The first beneficiaries

Our Future Smiles project is progressing so well that we can barely keep up with all that's happening. The latest is that, last week, the team gave out the first set of cheques to students in need. This money is meant to pay for the students' tuition classes (which supplements their classes at school), thereby giving them a better chance at a quality education.

Here are members of the Future Smiles team -- Chandrakant Sasane (centre), an experienced counsellor and teacher and social worker Sagar Bhandare (right) -- talking to students.

Sitting on the left is Jitesh, a Class 10 student who lives in Malad. And the boy on the right is Hemant, a very bright Class 12 student. He is a Commerce student at Matruchhaya college in Dahisar.

Hemant and Jitesh accept the cheques with joy as this is the means for them to build a better future.

And here's the third beneficiary, Geeta, a class X student who lives in Vasai.

In the coming months, we will tell you more about these students and the others we are helping, and how we are helping them. For now, join us in wishing them all the best. Study hard, kids!