MUMBAI: The iVolunteer Awards was held in Mumbai at Blue Sea Banquets on 8 April, 2013. To commemorate the contribution of volunteers and organisations who engage them, the occasion was graced by the presence of eminent personalities from corporate and development sector.
The Awards were divided in two categories: Volunteer Hero and Leader in Volunteer Engagement Category and had 10 finalists in each. C. Kartheeban, a Consultant based in Chennai has won the title of ‘Volunteer Hero 2012’. He will attend the ‘Points of Light Conference’ in Washington D.C. on Volunteering and Service, one of the world’s largest conference on volunteering. Make a Difference, a Bangalore based NGO; was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1 Lakh in the Leader in Volunteer Engagement Category in recognition of their efforts to strategically involve volunteers for community development. It was an emotionally charged evening packed with wonderful memories says guests, dignitaries and awardees alike.
A thought provoking panel discussion titled ‘Volunteer Shy India’ was also being held to explore the various reasons that would deter and motivate citizens of India to take up volunteering. Ms. Nandita Das accompanied Ms. Lynn de Souza and Ms. Safeena Husain in the panel discussion and was moderated by Mr. Rahul Nainwal, Co-Founder & Director, iVolunteer. Towards the end of the evening, an introspective video titled ‘YOU are a HERO’ encouraged people to volunteer.
Congratulating iVolunteer for its efforts to honour individuals and organisations who are silently contributing and creating a society worth living in, Ms. Nandita Das said it gave her special pleasure to hand over the prize to the finalists and suggested that more people should participate in volunteering for social causes. She further added that ‘I am thrilled to be a part of this event’.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shalabh Sahai, Co-Founder and Director, iVolunteer said ‘Each of us have a hero inside us. We just need to bring it out. Sharing his volunteering experiences, Mr. Rahul Nainwal, Co-Founder and Director, iVolunteer said, “ The saying we grew up with was ‘Neki kar darya mein daal’, but I say the new way ahead should be, ‘Neki kar Facebook pe dal, tweet kar’ and get many, many others to volunteer.”
