 | Women, the focus of our new programs During recent years, I have been moving in two dynamic and creative spheres: the world of enterprise and the world of philanthropy. I have come to realize, that sustainable growth and progress can be built by combining the approaches of these different universes. Today, I am very proud to introduce our new program, WomenChangeMakers (www.womenchangemakers.org), through which we will support social entrepreneurs who promote women's empowerment and progress. I'm also happy to announce the launch of the first commercial women's radio in the Middle East, Radio NISAA FM (www.radionisaa.net), a radio with a social mission run on an entrepreneurial model, by women and for women. Since its creation in 2005, Smiling Children develops projects giving access to underprivileged girls and women to education, training and employment. We are convinced that investing in women's empowerment is the best way to help entire communities to move forward. We intend to reinforce this strategic action by further focusing on social entrepreneurs who have the capacity to profoundly change society through programs with a high potential for impact. Operational team and governance strengthened In order to better carry out our activities, we have strengthened our team since the beginning of 2010. By year's end, we will consolidate our board by integrating experts in the fields of social enterprise, philanthropy and sustainable development. Smiling Children supported by the trust and generosity of our donors We are grateful to all the members of Smiling Children's support committee, the Bertarelli Foundation, as well as our donors and sponsors for their continued generosity and solidarity. Thanks to everyone's generous participation, we collected over CHF 1,3 million during our gala on 21st January 2010. We are also thankful to the Foundation of the Haute Horlogerie who hosted Smiling Children at the last Salon international de la Haute Horlogerie. We deeply appreciate Lloyds Private Banking gesture to let us benefit of the proceeds of their 90th anniversary celebration, and salute their intention to engage with us on a longer-term basis. BGC Brokers' trading office in Nyon offered us the generous contribution of a business day's income. Numerous other donors support us regularly or occasionally; we sincerely appreciate their trust. The totality of the donations received is devoted to our beneficiaries in the field. My companies and myself cover our administrative costs. Let me greet you cordially with these wise words of Pekka Himanen: "Historically, (…) fundamental changes have been initiated by some individuals who care". Yann Borgstedt, President |
 | A director for the Smiling Children Foundation Early 2010, Antonella Notari Vischer came on board as head of Smiling Children and the WomenChangeMakers' program. « I am convinced that we need to expand the capacity and reach of people who lead projects to achieve social justice and a better integration for women. I am happy to take up this new challenge and to help our partners in finding the appropriate solutions for growth and increased impact. After having worked for more than 18 years at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the field and as the ICRC's main spokesperson, Antonella joined the microfinance sector as communications' director at BlueOrchard, a Geneva-based microfinance investment fund manager. Antonella is also a member of the board of Geneve roule, an association promoting cycling and the professional insertions of marginalised people, and of Giving Women, a platform of exchange for women active or interested in philanthropy. She holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and a licence ès letters of the Geneva University. Two more collaborators recently joined the team: Valentina di Felice, a recent graduate from the International Organizations MBA of Geneva University, was hired as project manager, chiefly to help NISAA FM in their task of seeking partners, investors and sponsors. Agustina O'Farrell, based in Buenos Aires, is the new project manager for WomenChangeMakers, bringing with her a sound experience in the fields of social enterprise (with Ashoka and Changemakers) and philanthropy. Also collaborating with the team are Jean-Luc L'Eplattenier, head of project, Aurelia Ovan, executive assistant, Christophe Berther, accountant, and other numerous people that regularly give of their time and expertise. |
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Identify, support and connect social entrepreneur dedicated to help women
Because access for women to education, health, economic and political citizenship remains a fundamental condition of human development, and because social entrepreneurs have proven to be well positioned to respond to these challenges, we are looking for people who propose innovative solutions, and we support them in the development of their projects. Their individual and collective impact will profoundly change the situation of women around the world. The WomenChangeMakers' program grew from the conviction that empowering women and supporting them in improving their condition can achieve sustainable social progress locally and globally.
