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Community · Connect
Community days in Bengaluru.
Bringing the children and the city together: Gift a Smile, kit drives, trips to IISc and the zoo, and volunteering days with companies. These are one-off days, so come when you can.
The fine print
- 18 and over
- No experience needed
- Free to join
- One-off days
What happens
Days out and days in.
Gift a Smile, drives, outings and volunteering days are one-off days, so come when you can.
Gift a Smile
It begins with a question: volunteers sit down with the children and ask what they’d like. In December and January we hand the gifts over. In 2026 that was badminton sets, cricket bats, school kits and lunch boxes.
Kit drives
School kits of bags, books and stationery before the school year, and ration kits for families any time.
Outings
Trips with the children, to IISc and the zoo, playground outings and a visit to Prani.
Volunteering days
Company teams spend a day with us: a session with the children, kit-building at their office, painting a classroom or crewing one of our big days.
Volunteer
Your next weekend, sorted.
Bring a few free hours and some patience; the children bring the rest. Most sessions are at weekends in neighbourhoods across Bengaluru, and no experience is needed.
- 1Register on the dashboard
- 2Tap “Show interest”
- 3Get approved, show up
Become an Optimist
Opens dash.proudindian.ngo
More weekends
See every session on the dashboardIn numbers
The days counted.
From our annual reports. Each year runs from April to March.
From the annual report 2025–26 (opens in a new tab)
851
children at Gift a Smile 2026
6
places where we handed out the gifts
53
volunteering days with 11 companies
Most of the company volunteering days were in Mumbai, run by our chapter there.
From the annual report 2024–25 (opens in a new tab)
556
beneficiaries of Gift a Smile
250
volunteer field hours at Gift a Smile
From the annual report 2023–24 (opens in a new tab)
42
children on the field trip to IISc
296
volunteer field hours on the trip
Photos
From our days out.
Playground outing 
Prani visit 
Gift a Smile
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Who can volunteer on community days?
Anyone aged 18 or over. You don’t need any experience; patience and turning up matter most.
How much time do I need to give?
Gift a Smile, drives, outings and volunteering days are one-off days, so come when you can.
When is Gift a Smile?
In December and January. Children tell us what they wish for, and volunteers help plan the gifts and hand them over.
When and where are the sessions?
Each one’s date, time and area is listed above and on the dashboard. Most of our Bengaluru sessions are in south-east Bengaluru, around Bellandur and Iblur, and you get the exact meeting point once you’re approved.
How do I sign up?
Register on the dashboard, tap “Show interest” on a session, and come along once you’re approved.
Can I bring a gift for a child?
Gifts and money go through us, never to one child, so every child gets the same. Gift a Smile is how children get their wishes.
What are the rules with the children?
Every session with children starts with a short briefing, nobody is ever alone with a child, and please don’t photograph the children yourself. Read all the safeguarding rules.
Can my company volunteer together?
Yes. We run volunteering days with companies and groups: sessions with the children, kit-building at your office, painting days and crewing our big days. See the formats and how to plan one.
Can I help without volunteering?
You can donate towards Gift a Smile gifts and outings. Every gift gets an 80G tax receipt by email.
Maths class Gift a Smile 
Pot painting, Kalakriti 
Spoken English 
Dance competition
