Samsung HOPE Project to spread the light of education to underprivileged children

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the launch of it Samsung HOPE Project, which aims to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children by providing them quality education. Samsung aims to reach out to children across 100 villages in Tamil Nadu through Aid India, its selected partner and in Delhi /Uttar Pradesh through SMILE Foundation. Consumers too will get an opportunity to participate in this educational initiative and support this movement. For every Galaxy Note sold in the period between February and June 2012, Samsung will contribute Rs.100 towards supporting the selected projects.

"The Samsung HOPE Project that we are launching today is aligned with our Global Hope for Children program that seeks to bring attention to the worldwide need for childhood education and healthcare. Through the Samsung Hope Project, not only do we aim to provide good quality education to under privileged children, but also create an environment which is conducive to their overall growth and development. By using modern teaching methods and available technology, our objective is to ensure that children are encouraged to go to schools and are mainstreamed. We are pleased to partner with Aid India and Smile Foundation and are confident that together we will be able to make a difference", states B. D. Park, President & CEO, South West Asia HQ & Managing Director, Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd.

Samsung had constituted a high profile jury to evaluate and select partners for this program. The jury was headed by Dr. Raghunath A. Mashelkar, former Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and currently the President of Indian National Science Academy (INSA); Mr. Arun Kapur , Executive Director of Learn Today, Mr. Kishor A Chaukar, Managing Director of Tata Industries Limited (TIL), Ms. Anu Aga , Director on Board of Thermax Group and Mr. Anand Nayak Executive VP , HR from ITC Ltd. The Jury carefully scrutinized and evaluated all the nominations received and selected AID India and SMILE Foundation as the Partners for this initiative, based on the HOPE Project guidelines.

To strengthen the program and create consumer support for the movement, Samsung will contribute Rs 100 from the sales of every Galaxy Note sold in the period between February - June 2012. "Our objective is to promote the cause of education for children as widely as possible and encourage more people to join this movement. So while Samsung India will support the Project through the sales of its flagship Galaxy Note, consumers can even support our partners directly and make the Program stronger ." states Mr. Ranjit Yadav, Country Head-Mobile & IT, Samsung Electronics.

AID India - Samsung SuperKidz Program

Mission Education, established in the year 2003, is the flag ship programme of Smile Foundation. The programme reaches out to more than 12000 children across 19 states in India. The program ensures education of under privileged children from backward rural/ urban locations. It aims at imparting education to bring changes not only in the amount of knowledge gained but also in the abilities to think and acquire habits, skills and attitude which characterize an individual who is socially accepted and adjusted. Through Samsung's support, Smile Foundation will reach out to children at two centres in New Delhi and Noida. The program will enrol children in the age group of 6-16 years in bridge courses and enable them to get mainstreamed in formal schools. Children will learn subjects including Maths, Science, English and EVS. To ensure their overall development, regular events, extra-curricular activities and medical aid will also be provided.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharmila Tagore who is the Company's ambassador for the cause of education stated , "An initiative like the Samsung Hope Project becomes significant in view of the fact that there is clearly a need to focus on not just reaching basic education to more and more children and mainstreaming them , but also for ensuring that the quality of the education imparted is improved and the school drop out rate is controlled well . In this regard the Government, development agencies, NGOs and the private sector need to work together much more closely to reach out to the needy and support the deserving. By helping more and more children get mainstreamed, we will create a wider and healthier pool of educated children who will shape the next wave of India's growth."

Samsung Hope Project represents Samsung Corporate Social responsibility initiatives in the area of Education, Culture, Community Development and Sports. Some of the Company's initiatives in the area of education include running e- learning centers in different parts of the country; Samsung Wheels of Hope, a mobile computer lab that gives children studying in government and government aided schools access to internet and Notebooks/tablets and Scholarship programs. Samsung is also running the Samsung Innovation Award at the IIT, Delhi. The current Hope Project initiative seeks to further strengthen the Company's efforts to reach quality education to more underprivileged children.

Samsung Hope for Children Project: Since our founding in 1969, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has worked with passion and purpose to actively serve as a generous and ethical corporate citizen everywhere we operate. Samsung Hope for Children program was launched globally to bring attention to the worldwide need for childhood education and healthcare. By supplying Samsung products, lending our expertise and providing financial support, we're able to give thousands of children in communities around the world access to education, mentorship, leadership skills and life-saving medical treatment. It is one of the ways in which Samsung uses our innovation to create a better world.