Our Aim :)

Our aim is to make a positive and practical difference to the life of orphans around the world by identifying their needs and providing them with the essential support (both material and non-material) that would empower them to live their lives as normal children and young adults.

What we are doing in order to achieve this aim :)

The nature of the work in London has the primary aim of raising funds for this worthy cause and spreading awareness of our cause to support orphans in developing countries. To this end, we hold a variety of events, ranging from elegant fund-raising dinners in some of the most prestigious locations in London; to sponsored sporting activities; to the simplest of endeavours such as holding car boot sales for used items and having a charity stall at larger community-wide events. No endeavour is too large or too small for the charity, which aims to make the most of the wide range of opportunities to appeal to as many different people as possible who can help the charity further its goals.

We have an established Draw a Smile team on the ground in Egypt that are working on two projects:

The first is the sustainable development of a very poor area in Cairo, called Batn El Baqar, where the charity's work includes providing education, healthcare and home life stability to the inhabitants. These services are in dire need, as these areas are typically neglected by government development projects and the inhabitants are too poor to access these basic needs themselves.

The second project is the development of already existing orphanages throughout Cairo, which - while providing food, shelter and basic care for orphans - lack the sufficient resources to care for the children's psychological, educational and social needs as individuals. This project aims to train carers and teachers in orphanages using the expertise of experienced professionals who offer their time on a voluntary basis in how to adequately prepare these children for full integration and assimilation into their society.

We are working in conjunction with a Belgian charity organisation called FACE, which has three orphanages in Egypt for orphans and one centre for street children. Through our common aim of supporting these children, Draw a Smile and FACE exchange expertise and volunteers with a view to expanding the potential for positive impact on the lives of these individuals, whilst simultaneously depending the level of professionalism with which the charities operate, making our work of a highly distinguished kind in a country like Egypt where there is a noticeable shortage of such organisations.

What we have achieved so far :)

Over the year of its existence, Draw a Smile has grown substantially from a membership of 3 friends in London, to over 3000 members across the world; from the US, to Sweden, to Spain, to Dubai, to China, to Australia - with many countries in between. Over this time we have raised over £25,000, through events that have been organised by unpaid volunteers, who have funded all admin costs through their own pockets and through the selling of merchandise, since we are adamant to keep our vow to donors that every single penny raised in donations goes straight to the orphans we support.