Update No. 8

Pune

We at TAL has organized Eye donation drive across the organisation in association with Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital at our Chinchwad campus. We got huge response to Eye donation drive. 111 employees have donated their eyes.

Mumbai

As a part of the Tata Volunteering Week-3, the CSR team from the Support office – Infiniti Retail Ltd. organised a Self – Defence session for Prayas– an NGO working with oppressed women who are affected by crime, prostitution or destitution. A three-hour session was conducted, covering a number of topics relating to Self Defence and Krav Maga - a self-defence system based on principles of reflexes and adaptability. A licensed instructor from Krav Maga, India conducted the session primarily through practical demonstrations, videos and presentations.

Kolhapur

As part of Tata Volunteering Week – 3, Volunteers of Trent Hypermarket Star Bazaar Kolhapur organised a cleanliness drive in nearby vicinity of the store/mall.

Bangalore

Kid Campus International School: Volunteers of Star Bazaar Bangalore organised Painting competition for kids from Kid Campus International School and customers.

Saraswathi Education Trust: Volunteers of Star Bazaar Bangalore visited an NGO –Saraswathi Education Trust and conducted Drawing competition for 30 kids who live there. All volunteers were very happy to spend the quality time with kids at NGO. On another day, the volunteers spent more time with 30 kids at the NGO and shared snacks with them

Pune

Volunteers of Star Bazaar Pune provided space to NGO Sparsh Balgram (An NGO which is a home for children affected by HIV/AIDS) to sell their products merchandise (Pooja Thali, Perfumes, Handmade products) and raise funds.They got a good response from the campaign and were able to promote their products by creating awareness about it.

Bangalore

Volunteers arranged a health check-up and hygiene & sanitation workshop at Adarane charitable trust in Bangalore. This trust works to support underprivileged children by providing them food, clothing, shelter, education, entertainment etc. The activity was supported by doctors of People Tree hospital. The health check-ups were also conducted HMT School and Ashraya Old Age Home

Damdim

Volunteers of Damdim Packeting Center under took up-gradation of existing toilet used by school children, repairing of drinking water area to avoid stagnation of water & minor repair of room used for midday meal scheme of a primary school situated in BD line, Damdim Tea Estate.

Pullivasal

Pullivasal Packeting Centre, Munnar under took a day’s Voluntary Community Social Service to celebrate Tata Volunteering Week at Govt. Aided Lower Primary School located just 200 meters away from the factory which provides primary education to plantation sector employees’ children. A total of 60 stakeholders from the factory took part in this one day social activity which included permanent and contract employees. All the volunteers contributed a day’s salary towards this noble cause.The motto of the volunteers was ONE DAY WORK AND ONE DAY WAGE. The volunteers undertook this service on a Sunday to ensure that it does not interfere with the normal working of the factory as well as the school. During the day, the volunteers completed the essential electrical, civil and cleanliness upkeep works in order to improve the environment of the school.

Mumbai

Titan Company Limited, Mumbai volunteering team, facilitated an exhibition in our office premises for an NGO Aseema Charitable Trust. Aseema provides quality education to the underprivileged children by taking over BMC schools in Mumbai. The children in Aseema are exposed to the finest art and create beautiful work themselves. The sale of their products encourages their children and also helps Aseema raise funds to support some of its education programmes.The products were very colourful and bright. Not only Titanians bought but also people from the same office premises were happy to buy. Aseema team was overwhelmed with the response from our side.By taking one step further, we have plans to buy Aseema products for Company related events for gifting.

Bangalore

Sneha Bharati Sikshana Samste: A team of volunteers visited Sneha Bharati Sikshana Samste – School for specially abled at Anekal, Bangalore. The school houses about 30 children. Our team of volunteers donated round tables and seating facility for the specially abled children. These tables are designed in a manner that will enable the teachers to conduct classes for the children. Our special thanks goes to our Thermal team who custom designed and manufactured the tables and chairs at our very own Bangalore plant. All this in an unbelievable timeline of 3 days, without affecting the regular production schedule. Volunteers spent good amount of time with the children. Our gesture brought about lots of happiness to the children. We would like to thank all our employees for their voluntary contribution.

