IBLF (International Business Leaders Forum)- a global, independent organisation working with top MNC’s on sustainability – is the knowledge partner for Apeejay Surrendra Group’s National Award to recognize excellence in volunteering. IBLF will bring its global volunteering and awards experience to the newly launched initiative.
The ApeejayIndia Volunteer Awards (IVA) 2011 is a first-of-its-kind, annual national recognition around rewarding volunteering and volunteer engaging corporates and NGOs across India. It will take place in association with IBLF and i-Volunteer, an initiative running centers in Indian cities for locally based volunteering.
The Awards aim to identify champions in volunteering in India, raise awareness about the area and drive volunteering as a mainstream interest amongst Indians. They hold a special significance in its commencement this year as the UN is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteering (IYV) globally in 2011.
Joe Phelan, IBLF’s India Country Director said to INDIACSR, “International companies report high levels of enthusiasm for volunteering by employees in India, but only a few Indian companies have organised programmes. The Apeejay India Volunteer Awards will celebrate and share inspiring examples for adoption by more companies and more employees. ” Click here to watch a video of Joe talking about IBLF’s take on the CSR scenario in India.
The judging panel comprises IBLF’s Joe Phelan; Farida Lambay, Founder and Trustee of NGO Pratham’; Subhadra Anand, CEO, Save The Children; Shweta Gopalachari, Founder of Toybank; Shalabh Sahai, Founder and Director, iVolunteer and Renu Kakkar, VP, Corporate Communications, Apeejay Surrendra Group.
Amanda Bowman, Special Advisor, Employee Engagement for IBLF said: “The year 2011 is the UN’s ‘International Year of Volunteering +10’ and to mark this, IBLF is delighted to be the knowledge partner for the inaugural Apeejay India Volunteer Awards. By recognising the power of volunteers and volunteering, the Awards will promote volunteering as a powerful force in India’s development by sharing inspiring examples of volunteering in action.”
The Awards will be given to individuals, corporates and NGOs, and categories include:
(1) Volunteer of the Year award (with the sub category of Youth Volunteer of the Year for an individual below 25 years of age)
(2) Employee Volunteering Programme of the Year (to a corporate that has an employee volunteering programme)
(3) Volunteer involving NGO of the Year (to an organisation that has excellent policies and practice of involving volunteers in their organization)
The competition will be held regionally across four zones of India, including Mumbai, with shortlisted candidates being eligible for the national round of selections and a grand finale held in August 2011 in New Delhi, and judged by a prominent national Jury.