WomenChangeMakers is a new program that identifies, supports and connects social entrepreneurs working worldwide to promote women's access to education, healthcare, economic and political integration. In doing so, it empowers them to build sustainable models, develop synergies and increase their impact. For more information, visit the web site of the program:: www.womenchangemakers.org
 WomenChangeMakers' Workshop
May 2010 In May 2010, WomenChangeMakers brought together nine well-known experienced social entrepreneurs for a 3-day workshop in Geneva. The main objective was to reflect on their experiences and to gather their ideas to help us finalise our new support program. Their strategic and pragmatic inputs allowed us to consolidate our vision and build up an action plan for WomenChangeMakers. Our aim is to add significant value to existing successful social enterprises and to multiply their impact. Among our distinguished guests were Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, Mrs. Mary Daley Yerrick and Mrs. Chetna Gala Sinha. Dr. Yacoobi, Ashoka social entrepreneur, founded and now manages the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL). This organization develops education and health programs in favour of Afghan women and children. Mrs. Yerrick is the co-founder of Vital Voices Global Partnership, an organization promoting women's economical and political emancipation. Mrs. Chetna Gala Sinha has been active since 1996 in helping tens of thousands of underprivileged Indian women to manage their wealth, through different programs such as micro credits, savings, capital management, training in business management and capacities' development. The results of the workshop are synthesized in a report that will be published this autumn and that will be available to any interested person (order you copy via info@womenchangemakers.org). Radio NISAA FM
(Palestinian Territories and Palestinian Diaspora)
NISAA FM is the first commercial radio run by women for women in the Middle East. It broadcasts since late 2009 on www.radionisaa.net and to the Westbank on 96.0 FM since June 2010. It also offers websites in Arabic and English. "NISAA FM is all about inspiration and empowerment. Inspiration is very important in our society. Through airwaves we can share our experience and knowledge, and support women to realize themselves in spite of the challenges we face", says Maysoun Odeh Gangat, the general manager of radio NISAA FM. NISAA FM was created with the support and funding of the Smiling Children Foundation. 
NISAA FM will break even in the course of 2013 and from then on generate profits through advertisements, program sponsoring, syndication of programs and other forms of revenues. UNESCO, UNIFEM, the Foundation for the Future and other organizations are presently discussing with NISAA FM the possibility to sponsor specific programs or other aspects of its activities, such as the training of rural correspondents, or the expansion of its broadcast capacity. Smiling Children and NISAA FM are looking for partners, donors or investors, to join in as partners in the start-up period of NISAA FM (2010-2013) to develop the station and its business. The radio is also looking for advertisers and program sponsors in order to improve and diversify its offer. To listen to Radio NISAA or for more information, please visit www.radionisaa.net.
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| | Al Fatah School for Girls
Access to excellent education for girls
in Afghanistan
Since 2007, Smiling Children and the British Council have been participating in the reconstruction and overall improvement of Al Fatah School for Girls in Kabul. To date, two buildings containing 75 classrooms, 3 hallways, a gymnasium and 12 restrooms have been rehabilitated. 7 new classrooms have also been constructed. 
Thanks to the restoration program and the construction of the buildings, more than 4,400 Afghan girls between the ages of 6 and 18 are able to attend school. TV Tolo, an important Afghan TV station, has named The Al Fatah School "a model for girl's schools in Afghanistan". "I feel a big difference this year in the school, we now have a beautiful building and the classrooms are so clean and nice," says Yagana, aged 15 years. "We can learn better in such an environment. We also have more time for learning, as this year our school is in two shifts instead of three, because there's more room." Presently, the focus is on the development of the teachers' and management's capacities with a training programme that includes English, IT and management classes. All of the 166 female teachers and 16 management staff members are benefitting from this training programme. The improvement of the school's infrastructure as well as the supply of equipment will continue in order to insure an excellent level of education. Little Maids
Fight against girls domestic labour (Morocco)
Since 2007, the Smiling Children Foundation has been collaborating with INSAF, a Moroccan NGO, in the fight against the exploitation of little girls from poor rural areas. The aim of the programme is to facilitate the return of girls between the ages of 6 and 12, who are exploited as maids, to their family and to school. The programme aims to support these girls until the end of their mandatory school years, and, wherever possible, to facilitate their access to secondary education.