Government Higher Primary School: A team of enthusiastic volunteers visited a Government Higher Primary School at Kollagondanahalli, 60 kms off Bangalore. The school has a strength of 260 children. Our team of volunteers participated in cleaning drive at the school campus and spread the message on cleanliness to the school children. Post this sweets were distributed to the children. Our volunteers have also taken up a project of connecting water pipeline to provide for water storage and drinking water facility which will benefit the school children. In addition to this our employees have volunteered to build benches for the school children which will be produced by our employees in our manufacturing plant.

Belapur

Beautician Course Training: Rallis volunteers organized a beauty course training for women and girls at nearby villages in Kolkhe from 30th March to 1st April 15. Many girls are interested to focus on business to earn some money to support their families after learning beauty techniques like pedicure, manicure, facial, make up, mehendi. Women and girls learned these skills and started practicing among them to improve their confidence.Our volunteers also shared business techniques to sustain the businesslike focusing on requirements of customers, maintain quality & hygiene and behavioural skills to retain the customers.

Pune

Volunteers from Pune organized a Sports Day for children belonging to Bopkhel village near Tata Communication, Dighi, Pune. This was organized within the company premises along with the NGO partner Idea Foundation. These children are beneficiaries of Project ‘Umang’, a CSR project of Tata Comms focused on promoting primary education for children of municipal schools in and around Dighi area. The sports day began with warm up exercise session followed by series of games with children and volunteers i.e. Lemon spoon race ,Three legged race, Cricket, Football and Kabbaddi. The zest and passion of the children and volunteers for sports were worth appreciating. Demonstration of Shot Put throw and Sword Fight by children left everyone speechless.

Bangalore

Volunteers of Tata communications, Bangalore visited Parikrama Center for Learning, to connect with the children over Simple art activity, where children had to paint their imagination and volunteers helped their art to relate to the theme of the month – Me for We. It was a great learning experience for children and volunteers as well. Parikrama (NGO) is Tata Communication’s CSR project partner for implementing education and sports project for children belonging to slum communities, studying in schools supported by Parikrama Humanity Foundation

Hyderabad

The volunteers from TCL Hyderabad visited Desire Care Home on 29th March to bring smiles on the faces of children infected by HIV/AIDS. Our enthusiastic volunteers served the lunch to the children and play interactive games to uplift their morale and make them feel happy and privileged.

Delhi

Cleanliness is next to godliness, keeping this in mind our Tata Communications Delhi volunteers tried to make a difference in Lakshyam School on 28th March 2015 at JJ Basti Camp. Volunteers indulged in cleanliness drive in the area adjoining the school and painted the wall to give a clean and neat environment to the children. Contributing towards the environment- was indeed a fulfilling experience for the volunteers.

Kolkata

Kolkata volunteers made a visit to our CSR project (Employability) partner Tata Medical center on 20th March 2015 and met the cancer affected children, their parents & staff working there. Volunteers have spent few hours’ with them and tried to make them happy by playing various games and indulge the children in drawing activity to alleviate the pain & suffering of life threatening disease.

Delhi

Suraksha Jagriti Abhiyan: TPDDL launched Suraksha Jagriti Abhiyaan, a mega public awareness campaign for safety, on March 3rd’ 2015. The month long campaigns aims to disseminate awareness through nuked nataks where the message regarding electrical safety tips, energy conservation & preventing electricity thefts is passed on. The aim of this mass awareness campaign is to reduce the accidents occurring due to ignorance and negligence regarding handling electricity & its transmission lines at home & in the community. The theme of the nukkad natak is designed in a way to pass on the awareness that need to be taken with electrical network in a very outspoken & humorous style. Volunteers play a crucial role in this campaign where along with nuked natak team they go to Jhuggi Jhopdi communities, make home visits, sensitize them, capture their feedback and also record unsafe situations there. 55 nukad nataks has been conducted during the period sensitizing over 22,000 Jhuggi Jhopdi cluster residents and involved 1077 volunteers in the campaign.

