education criteria from the TES  

Unknown

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Attainment
  • Secondary completion
Other
  • Transition from school to work
Other skills
  • Rights/empowerment education
  • Social and emotional learning
  • Vocational training
Skills
  • Literacy
  • STEM

Cross-cutting areas

  • Digital literacy
  • Economic/livelihoods (including savings/financial inclusion, etc.)
  • Empowerment
  • Food/water security
  • Gender equality
  • Social and gender norms and beliefs

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Boys (both in school and out of school), Girls (both in school and out of school), Youth

Age

6 - 14

School Enrolment Status

Some in school

School Level

  • Upper primary
  • Lower secondary

Other populations reached

Not applicable or unknown

Participants include

Not applicable or unknown

Program Approaches Back to Top

Access to school
  • Alternative learning centers/mobile schools/home schools
Community engagement/advocacy/sensitization
  • General awareness-raising/community engagement
Educational Technology
  • Digital skills/literacy (including coding)
Life skills education
  • Gender, rights and power
Reducing economic barriers
  • Reducing/eliminating school fees
  • Scholarships/stipends for school fees
Tutoring/strengthening academic skills
  • Literacy - outside the classroom
Women's empowerment programs
  • Advocacy/action
  • Empowerment training

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Improved critical thinking
  • Improved social and emotional learning/skills and mindsets
  • Increased literacy
  • Increased primary school completion
  • Increased progression to secondary school
  • Increased re-enrolment in school among out-of-school children
  • Increased secondary school enrolment

Cross-cutting goals

  • Changed social norms
  • Improved critical consciousness
  • Improved mental health
  • Improved nutrition
  • Increased agency and empowerment
  • Reduced child marriage

Additional Information Back to Top

Primary Contact

Smile Foundation