The Thousand Smiles Project aims to improve collaboration between low-income schools and parents in India. It will partner with 6 schools and impact over 2,500 children and 90 parents. The project sees a lack of constructive dialogue between schools and parents, contributing to problems like declining student performance and unpaid school fees. The solution is a two-phase project. Phase I builds trust between schools and communities through health, financial literacy, and arts programs. Phase II forms school development committees with growing parent involvement. The project expects to reduce dental/eye issues, boost attendance and fee collection, and help parents access banking. It aims to scale to 200 schools and over 100,000 children by 2016.

1. THOUSAND SMILES PROJECT
Bringing Smiles On The Faces Of
6 Schools · 2500+ Children · 90 Parents · 20 Teachers

2. The Problem
Abbas Baig, Age: 47 (School)
Occupation: Principal
•Doesn’t see parents as collaborators
•Last year’s marketing budget: INR 75,000 | Output: > 90 admissions
•Fees overdue in last quarter: 45%
Raziya Begum, Age: 33 (Community)
Occupation: Zari/Embroidery
Monthly Household Income: INR 18,000
•Doesn’t believe she has a role to play in her child’s education
•Hasn’t attended a parent-teacher meeting in last 8 months
•Hasn’t paid fees in last 2 months

3. The Problem
There Is No Constructive Dialogue Between The School and Parents. They Add To Each
Others Problems
The Result?
Muzammil Ahmed, Age: 9 (Child)
Class – IV, Fees: INR 250
•Cannot read a Grade 1 English text
•Doesn’t have any role models
•Doesn’t see the point in studying
•Hesitates to meet new people

4. The Solution & Market Landscape
Thousand Smiles Project, in its pilot phase, aims at bringing together :
6 Principals · 90 Parents
Which in turn will impact: 2500+ children
We aim to create and mobilize leaders within low-income communities who will make
schools accountable and help in their functioning as partners. The result, a happier,
confident child.
How Big Is The Market?
Source: DISE 2012
ASER, 2013 suggests there’s a massive increase in
pvt. School enrollments and decrease in school
quality each year.
We aim to scale to 200 low-income and
mid-income pvt. schools by 2016,
Impacting over 100,000 kids

5. Phase I
PHASE I : Building trust and collaboration between schools and community
(parents).
MODULE ACTIVITIES PARTNERS STAKEHOLDER
BENEFITS
Health
(Basic Health benefits
for kids @ less than
$2)
Parents will be trained by
doctors to screen students in
vision and dental issues
All students will be
administered de-worming pills
Hygiene and sanitation taught
to kids to implement at homes
Paneeniya Dental College
Rotary Club
Aga Khan Health Academy
Dr. Levine, UC Berkeley
Select parents get part-time
employment and earn
compensation
Schools gain marketing
leverage
Kids get a health card
Financial Literacy A school bank is opened – runs
on kid’s savings – run by kids
Parents learn financial planning
and are introduced to
mainstream banking
GRAIN (Grassroots Action
and Information Network)
Doing Good Fellows
Parents know projected costs
for their kid’s education. They
have access to banking benefits
School cuts their fees overdues
Kids learn to save
Arts Parents and kids are trained to
make bags, candles, chocolate.
School gives space
Rewheel
Rare Earth Designs
Parents teach kids – earn
extra money
School gets money for
space

6. Phase II
PHASE II : Formation Of School Development Committee
Level A (Duration – 1 and half
months)
Level B (Duration – 3, 4, 5
months)
Level C (Duration - 6, 7
months)
Level D (Duration - 8, 9
months)
A
C
T
I
O
N
S
There’s 20% attendance in
meetings
No interaction between HM
and community members
There’s 30% attendance in
SDC meetings.
Less interaction between
the HM and community
members.
Meeting mostly led by
facilitator
Attendance is 60%.
Bimonthly meetings.
Interactions between
HMs and community
members happens.
Meeting led by HM
Attendance is 80%.
Bimonthly meetings.
The agenda is decided
by both parents and
HM in collaboration.
One parent co-
facilitates the session.
S
K
I
L
L
S
Understanding why student
learning outcomes is
important
Capacity building on
conducting parent teacher
meetings
Use of physical space
The procedure of
analyzing SLO is explained
by the accountability
team.
Trainings to understand
why is it important.
Parents use the data
and have discussion
forums.
Parents discuss the
important issues for
a parent teacher
meeting
Discussions on
phase I
Agenda around
PTMs co-decided
Agenda around SLO
co-decided

7. Pricing & Measurement
Pricing: Only For Pilot
Schools (annually) Community
(annually)
INR 10,000 INR 120 per student
Sample Measurements
Stakeholder Measurement
Indicator(s)
Medium Time Period
Children Decrease in dental
and eye problems
Increase in
attendance
Dental and Eye
Tracking System
Attendance Registers
2 months
Schools Decrease in the
percentage of fees
overdue per quarter
Fees Collections 3 months
Community Parents avail banking
benefits
See schools as
partners
Asset evaluation 6 months

8. Developments
Selected among top-10 finalists across India for
Microsoft YouthSpark Live
Partner School Orientation Meet
Won Edupreneur Quest by Central Square Foundation
and Villgro
Parents’ Feedback Sessions
Tie-ups With External Partners

9. Team
Sarthak Satapathy
Strategy, Measurements & School
Management
Sarthak.s2013@teachforindia.org
@mynd_it
Gowtham SR
Health Module Lead & Partnerships
Gowtham.sr2013@teachforindia.org
@mynd_it
Abhijit Biswas
Arts Module Lead & Finances
Abhijit.biswas2013@teachforindia.org
@mynd_it
Rahul Raina
Financial Literacy Module Lead
& Outreach
Rahul.raina2013@teachforindia.org
@mynd_it