Old age home: As a part of Tata Volunteering Week III celebrations a team of 12 volunteers from the EAC Department visited the old age home, "Vanprastha Old Age Home" on 24.03.2015 which is located at Sector-17, Rohini, Delhi. They purchased some fruits for old age people from the amount contributed by EAC officials and also distributed the spiritual magazine, “Bhagvadarshan” among them. They spent 1-2 hours with them, talking and conversing about their lives. It was a very warm visit

Drug de-addiction camp: A Drug De-addiction camp was organized at Civil Lines & Motinagar through which 331 residents of the community got benefitted by attending free counseling sessions and availing free homeopathic medicines by the team of Prajapita Braham Kumari Ashram. The event saw participation of 15 volunteers from EAC Department and zonal offices who assisted in managing and ensured the smooth conduct of the camp.

Women's Literacy Brand Ambassadors: Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited organized a day’s training program for business associate employees where training capsule on awareness about various CSR activities like vocational training, drug de-addiction camps, mobile dispensary services, accidental life insurance and other consumer friendly schemes like easy payment options through Money on Mobile, Pay & Win etc. The participants primarily were 106 Instructors/ Brand Ambassadors, coordinators and officials of Women Literacy Program and TPDDL in two different sessions during the day. Instructors and coordinators have been instrumental in disseminating awareness about different CSR programs in their respective communities

Awareness Campaign: Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited "Haath Badhata Haath Batata, Hamesha Aapka Saath Nibhata" campaign has been conducting nuked natak in the communities for spreading awareness Corporate Social Responsibility activities of Women Literacy program, Vocational Training, Drug de-addiction camps, Mobile health dispensary vans, Education support program at schools & colleges, electrical safety and energy conservation. Volunteers participate actively in these nuked nataks also distribute CSR activity pamphlets/poster in the respective JJ Clusters and take feedback from the community. 14 nukad nataks have been organized in Jhuggi Jhopdi clusters involving 20 volunteers and disseminating awareness to approximately 4000 residents of JJ clusters.

Distribution of appliances: Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited organized appliances distribution program for differently abled beneficiaries from its Viklang Margdarshan Kendra where 44 PwDs, primarily suffering from locomotive disability, were distributed tricycles, wheel chairs, crutches and hearing aids. TPDDL volunteers assisted in the smooth conduct of the event assisting in organization and facilitation to these differently able beneficiaries.

Maldives

Save the reef: Taking care of environment and the beautiful turquoise sea at Maldives is prime responsibility of all who are located on the beautiful island resort – Vivanta by Taj Coral Reef. As a part of our commitment to ensure safe and great snorkelling experience at our coral gardens and the occasion of the TATA Volunteering Week Celebrations, team Vivanta joined hands to save the Hembadhu Reef. The volunteers kick started the activity by assembling at the football ground. A quick briefing was given to all the volunteers on the activity and on safety by the Learning & Development Manager. The first part of the activity was to clean the beach area of the reef. All the volunteers got together and cleaned the beach part by part. Sharp stones, big and small, debris like waste wood, plastic, metal and other material were removed from the area. The second part of the activity was underwater. All the associates then moved to the shallow waters to clean the lagoon, here, a lot of on looking guests also joined the cleaning drive.A dinghy (small boat) was also organised to collect the garbage and other rubbish from the sea. All volunteers were given snorkelling masks, gloves and life jackets. The garbage that was picked up included plastic bottles, bags, containers, cans weighing approx 800 kg.Activities like these make all of us recognize the fact that more people need to understand the environment in which we live and volunteer to take care of it. Guests, who were witnesses to this activity, appreciated the resort’s team effort to ensure clean and safe snorkelling through this team building activity.

Vendor support: On the occasion of the TATA volunteering week and as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of Building Livelihoods, Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef, Maldives invited a local vendor to sell local handicrafts at the Resort.The local vendor set up an Exhibition at the Reef Bar displaying different handicrafts, including active demonstrations on the making of the articles. Buzz was created of the Local Handicraft Exhibition, through the In house daily activity Circular, Coral daily and posters at the resort. The articles that were displayed and sold were namely, waste wood carvings, waste leaf articles, beeds, coral necklaces, handmade shirts, local paintings etc. There was very good response from the Guests, where they appreciated the Management team of the resort for organizing the exhibition. It also saved them their time of going to Male, the Capital City, to purchase handicrafts, which is almost 60 minutes away from the resort by speed boat.

