Tag United Way Bengaluru (UWBe)

Bengaluru, June 18, 2024: Marvell, in collaboration with NGO partner United Way Bengaluru (UWBe), is driving an impactful intervention, ‘Rural Rising’, an integrated rural development program, in the Chikkaballapura District of Karnataka. The program is designed to meet the Mission Anthodya and Human Development Index (HDI) indicators, validated through an in-depth needs assessment in collaboration with local authorities and community members.

This intervention addresses fundamental needs across key thematic areas, including education, health and well-being, safe drinking water, and renewable energy in the Guluru Gram Panchayat.

Under the initiative, an ambulance is provided to Bagepalli Taluk Govt. Hospital, which caters to a catchment population of 1,20,000+ people and lacked a dedicated ambulance. Two new Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) have been constructed alongside the setting up of kitchen gardens and provisioning of Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) in the AWCs. Based on the need, a government school has been strengthened through refurbishment support, making the environment conducive to learning.

To address the need for a functional toilet facility, a new toilet has been constructed and an incinerator has been provided to a government school. Additionally, the initiative focuses on the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) component, particularly for raising awareness about menstrual health and hygiene among female students. Sanitary napkins have been distributed in five schools.

To ensure the availability of safe drinking water, three water purifier units have been installed in Anjinapura and Laxman Thanda villages, and at a government school, benefiting numerous households and students. In commitment to renewable energy, 150 solar streetlights have been successfully installed at strategic locations across the gram panchayat.

The intervention has reached over 5,285 direct beneficiaries and numerous indirect beneficiaries.

Today marked a significant day as key stakeholders involved in the initiative came together to officially announce the launch of the intervention. Key delegates present included Mr. Navin Bishnoi, Marvell India Country Manager, Ms. Bharathi Kanuj, Marvell India CSR Head and Mr. Ganesh Karnatakam, Marvell India Finance Controller, Sriram Ananthanarayanan UWBe Director or Projects, Varun Kumar UWBe Corporate Relations, Pravin Kumar UWBe Rural Projects Lead.

“Convergence and collaboration are key elements for achieving lasting effects. The Rural Rising initiative has demonstrated the power of bringing together Gram Panchayat, NGO, corporate and community members towards a shared goal,”, said, Mr. Navin Bishnoi, Marvell India Country Manager.

“Prioritising the need to invest in rural development, the Rural Rising program intends to build self-sustainable rural communities with assured access to quality education, better health and well-being, safe drinking water, and a clean environment. We are grateful to our CSR partner, Marvell, and the local community for supporting us since the inception of the program at Guluru Gram Panchayat.“, said, Rajesh Krishnan, CEO, of United Way Bengaluru.

About United Way Bengaluru (UWBe)

UWBe is an NGO focused on social issues that seek immediate and long-term attention. United Way Bengaluru marked a significant milestone this year as it completed its 15-year journey. As a part of the global network, United Way Worldwide, the largest network of non-profit organizations with 1,100 chapters in 37 countries, United Way Bengaluru carries a global image with a ‘local heart’ committed to creating meaningful change in the lives of the local communities. True to the organization’s mission “To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world”, UWBe catalyzes unified efforts from corporates, civic bodies, and citizen associations to bring about visible and sustainable change in the lives of the communities. The organization works in four key areas – environment, education, healthcare, and rural development.

Bengaluru, May 27, 2024: Recent reports indicate a staggering loss of about 35% of mangroves between 1996 and 2010 highlighting a concerning trend in environmental degradation. Mangrove ecosystems play a significant role in stabilizing coastlines, making their preservation crucial for the environment and inhabitants. Mangroves are a natural solution to climate change, the paramount global threat. They can sequester carbon at a rate five times greater than tropical forests.

