One by One

Amway India has long invested in programs that help the visually challenged, in partnership with some of the best partners across the country. Several advocacy events helped to raise awareness and support for those with special needs, including White Cane Day, the birthday of Helen Keller and an event that recognizes the achievement of women with visual impairments. Amway even sponsors a chess tournament for visually impaired children from 13 states across India, and a dance competition with visually impaired competitors from 20 educational institutions.

In another long-term commitment, Amway continued to mobilize its distributors in support of 64 orphanages around the country through Project Sunrise. They held festivities at partner organizations on India Independence Day, dedicated a day of volunteer service on the anniversary of Amway India, and welcomed children to Amway headquarters in Delhi to learn more about how a corporation works.

Many Amway distributors in India are doctors or medical professionals, and they offer their services to children from Project Sunrise partners during Health Camps, where free medical checkups and minor treatments are offered to hundreds of children who may not have access to healthcare services.

In honor of these long-term investments and many more, Amway India was honored with three awards this year: a Care Award from Aaj Tak News Channel, Asia’s Best CSR Practices Award from CMO Asia and the Asian CSR Leadership Award from the Asian Confederation of Businesses.

It’s been a good year!

India is a true demonstration of the Amway One by One model, where activities happen locally, driven by Amway Business Owners and employees. Here is a sampling from the last few weeks:

A day to celebrate the white cane …

In Delhi, 50 Amway volunteers celebrated International White Cane Day with 150 visually challenged students in partnership with Jantar Mantar. This public awareness walk took them by important government offices, led by the Delhi police. The event culminated with the presentation of 150 white canes to the students, and the kick-off of White Cane Week across India.

A life goal workshop for youth …

The first Personality Development Workshop was presented to 40 enthusiastic young men and women through partner organization Aadharna and Manchikalalu. Amway Business Owner Rajesh Murthy, a well-known corporate trainer, led a three-hour interactive on topics ranging from time management, goal setting, relationships and memory building.

A different way to spend the holiday …

The India Independence Day was celebrated by an Amway team in Hyderabad with children from partner agency Manchikalalu. Events included flag ceremonies and songs with high-level government officials and ended with a donation commitment to support children’s education.

A new partner in the heart of India …

Amway Project Sunrise, a national partnership with local organizations across India, established a new partnership in Lucknow with Asha Jyoti, an organization focused on helping children with mental disabilities. The partnership was christened with a donation to support the education of 25 children for an entire year.

A special delivery of healthcare service …

The Amway Opportunity Foundation organized two healthcare events for children. The first was in partnership with the Delhi Council for Child Welfare, where a group of eye doctors and specialists treated 300 children who may not be able to afford these services. The other was a broad-based “health camp” project, where Amway Business Owners who are doctors organized free treatment for children at Amway Project Sunrise partners in Chennai, Trichy, Hyderabad, Madurai, Cochin, Salem, Trivandrum, Faridabad and Aizawl.

Thanks to Raj Narain for sharing all of these wonderful stories.

From the stage to the streets, the past several weeks have been full of activity and celebration for Amway and its distributors and employees in India.

In May, we celebrated the 14th anniversary of the Amway business in India with a day of volunteer service in 63 Amway locations across the country. Activities were focused on health and education, with Amway Business Owner doctors organizing health checkups, while also dedicating time for gift giving, entertainment and laughter.

And June, we honored the 133rd birthday of Helen Keller by supporting projects with 16 partners across India through the National Project for the Blind. They included everything from walk-a-thons to debates to reading and singing.

To top things off, in July Amway India received international recognition for its work in supporting and improving the quality of education through their national projects for children and for the blind, with Asia’s Best CSR Practices Award. The awards were hosted by CMO Asia, and endorsed by Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, an autonomous body under Ministry of Corporate Affairs. 

A hearty thanks and congratulations to our friends and colleagues in India for their inspiring work for children, and their prestigious recognition.

Thank you to Raj Narain for sharing these stories.

We spend a lot of time on this blog discussing serious children’s issues.

Yet one of our four focal areas is PLAY, because we recognize that sometimes you just need to give children a chance to experience games and celebrations.

Last month, 109 visually impaired children from 13 states across India participated in a chess tournament designed just for them through the All India Chess Federation for the Blind.

In addition to a fun and challenging event, the top layers qualified to be formally rated, which gives them the opportunity to play at the international level.

Amway Business Owners and employees in India also used their local fundraisers as an opportunity for children to have fun.

Events in Pune, Vizag and Coimbatore featured demonstrations of dance, music and magic to the delight of young spectators.

Addressing the needs of children is serious business. But it helps to remember the delights of childhood, and to ensure that each child we help has an extra reason to smile.

Thanks to Raj Narain for sharing theses stories.

We often talk about actions in terms of new programs, buildings and numbers. But we don’t always get to follow the people who benefit from investments of Amway and our distributors and employees.

Today is an exception.

Meet Priyanka Agarwal, a student with 90 percent vision loss, who was seeking meaningful work. She was shortlisted for advanced training at Tata Consultancy Services, but had to decline the training when her grandfather passed away.

Priyanka did not lose hope. She came to the AOF-NAB Centre for Excellence in Kolkata, looking for help, and help was given.

Following her training, Priyanka was found an excellent job with IBM in Bangalore, making a competitive salary using her new skills.

The hard work and dedication of Priyanka is a shining example of what is possible when we invest in the potential of people.

Thanks to Raj Narain for sharing this story.