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United Way Blog

United Way Celebrates Volunteers in India

Throughout the world, volunteers make a difference by showing up, helping out and inspiring others to get involved. Volunteer events celebrating the contributions of volunteers, such as India’s second annual National Volunteering Week, held January 18-25, give United Ways and others a special opportunity to recognize the unique contributions volunteers give to their communities.

For example, United Way of Baroda organized Kshitij, an event to celebrate National Youth Day and Uttarayan, a Hindu kite flying festival. United Way invited 50 youth volunteers to help assemble kites, decorate the venue and serve food to 400 children with special needs.

Over in India’s northeast corner, United Way Kolkata organized volunteers from GE to visit Sashtri Shiksha Sadan, a primary school on the outskirts of Kolkata. A large number of the students there are employed as “ragpickers,” which means they search through a local dump for rags to sell. Many are first-generation students and cannot afford to buy their own books, bag and school supplies, making it doubly hard for them to continue with their education. United Way Kolkata arranged for the volunteers to spend an afternoon interacting with about 140 of the students and distributing sturdy school bags, which was intended to inspire and make it easier for the students to stay in school.

On the opposite side of the country, United Way of Mumbai again served as the Philanthropy Partner for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, India’s largest fundraiser for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Every year, the marathon attracts more than 40,000 runners to help kick off National Volunteering Week. United Way Mumbai not only helps raise money for various NGOs by recruiting some 15,000 runners but also recruits and manages volunteers.

Among the runners were 120 Student United Way “Superheroes” who, wearing capes and carrying shields, helped spread positive messages relating to health, education and protecting the environment. The students from various city colleges worked alongside United Way of Mumbai to help facilitate all race day activities for donor runners, including hosting the runners in special marquees, serving refreshments and facilitating games. The objective was to ensure that the donors enjoyed the experience and continued their association with the marathon.

This is India’s week to celebrate volunteers, but these activities aren’t all that different from what United Way volunteers in the U.S. and in many other countries do throughout the year to help individuals and families achieve their human potential. In India, and anywhere, we can improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good.