Introduction of “Smile Together”, a Project for Supporting Impoverished Children Overseas
Work Together Foundation will start its international cooperation project, the “Smile Together Project” in 2011. This project is aimed at eradication of child labor, which is a result of poverty. The cycle of poverty occurs in homes where children are needed to work, when they should be learning. Thus poverty becomes the lot of these children, since they have no education. Poverty can be eradicated when the head of each family can work and become economically self-sufficient. Therefore, instead of providing short-term aid or support, parents can be helped with jobs for income; this includes getting basic necessities and educating their children.
For this, Work Together Foundation, along with affiliated institutions that support impoverished children, is willing to fund local social enterprises that support poor families get jobs for financial independence.
Work Together Foundation will start model projects in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Laos. The selection criteria for 2011 “Smile Together Project” are the following:
Evaluation Criteria:
① Clarity of social purpose and the social problem that needs to be solved
② Feasibility or actual establishment of social enterprises that aim to provide solutions for impoverished children
③ Possibility of providing direct support to impoverished children
④ Networking with local community
⑤ Enterprise sustainability even after support from the Work Together Foundation
⑥ Institution’s ability to conduct the enterprise responsibly
⑦ Effective budgeting and ensuring transparency
Translated: by KIM Gyeol, CHOI Eun-Young, Skye KANG, HONG Yea-Bin
Edited: by Tamara de Mel, HA So-Hee, Marie LEE,