Joy beyond measure: As a part of TATA Volunteering Week -3, Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef, Maldives organized a trip for an orphanage to its island. Children of Kudakudinge Hiya orphanage from Villingili Island, Maldives were invited to the Resort on 4th April 2014 for a day long resort Experience. A series of activities were planned for the Children for the whole day. The children arrived at 1100hrs to the Resort and were welcomed by the Volunteers from different departments and the leadership team. Welcome drinks were served to all on their arrival at the jetty, which were specially prepared for the Kids by the F & B Team. The Children were then split into groups and different volunteers took them for a show around of the resort. They were then invited to Pizzeria, Pizza outlet where the Chef with his team demonstrated how to make Pizzas. They were then given an opportunity to make their own Pizzas. Different ingredients were kept ready, where the children could pick their choice and prepare for themselves under the vigilant eyes of the chefs. To make the session interactive, the restaurant manager interpreted the demonstration in Dhivehi, Maldivian Local Language. The Children were then escorted to the Coral café, Staff Cafeteria where a special meal menu was prepared for them by the kitchen team. Starting from starters, finger food, Juices, shakes and a wide range of Main course as well as local Maldivian local meal was prepared for them. Post lunch, Guest rooms were given to them for wash and change and to take rest. At 1500hrs, the Children were taken to the main jetty where there was a boat waiting for them to take them sailing around the reef and see different islands and sand banks. Water sports were also organized for those who were interested in small speed boats, banana boat or bump rides. On their return, they were then invited to Latitude, All day dining restaurant, where tea was served to them with snacks.

Health is a way of life: To keep a check on Good health and the on the occasion of the Taj Safety Week celebrations & The TATA Volunteering Week, the Human Resource team coordinated a Health Check-up Camp for its Associates. The HR Manager &Security Managercoordinated this event with the AMDC Hospitals Male, Maldives. A team of Doctors visited the Island with their medical equipment and set a base for a day at the resort. More than 45 Associates along with their families used the facility to do their check-up.

Bangalore

Vivanta by Taj: The associates at Vivanta by Taj - MG Road, Bangalore joined hands for creating a general awareness on environment protection and safety at the Trinity Circle, Bangalore. The volunteers assembled at the hotel parking area for an oath taking and then proceeded to Trinity Circle area and Vijaya Bank located on MG Road by holding messages on environment protection and safety. The initiative passed on a message to the onlookers about the commitment of Taj Group towards environment protection and safety in its original sense.

Gurgaon

The Gateway Resort, Damdama Lake, Gurgaon, organised an awareness on Swine Flu on March 31, 2015 at the local Village Damdama in Haryana, covering 70 Villagers and their families. The Manager – Human Resources of the resort gave his time and energy to be with the local villagers motivating and inspiring them by teaching awareness on Swine Flu, hygiene and better health and also playing some fun games. The volunteer had a wonderful experience interacting with the locals and he expressed his willingness to spend his free time to help and support these kids in the near future. The efforts were appreciated by all the villagers and all the families who thanked the resort management for the same.

Abu Dhabi

A Blood Donation Drive was organised at ICAD camp in Abu Dhabi on the 31st of March 2015. The participants registered at the mobile blood bank and were tested by the doctors on their eligibility. A total of 22 participants donated blood. All the participants given refreshments at the end of the camp.

Cochin

Snehanilayam Special School: 14 employees of Voltas Cochin Office visited ‘SNEHANILAYAM SPECIAL SCHOOL’, Chembumukku, Thrikkakara, Cochin that hosts 124 boys & girls between the agesof 5 and 40. The volunteers enjoyed cultural programs by the students and prize distribution. The volunteers shared biscuits and juice packets with the children and made a monetary contribution to the school.