 To date, 129 young girls from the region of Chichaoua have been removed from the hard life of domestic labour (mostly in Casablanca), re-integrated into their family and enrolled in school. 70 girls are benefitting from scholarships, 37 received school supplies and 22 are provided with food. A monthly follow-up is organized to evaluate the re-integration of these girls in their families. 72 girls also profit from a tutoring program that was set up to help them in school. In parallel to the sponsorship program, advocacy and awareness programs for the children's rights have been organized for parents, local and national authorities and the population. Lately, we have noted a positive change in the mentality, and, most importantly, a decrease in sending girls from Chichaoua to Casablanca. The next step of the programme is to expand the activities to the neighbouring province of Kelâat Es Sraghna. Justice intervenes in favour of a mistreated
12-year-old little maid Fatima had been working for one year as a little maid in a family in Casablanca for a "salary" of DHM 500 per month (about CHF 58). She was the victim of repeated beatings and sequestration by her "employer". The little girl managed to escape and was assisted by neighbours who alerted the police. Fatima was cared for and reunited with her family in the region of Chichaoua. On the legal side, the King's prosecutor at the first instance court of Casablanca prosecuted the "employer", who was convicted after trial to one year in prison and a fine of DHM 500, a sentence that she intends to appeal. INSAF has filed a complaint against the "employer" for the abuse suffered by the girl and is following the case through its lawyer.
A support group was created on Facebook: Fatima: Une petite bonne de 12 ans torturée à Casablanca. Teenagers leading social change
(Israel) In 2008, together with the Israeli Women's network (IWN), Smiling Children developed the programme "Nemesh" that promotes the empowerment and personal development for young Arab women in Israel. The starting point for this project was the observation that only 20% of Arab women in Israel are professionally active as opposed to 55% of Israeli women. The number of girls continuing on to superior studies is very low, in spite of their successful completion of the intermediary level. Furthermore, statistics show that the number of Arab girls getting married between the age of 16 and 17 is 4 times higher to those of Jewish girls of the same age. These indicators show the reduced possibilities of young Arab women in Israel to achieve their full potential and to build their independence. The indicators also attest to the low self-esteem of these young women, who were raised in a conservative environment. The programme, validated by the Israeli Ministry of Education, is intended for Arab women between 16 and 18 in the city of Jaffa, in East Jerusalem and in the so-called Triangle area, and offers a structured learning course of 10 sessions as part of the school curriculum. It teaches the young women about social inequality issues, and enhances their confidence in their potential, with the aim to develop their competences, to promote their development and emancipation, and ultimately, to change the attitude towards women. To date, the program has been offered to 37 groups of students in 13 schools. 740 young women have participated in the seminars in total (340 in 2008-2009 school year and 400 in the 2009-2010). The program has had a very positive impact on the participants, most of them are now considering continuing their studies or taking a training course and pursuing a professional career. Access of underprivileged women
to university studies (Palestinian Territories) In 2008, Smiling Children developed a program for young women's social and professional integration, in collaboration with the Women's Studies Centre, a Palestinian NGO. The objective of the program is not only to provide disadvantaged women with scholarships for university, but also to help them to increase their chances to find employment once they graduate, through help in arranging for internships, coaching in job hunting, etc. 
During the school year 2010-2011, 22 young women will receive a scholarship to pursue a higher education in a Palestinian University. At the same time, the students who have received post-academic support in the former years will be carefully monitored to evaluate the program's impact and to better target the type of activities and areas to sponsor in the future. 40 Students having followed social studies and information technology studies have participated in this program between 2007-2009 and 16 of them are still employed, which corresponds to a rate well above average.
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 | Rifia Gold
Production of extra-virgin organic fair trade olive oil (Morocco) The third crop in 2009 produced 12,000 litres of high quality extra-virgin olive oil, with a level of acidity of 0.2. Once again, the oil was awarded the organic and fair-trade certifications. Smiling Children reserved 3,000 litres for its own distribution while the remaining 9,000 litres are available for local sales. Throughout the last three harvest seasons, Smiling Children set up training days for the farmers given by experts at various stages of the production cycle. Thus, the cultivators were taught the best practices for growing, pruning and treating the trees, harvesting and transporting the olives and extracting the oil. At this stage, the most ambitious part of the project has been realized. It has generated specific knowledge for growing and handling olives used for the production of Moroccan extra-virgin organic olive oil, which is still a rare commodity. Producers and local workers were motivated to get involved by taking part in various stages of the implementation cycle. It has helped in the creation of permanent and seasonal jobs, even among women. And as a bonus, the project has realized the production of remarkably high quality oil with beneficial qualities, produced while respecting the environment. In the mean time, the producers' association has become a cooperative, which includes cultivators