Responding to this urgent need, United Way Bengaluru (UWBe) has launched an ambitious and impactful campaign, ‘ Mangroves Matter’, to revitalize mangrove ecosystems. The first foot is at Pulicat or Pazhaverkadu, a coastal town near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Known as the ‘jungle of roots‘ in Tamil, Pulicat encompasses a vast expanse of 720 sq. km, constituting India’s second-largest brackish water body. Rampant destruction of mangrove vegetation by human activities and natural causes has led to a massive reduction in the lake’s depth from 3.8m to 2m. This ecological decline has endangered biodiversity and threatened the livelihoods of local fisherfolk dependent on the mangrove ecosystem.

The ‘Mangroves Matter’ campaign was officially launched on World Wetlands Day, 2024, with a bold vision to rewild approximately 10 lakh mangroves across 100 acres in the Pulicat region alone. In addition to their environmental advantages, the campaign will closely work with the Irula community, opening up livelihood opportunities for them and boosting the local economy by supporting the cultivation of shrimp and fish species. The project also includes removal of acres of Prosopis ( Karuvelam ), an invasive species which has destroyed the local flora and soil ecosystems.

Sriram Ananthanarayanan, Director-Projects, UWBe, said, “I am glad that many of our Corporate CSR partners have come forward to support this campaign with a shared vision towards environmental commitment. Notably, our CSR partner, Mphasis, has pledged their support to this cause, dedicating the rewilding of mangroves on 70 acres in Pulicat. “

Looking ahead, United Way Bengaluru envisions extending the campaign’s reach to other regions, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. Upholding its mission of “mobilizing the caring power of communities,” the organization calls upon organizations from different industries to join hands in supporting this vital mission for the preservation of the planet’s precious ecosystems.

Rajesh Krishnan, CEO, UWBe, said, “COP28 made significant progress towards securing the Mangrove Breakthrough’s goal of 15 million hectares of mangroves underpinned by USD 4 billion new investments by 2030. I am super excited that United Way Bengaluru is among the very few organisations who have taken this initiative. ‘Mangroves Matter’ is aligned with the aspiration of COP28, which calls out the responsibility of the State, corporations, local people, community, NGOs and other stakeholders to deliver the Breakthrough.”

Bengaluru, 14 February 2024: United Way Bengaluru (UWBe), along with corporate partner Applied Materials India today inaugurated an integrated rural development drive in Mulbagal taluk in Kolar district. The Rural Rising program primarily focused on enhancing the living standards of rural communities and improving available resources to ensure a sustainable, long-term impact on their lives. Attended by delegates from both organizations, the event featured cultural performances and presentations of science projects by some of the young bright minds.

Sharing thoughts on the initiative, Rajesh Krishnan, CEO of United Way Bengaluru, said, “The Rural Rising program is a unique and one-of-its-kind initiative. The saturation approach, which focuses on Gram Panchayat to block and district-level development, makes it a very organized, sustained, and sustainable impact-driven process. I particularly thank our corporate partner, Applied Materials India, who had the vision to make a difference by investing in areas that needed help.”

Speaking on the collaboration, Sarika Rath, Head of Communications & Public Affairs at Applied Materials India said, “We endeavor to create a positive and sustainable impact in India’s rural communities through our Rural Rising program. Convergence and collaboration are two key elements for achieving a positive impact and these programs help us to achieve the same. Our purpose drives everything we do, shaped by our Values and reflected in our actions.”

Since 2015, Applied Materials India has been supporting over 200 villages across Bangarpete, Kolar, and Srinivaspur blocks in the Kolar district, and reaching out to over 1.5 lakh beneficiaries directly. Following successful initiatives in these blocks, the focus transitioned to Mulbagal Taluk, marking the second consecutive year of involvement in the taluk, this year.

Rural Rising has been United Way Bengaluru‘s flagship program that has demonstrated the potency of bringing together Gram Panchayats, local communities, volunteers, NGOs, and corporations towards a shared objective. The program is designed to meet the Mission Anthodya and Human Development Index (HDI) indicators, validated through an in-depth needs assessment in collaboration with local authorities and community members. The program’s emphasis extends across critical pillars of Education, Health, Livelihood, Women Empowerment, and Environment.