Mumbai

Balmandir Sarvajanik High School: Volunteers from Voltas Ltd with collaboration with CMC Ltd & Tata Teleservices conducteda Cleanliness Drive & Swachh Bharat themed Drawing Competition at Balmandir Sarvajanik High School, Kalachowki, Mumbai. The purpose of this initiative is to create awareness on importance of cleanliness and hygiene amongst the school children. During this two days initiative, 128 school children and 20 school staff members also participated with our volunteers. Children put up their best drawings in the competition. Prizes were distributed for the best drawingswith Senior Inspector of police from Kalachouki police station present as guest. The event was covered by the local newspaper Mumbai Sakal

Thane

As a part of the Tata Volunteering Week III, Voltas Thane invited boys from Vivekanand Balkashram Yevur, Thane ona one day visit to Thane plant. The idea was to spend one whole day with the boys and try and help the boys discover their hidden talents through a small game called “Nurture your Talents” which was thought of by the volunteers. The game gave a platform to the boys to do what they thought they knew best. A special lunch was served to themwho enjoyed their meals thoroughly. A cricket tournament was arranged between 2.00 to 4.00 pm and the boys had a wonderful game and wished the moment would never end. The volunteers had organized a small gift for each of the boys which was handed over to the boys after a quick game of Antakshari.

Pune

Voltas volunteers in Pune visited Sparsh Balgram, which accommodates 17 orphan children suffering from critical illnesses. The visit started with aprayer song, followed by the children introducing themselves. They then performed a group dance based on few popular Marathi & Hindi songs. Some of them quoted – told jokes, recited poetry & slogans on "Save Environment". The children also displayed several seasonal handicraft items which are made in-house &support them partly for their livelihood.All the volunteers interacted freely with the children

Mumbai

Fitness Talk: Tata AIG, in association with Physiorehab, one of Mumbai’s leading physiotherapy centers, organized a Talk on Fitness for the Matunga Police Station on 30.03.15. This talk was conducted by accomplished doctors from Physiorehab and focused on the ill effects of the long hours put in by policemen on their backs and necks. They also demonstrated a set of easy exercises that could be done by the policemen even while on duty to prevent the prevalent aches and pains. The talk was attended by almost 60 policemen and policewomen including Assistant Commissioner of Police and Senior Inspector of the Police Station. It was heartening to see the enthusiastic response and the numerous queries that came in at the end of the session. An afternoon well spent indeed!

Mann: It's 'Awe'tism!! & not Autism - The tagline that says it all & so strong.A Team of four from HO went to Mann an NGO devoted to the Children with special needs & distributed water bottles & eatables to these little angels.In an unfair barter the children received goodies & the team earned memories etched in their hearts forever. The volunteers taught Hand-eye Coordination, Focus, Muscle Control &took turns through the game of Carom to the kids. The children also playedvolleyball with a balloon; a physical activity which helps them gain dexterity in crucial physical aspects.

Akanksha: On 1st of April, 32 budding artists at the corporate office of Tata AIG underwent an Art Workshop conducted by Akanksha, an NGO working for underprivileged children. Eight kid teachers came down and guided the artists who enjoyed becoming kids again and re-lived times of old when you laughed aloud, cheered your friends and had a ruckus in the class.

North America

Volunteers with Tata Technologies North America held a field trip for Detroit elementary school students to teach them about the automotive product development process. The workshop included sketching, clay modeling and paint treatment while using Tata Technologies’ award-winning electric MObility ("eMO") concept vehicle as the central example for what results from the product development process. Even in an area like Southeast Michigan – home of Detroit, the "Motor City" – that has historically been rich in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills, there is an acute shortage of qualified technical workers. It was with this challenge in mind that Tata Technologies began sponsoring Dixon Educational Learning Academy and Clark Preparatory Academy, both of Detroit, in the fall of 2014 through a partnership with Athletes for Charity, a nonprofit that teams up with professional athletes to support educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. The program has thus far touched approximately 300 students, all in the name of promoting STEM literacy. Starting in the fall, Tata Technologies employees and players from the National Football League’s Detroit Lions regularly visited Clark Prep and Dixon Educational Learning Academy to distribute free educational books, do fun STEM-based activities and learn life skills. Now, with the players away due to the NFL offseason, Tata Technologies employees have continued carrying the banner to ensure that STEM subjects stay front of mind.

