The November fireside chat with Ipsita Dasgupta, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, HP, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, titled “India@100: How Tech is Empowering a Billion Dreams,” looked at the many ways in which technology will be the cornerstone of a new and inclusive India. The conversation dwelt on how technology can drive economic growth, foster inclusivity, and create opportunities across sectors, thus helping a nation realise its dreams. We have archived the conversation for you, do watch it.
Towards tomorrow, together
The International Volunteer Day on 5 December 2025 marks the globallaunch of the International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026, with the theme “Every Contribution Matters” to emphasise the vital role of volunteers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Volunteering is a powerful act of generosity, where individualscontribute their time, skills, or resources for the greater good.Traditionally, volunteering has often been sporadic, making it difficult to measure impact or recognise the value exchanged betweenvolunteers and beneficiaries. Today, institutionalised volunteering is more important than ever—it allows efforts, resources, and funds to bestrategically channelled toward society’s priorities in specific are uniquely positioned to lead the way, and the case for their engagement has never been stronger.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), through its initiative India@100 Foundation, has been relentlessly working on volunteerism as a key focus area and started National Volunteering Week (NVW) in 2014 from 18 to 24 January. The objective of NVW is to have a sustained volunteering campaign over a week to forge partnerships amongst various Volunteer Organisations (VOs), Non-profits, corporates, etc to forge partnerships, share resources and align their deliverables in sync with national priorities. CII, with its institutional strength and corporate memberships, is ideally positioned to facilitate and drive the initiative through an IT platform, National Volunteering Grid (NVG), which primarily bridges the demand and supply ofvolunteers, opportunities for freelance volunteers, besides a meeting ground for partnerships amongst various organisations supporting the cause of volunteerism.
Corporate volunteering can power meaningful change at the last mile.In India, nonprofits often form the crucial link in delivering services to communities. By joining forces with corporates through Employee Volunteering Programs (EVPs), they can unlock new efficiency,expertise, and innovation, helping programs reach their full potential. This partnership enables NGOs to expand their reach, deepen their impact, and touch more lives. Many leading corporates have already embraced institutionalised volunteering, and there is exciting potential for organisations of all sizes to contribute and make a real difference.
Volunteering strengthens both business and community. Businesses and communities share a symbiotic relationship—one cannot thrive at theexpense of the other. Volunteering is therefore not just a force for social good, but also a powerful tool for sustainable business growth.Companies that invest in their communities build long-term trust,credibility, and loyalty. Volunteer programs enhance brand reputation and stakeholder goodwill, influencing investment decisions, customer preferences, and employee engagement. At the same time, employees gain valuable socio-economic insights, helping them make informed business decisions—from product innovation to supply chain strategy—while deepening their connection to the communities they serve.
A workforce that volunteers is a stronger, more capable workforce.Institutionalising volunteering is an excellent way for organisations to develop their talent and build capacity. Volunteering encourages individuals to step beyond their comfort zones, tackle complex challenges, and engage with diverse communities. Employees gain a deep understanding of the socio-economic fabric that shapes markets, while honing skills in people management, project execution, and strategic problem-solving. Most importantly, volunteering cultivates empathy and awareness, creating a fertile ground for identifying and nurturing future leaders.
Corporate coalitions can amplify the impact of volunteering. Around the world, technology has enabled cross-company alliances that scale volunteer efforts efficiently. Today, organisations can collaborate through digital and hybrid volunteering models, allowing professionals to mentor, teach, design, or problem-solve from anywhere. Technology also makes volunteering measurable, trackable, and scalable, transforming how impact is created and shared. Such coalitions have the potential to redefine volunteerism in India, making it more coordinated, strategic, and far-reaching.
We live in extraordinary times, facing challenges that societies have rarely encountered before: climate adaptation, AI-driven skill shifts, and ageing populations. Citizen participation at scale will be critical in navigating these challenges, highlighting the urgency of mainstreaming volunteering in India. The actions we take today shape the world of tomorrow—let us step forward together and give it a hand.
On the International Volunteer Day – Friday, 5 December 2025 – India@100 Foundation will hold a virtual discussion on “The Role of Volunteerism in Nation-Building”. The session will examine the strategic value of volunteerism and highlight how cross-sector collaboration can enable measurable, sustainable impact at scale. We invite you to join the conversation.
Every year, the India@100 Foundation, a CII initiative, champions volunteering by organising the National Volunteering Week. This gives citizens from all walks of life the opportunity to offer their time, skills, and empathy toward causes they believe in
Through initiatives that advance education, sustainability, community well-being, and cultural engagement, we seek to foster collective action to create pathways for purposeful action and long-term change.
This January, we are back to reignite the spirit of service — and we encourage individuals and organisations alike to register on the National Volunteer Grid (NVG) and be part of this collective movement.