Coimbatore, January 29, 2024: In collaboration with NGO partner United Way Bengaluru (UWBe) and Vadavalli Gram Panchayat, in the Sulthanpet block of Coimbatore, Herbalife successfully rolled out an important initiative called Rural Rising, an integrated rural development program. Herbalife has continuously supported the program for the last three years in other districts of Karnataka and the Wayanad district of Kerala.

Vadavalli Gram Panchayat, with a Human Development Index well below the state average, faced challenges in various areas. To complement the Gram Panchayat’s efforts, the Rural Rising initiative addressed critical needs such as education, health and hygiene, water, livelihood, and clean energy, areas where communities encountered significant challenges.

Today marked a significant milestone as the initiatives rolled out last year were inaugurated with distinguished guests, including, Honourable Additional Collector; Shri Vijaya Kumar and Smt. Revathi, Block Development Officers from Sultanpet Shri E. Francis Charles, Assistant Educational Officer; Smt. Murugeshwari, DPO, Sulthanpet; Govinda Raj, Panchayat President from Vadavalli; , Regional Head Herbalife, and United Way Bengaluru team.

Under Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), the initiative rolled out a program called Born Learning Campaign to create a conducive learning and development environment in Vadavalli and Akkanaickenpalayam Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). This involved upgrading AWCs, providing teaching and learning resources, establishing libraries, and enhancing the capacity of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers through ECCE training. Additionally, one Nutrition Garden was developed in an Anganwadi Centre, along with the creation of 10 household-level kitchen gardens. A total of 663 Nutrition kits were distributed to children and their families.

As part of the School Empowerment Initiative, support was provided to Akkanaickenpalayam Govt Primary School and High School. This included setting up solar-powered classrooms, contribution of library books, renovating staff rooms and classrooms, toilets for girls and boys and providing an incinerator for girls, meeting the schools’ specific requirements.

Awareness sessions were conducted as part of the hygiene intervention, and 228 hygiene kits were distributed to students and school staff. The awareness sessions helped students understand the importance of hygiene in their daily routines. The interactive session covered vital practices, such as handwashing before and after meals, maintaining clean and trimmed nails, and regular teeth brushing. During a follow-up community visit, it was discovered that children consistently used the kits, adhering to the instructions provided during the awareness session and educating their parents about hygiene and sanitation.

An Overhead Tank (OHT) was installed in collaboration with the Panchayat to ensure quality drinking water. A 60,000-litre OHT tank was constructed with the installation of pipelines, benefiting 250 households and enhancing the availability and accessibility of drinking water.

Support was provided to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) under the livelihood and inclusion initiative. Eleven PWDs received livestock, three individuals received mobility vehicles, and a school-going boy received a hearing aid.

In the interest of renewable energy, 50 solar streetlights were installed. These solar streetlights enhanced safety and security for villagers and triggered a ripple effect of economic and social benefits, uplifting the entire community. In one of the many cases, Saranya, a beautician, faced challenges due to inadequate lighting until solar streetlights changed everything. Previously, commuting during early or late hours was challenging, relying on family members for accompaniment. Well-lit streets now allow her to work longer hours without fear, transforming her family’s financial condition. Supporting a family of six, Saranya can now invest in her business, expand services, and hire women from her village, contributing to the economic growth of her community.

A total of 1631 people will be directly benefitted through this initiative.

“Our approach is not just implementing good initiatives; it’s about empowering communities to take ownership, ensuring sustainability far beyond our involvement. The Rural Rising Program exemplifies our vision. In collaboration with our CSR partner, we created a sustainable legacy of positive change in the community by engaging and developing the capacities of local administration and community members, formed strategic partnerships, and meticulously planned for maintenance.”, said Rajesh Krishnan, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Bengaluru.

Ajay Khanna, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Herbalife India, said, “Our vision, shared with United Way Bengaluru, has transformed lives across Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu for over three years. Today, Vadavalli Gram Panchayat in Coimbatore stands as a testament to that commitment. From upgraded Anganwadis to empowered PWDs, each milestone fuels our confidence. We see families securing livelihoods and children armed with renewed dignity and hope, inspiring us to push forward, building a brighter future, together.”