having worked on the project, as well as several women of Rhafsai. With this change, the community's involvement in the project is reinforced. The cooperative decides on the use of the social funds generated by the fair trade certification, as well as the other revenues generated by the sale of its oil with the intention of improving general living conditions and local services. Today the aim is to make the project grow in order to make it commercially viable while developing its socio-economic benefits. It is for this reason that distributors need to be identified that can ensure the distribution and sales of the Rhafsai olive oil nationally and internationally. They will be supplied directly by the Rhafsai cooperative. Moreover, the funding to build a larger and more accessible production plant for the extra-virgin olive oil is being sought from several governmental agencies that focus on sustainable development. The cooperative has put a piece of land at the disposal for the new plant. This vision is just a few step away of becoming a reality. If this project succeeds in becoming independently viable, other similar enterprises will be launched in the region, encouraged by the Rhafsai model. Smiling Children Gold
Production of organic virgin olive oil (Palestinian Territories) Smiling Children produces a high quality virgin olive oil in the village of Bidiya (West Bank) in partnership with the Welfare Association and the MA'AN Development Center –two Palestinian non-government organizations– and a cooperative of a 150 local producers. In particular, we supported the continuous training of the olive oil producers and the improvement of the manufacturing infrastructure. The objective of this project is to help boost the Palestinian economy by generating seasonal and fix employment and revenues for the community. Our commitment stems from the belief that the improvement of the economical situation of the Palestinian people is an essential requirement for the stability of the whole region. Smiling Children sells a part of the production under the label Smiling Children Gold, a high quality organic virgin olive oil available in bottles of 500 ml. (See online shop on www.smilingchildren.org for more information). Kiosks for single mothers (Morocco) Together with the help of the association Solidarité Féminine (SOLFEM), Smiling Children built four kiosks in the vicinity of the Centre Hospitalier of Casablanca to encourage the social and professional re-integration of single mothers. Three single mothers, each with a child to support, manage three of the four kiosks and use it for revenue generating activities. One of them is even launching her own business thanks to the savings she was able to put aside by her work at the kiosk. The selection of the candidate for the management of the fourth kiosk is in progress. In addition to enable the young mothers to provide for a single-parent family, the experience has increased their autonomy. Their confidence is reinforced with the skills they learn from their activities, such as negotiation, anticipation of risks and opportunities, taking initiative, public relations, administration and the realization of a life project for themselves and their children. This project has proven successful and has attracted attention among the public, namely with the extraordinary and visible development of the capacities of the single mothers through the support offered to them and their children. This is accomplished by the training provided by SOLFEM to the mothers in the skills required to manage a small business; the individual and regular follow-up during on-site visits; and the allocation of micro-loans for the acquisition of the required supplies to set up their small enterprises. |
| | Smiling Children Gala and
Le Salon de la Haute Horlogerie
January 21st 2010
On January 21st, 2010, almost 700 enthusiastic guests were welcomed at the Smiling Children gala hosted by the Bertarelli Foundation at the prestigious Geneva Country Club of Bellevue. Contemporary art pieces, exclusive jewellery, luxurious trips and many more original and invaluable objects, mostly generously donated, were auctioned off for a total of more than CHF 800,000. Other games and exclusive sales aroused the generosity of the participants. The musical performances by Kirsty Bertarelli and Yannick Noah livened the evening's ambiance even more, and made it an enjoyable and unforgettable event. On the same day, Smiling Children was invited to the VIP cocktail at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), where we appealed for donations towards the reconstruction of Haiti following its devastating earthquake. The guests of the SIHH donated almost CHF 38,000. The Great Game: Afghanistan
July 29th 2010 Smiling Children sponsored an exceptional performance of the show "The Great Game: Afghanistan" at the London Tricycle Theatre on July 29th, 2010. The show recounts the history of Afghanistan from 1842 to date. The goal of the day was to familiarize a large public, consisting of representatives of the British government, the armed forces and the British population, with the diversity and the wealth of the heritage and culture of the Afghan people. The encounter with the Afghan culture marked the decision-makers implicated in Afghanistan, and it will hopefully help them make better informed choices in favour of the Afghan people. BGC Brokers (Nyon)
Charity day
September 13th 2010
On September 13th, the trading company BGC Brokers in Nyon donated all of the day's revenues, as well as donations from their clients to Smiling Children and to other charities. Visit the website
Lloyds TSB Private Banking
90TH Anniversary
September 15th 2010
For the 90th anniversary of their presence in Geneva, Lloyds Private Banking donated the proceeds of their celebration to Smiling Children. Lloyds wishes to contribute strategically and in the long term to the development of the WomenChangeMakers' program. As a first important contribution, they covered the production and distribution costs of the report summarizing the results of the WomenChangeMakers' workshop in May 2010 (see above).
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