Lucknow

Volunteers campaigned on Sanitation and Cleanliness in villages. The volunteers made a door to door visit and sensitized the around 50 villagers on importance of cleanliness

Volunteers participated in the school chalo abhiyan rally organized by the school children and teachers. They were along the 200 children and teachers of the one village. The issues raised on the importance of education and regular attendance in the school.

Volunteers counselled the villagers on ill-effects of tobacco and pan-masala. Direct door to door interaction with around 100 villagers of two villages Khandak and Jainbad

Volunteers conducted co-curricular activities in primary schools including painting and essay competition in the 14 schools and distribution of prizes to children along with the school children

In another activity, volunteers distributed free spectacles to the old age persons above 40 years of age of three villages and counselling them on the use of the spectacles and nutrition and healthy diet.

Volunteers visited the Nayjyoti Blind School and conduction of the co-curricular activity in the school for 70 children. The activities included quiz competition along with song competition between the boys and girls followed by the distribution of gifts to all 70 students

A Women’s day camp was organized, including interaction with the women self-help group members. The women employees of the plant motivated around 60 women of the SHG involved in the production of different items related to Jute, Chikan works etc. They also counselled the group members on the balance diet.

Volunteers conducteda camp for the malnourished children and interacted with the parents of the children and counselled them healthy diet along with conduction of few events for the parents.

Pantnagar

Community engagement: Volunteers from Pantnagar participated in a cleanliness drive in a nearby village, and also in a school along with the students and the teachers. Some of the volunteers conducted a community meeting along with villagers and the gram Pradhan to conduct a session on HIV/ AIDS awareness for indirect workers. The Pantnagar team also conducted a community health camp for slum residents which was inaugurated by the Mayor of Rudrapur.

Visit to blind school: Volunteers participated a day-long event at a Blind school, having an interactive session with blind children & participating in community meeting at SANRACHNA coaching center at village.

Sanand

Cleanliness Campaign: Employee Volunteers of Tata Motors Sanand on 1st April 2015 completed a 10-Day Cleanliness Campaign reaching out to about 20 villages neighboring the Tata Motors Sanand Plant. The Govt. Education Department, Sanand Taluka Panchayat and local NGOs facilitated this entire voluntary endeavor. Activities undertaken included inter alia street corner interactions on hygiene, sanitation, village area cleaning and awareness talks in schools. A team of 44 employees participated in this Campaign over a ten-day period and exhorted communities to maintain cleanliness, hygiene all-round the year.

Mumbai

NASEOH: At the onset of new financial year, Employees of Tata Motors from Thane, Parel and Fort offices along-with some of their family members on 1st April 2015 volunteered their time visiting National Society For Equal Opportunities For The Handicapped (NASEOH) at Chembur, Mumbai. The volunteers were delivered a Presentation on NASEOH, its Initiatives and Milestones achieved so far since inception. They walked through the NASEOH facilities and learnt about the various vocational training programs for mainstreaming of the specially abled persons. The volunteers also interacted with the children and youth being trained there in making several articles which could well serve as corporate gifts. Some of the employee volunteers, in their own individual personal capacities, also made voluntary monetary donations to NASEOH and expressed their support to the cause.

Kolkata

Kids' Carnival: A Kids' Carnival was organized with the underprivileged children of two organizations - Calcutta Rescue and Udbhas. This event is sort of a flagship event of TSPDL by now, and has been continuing since some time now. The venue was the school grounds of FAPS, Kolkata. The program was the kick-off for TVW 3 and the week was formally inaugurated by Managing Director, Mr Abraham Stephanos in the morning. A filling breakfast followed various sports events for children of various age groups suitable divided into teams. At the end of it all, a football match for the boys and a musical chair event for the girls rounded up the sports program. Prize distribution after each event saw a huge excitement amongst the little kids. After lunch, screening of the movie “Finding Nemo” was done for the children. The day ended with gifts distribution for all of them.

