Harnessing Adolescent Health: Why Nutrition Matters

Taking the message of nutrition to the remotest part of the country, Smile Foundation project 'Sampoorna' (meaning 'complete or whole'), a nutrition enhancement program has achieved a milestone by improving the nutritional status of adolescent girls in Banaskantha district, Gujarat.

Adolescence is the most critical phase for the physical growth of a person’s life, particularly girls, and they need both nutrients and energy. It helps to balance the nutritional deficiencies that may have occurred during early childhood. In India, over 80 percent of adolescents suffer from ‘hidden hunger’, i.e. the deficiency of one or more micronutrients such as iron, folate, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.

The topic 'Sustainability in Nutrition Intervention for Adolescent Girls' will emphasise how this Nutrition Enhancement Programme for adolescent girls (14-19 years) in Block Amirgarh, District Banaskantha, State Gujarat has made a difference on ground zero.

Elets virtual discussion on October 8th, along with Smile Foundation, will be deliberating upon this ground-breaking comprehensive project, which has brought in positive outcomes on the ground, like: reducing anemia, malnutrition, and improving livelihood opportunities for 1000 adolescent girls in Banaskantha (Gujarat).

 

Project Objectives

1.Improve knowledge among the adolescent girls in the age group of 14-19 years for encouraging consumption of weekly Iron Folic Acid and local food grains of high nutrition value, which will result in reduction in iron deficiency (anemia)
2.Strengthen government linkages for continuous supply of nutritional supplements through the system
3.Expanding choices for the adolescent girls to break the cycle of poor health and nutrition by providing them life-skills and vocational training for livelihoods linked to local opportunities


Target population – 1,000 in school and out of school girls, age 14-19 years of selected cluster of around 8 to 10 villages of Amirgarh block in Banaskantha.
Second largest district with 7.7% women (15-19) who are already mothers or pregnant

 

Our Work

About Smile Foundation

  •   Smile Foundation founded in 2002
  •   Outreach to Rural Areas and Urban Slums
  •   Presence in 25 states, 400+ projects covering 2000+ villages & slums
  •   Committed to:
    •   Girls and Women Empowerment - Flagship program "She Can Fly"
    •   Healthcare for Poor Families - Smile on Wheels
    •   Education and Skills Development for Children and Youth - Lifecycle Development Approach

We believe that to bring tangible difference, proactive engagement of civil society is needed and we are committed to accomplish our mission to bring smiles on the faces of the underserved.

 

Celebrities Who Support Us

Hosts:

  • Anjali & Hari Agrawal
  • Shalu & Jiten Agarwal
  • Namrata & Ankur Goel

Contact

US Office:
5100 Westheimer Road, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77056

India Office:
161 B/4, 3rd Floor, Gulmohar House,
Yusuf Sarai Community Centre, New Delhi – 110049

  smileusa2020@gmail.com

Join Us Live





fb youtube