SOS Children’s village: TSPDL organised a day filled with fun and frolic for the orphans of the SOS Children’s Village, at Salt Lake, Kolkata. The day began with a walk-around at the village by the volunteers. The superintendent introduced all the families in the village. A woman is made responsible for 10 children who live with them and form a part of their family – touching to see how the mothers take care of their children. After the introduction and walk-around, a 'Shramdaan' activity was undertaken with the children which involved cleaning of the orphanage campus. This was followed by a football match between four teams formed by the boys of the campus. Other events were also organised for the other little angels. Finally all the activities came to an end with the prize distribution ceremony which was followed up by distribution of individual prizes and also gifts for all children of the campus.

Anudip Foundation: The activity in Anudip was very engaging and satisfying for both the volunteers and the beneficiaries. The volunteers went to Daimond Harbour Vadura centre of the organization. The beneficiaries have been training in tailoring and stitching at this centre. All these students are women of the age group 18 – 30 years who had taken up the course and were ready for employment. There was an interaction with the women in Bengali explaining the basis of health, hygiene, safety, education and sanitation all of which were depicted pictographically and verbally explained in Bengali. This was done in turns by all the volunteers each taking up a point of discussion. Finally we screened a short Oscar-winning documentary on self-reliability which was also done in Bengali to encourage the women to be entrepreneurs individually or work as co-operatives. During the activity colouring books and crayons were given to the kids who came with their mothers to keep them engaged in drawing. At the end of the activity, all the women were gifted with a small sewing box with basic items and goodies for their families.

Prem Dan: The volunteers visiting Prem Dan were continually humbled, by the lady who thanked one volunteeer for helping her eat, by the woman with excruciating burns who endured daily agony, yet raised her hands in gratitude. Goodies were distributed, pathways and beds cleaned, lunch served and return back to office with a humbling experience was how the activity could be summed up.

IICP: Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) is a specialised centre for the basic upbringing of the disabled person with cerebral palsy. The volunteers moved to the various parts of IICP to know, understand & interact with the students, staff members & parents of the students of the Institute. They visited the Diagnostic Clinic at ground floor where Children with cerebral palsy come along with their parents for their treatments. Thereafter visited the school where Children with cerebral palsy come for studies. Overall, spending quality time with the wonderful children there made the day for all.

Tollygunge Homes: A number of employees of TSPDL & their families organized a full day of fun filled event at Tolly Homes, an old age home, objective of this event was to bring smiles to the faces of the elderly. Around 40 members of the home participated in these events like passing the pillow, magic show, housie etc& won exciting prizes. These events were followed by lunch for them which was served by TSPDL employees. The program was also attended by the MD- TSPDL who entertained the participants by singing songs & playing guitar for them.

Garia Sarada Home &Udbhas: TSPDL volunteers organised a sit and draw competition for the underprivileged children of Garia Sarada Home for Women and Children Welfare and Udbhas. There were 17 children from Udbhas and 10 children from Garia Sarada Home. The age groups were formed by us well before the event along with the competition topics. For the age group 8-10, we have kept the topic “A visit to mela (fair) and for the age group 11-12, we chose the topic “Holi”. After arriving at the venue, children were distributed with stationary items like crayons, erasers, pencils, sharpeners, drawing sheets. The drawings were really praiseworthy and it depicted hidden talents of the children. Prizes were distributed amongst much fanfare and all children were given some goodies bags as takeaways.

Little Sisters of The Poor: A small entertainment program was organized by TSPDL voluntees at Little Sisters of the Poor. Volunteer team member presented the residents with different type of events to make them feel bright and breezy. Program started with a Magic Show followed by amazing songs by the MD, who played great tunes on guitar for them too, which made them leave their chairs and dance their heart out. Hence, the overall program was a very nice event which was also liked by all the elderly old men and women. The volunteers feel proud of doing something for the elderly to bring happiness and amusement in their life at least for few hours. Towards the end, some snacks and food packets were distributed to them.