Q-Tec Team becomes a significant donor on World Blood Donor Day.

DOHA: Q-Tec Electric WLL, Q-Tec Engineering WLL, Q-Tec Facilities Management WLL, and Q-Tec Air Condition WLL recently sponsored a blood donation camp under the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) banner as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Q-Tec plays vital role on World Blood Donor Day

For the efforts made by Q-Tec in mobilizing its staff and creating a culture of voluntary blood donation, HMC awarded a certificate of gratitude on behalf of Ali Abdullah Al Khader, Chief Communications Officer, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Healthcare Communication.

Several Q-Tec family members volunteered to donate blood, and the event was deemed a success by the HMC.

 

 

 

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Sri Lanka receives oxygen cylinders from Lulu Qatar

The region’s major retailer, Lulu hypermarket Qatar, has contributed to the relief efforts organised by the Sri Lankan Embassy by giving oxygen cylinders to address the country’s urgent medical needs in the wake of a spike in pandemic cases.

Lulu Group supplied oxygen cylinders and other vital supplies, as well as a significant cash gift to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s pandemic relief fund.

Lulu Hypermarket has comprehensive CSR programs in place as a responsible retailer, and they have been actively trying to cut carbon emissions to lessen their environmental effect. They’ve also worked to cut down on food waste and promote healthy eating habits.

The Lulu Group management complimented the Sri Lankan Embassy on its commendable efforts to provide help to the destitute and impoverished compatriots in Sri Lanka. Lulu Hypermarket is one of the key market participants in the retail sector, with 14 state-of-the-art outlets spread across several key areas throughout the State of Qatar.

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With the Warriors: In conversation with Mr. Eugene Das, Founder & Managing Trustee of WWH Charitable Foundation

WWH (We Will Help) Charitable Foundation is a Public Trust established in 2013 and caters to people living in slums/backward villages. WWH aims to uplift dwellers and bring them closer to the mainstream population. The Trust particularly focusses on tribal/Adivasi/slum villages within the metropolitan city of Mumbai.

 

What were the challenges faced by the NGO during the Pandemic? And how did you overcome the same?

WWH works effectively across four main programs/projects. These programs are undertaken keeping in mind the needs and requirements of our beneficiaries. The four projects are the four quadrants of human living that we hope to provide a holistic developmental opportunity for those living in marginalized conditions.

In the midst of the 27 tribal hamlets of about 3000 acres of Aarey Milk Colony, with a total population of about 90,000, we ardently carry out our services and activities by uplifting these communities and empowering them to get closer to the mainstream society and thrive. We request you to kindly go through the short video link to get a glimpse of our activities:

Our Trust is registered with authorities and is eligible for accepting donations from all sources such as CSR, individuals, etc. The tribal villagers within the jungles have no source of food due to the on-going pandemic and its consequential lockdown & restrictions. They don’t have ration cards as well, which unfortunately cuts them off from government aid in the region. They are in a dire state and are relying on our help and support. We have been providing whatever food we can source from like-minded individuals till date.

How did you help the tribal and slum dwellers during the pandemic?

It has been a year since WWH (We Will Help) Charitable Foundation first stepped out to help and feed tribal village hamlets in the interior forests of Aarey during the pandemic that struck us last year. During the lockdown, we reached out to other tribal villages and slums across Mumbai, where COVID-19 had struck havoc in the lives of many.

We wanted to ensure that no one sleeps hungry. We tapped the street dwellers and neglected homeless people during this crisis. We provided daily-wage workers with grocery packages. Since the program’s launch, we served over 96,400 nutritious meals to tribal families and daily-wage earners. As the efforts continue, we have reached out to thousands of families, giving out over 32,600 nutritional supplements, over 34,800 grocery care kits, 12,850 face masks, and 6,750 hygiene care kits.

What kind of problems did you face during the pandemic?

We have a strong team of volunteers who work dedicatedly. Funding has been the main challenge during the pandemic. The lack of funds has made it difficult to gain solid footing we needed as an NGO in times of the pandemic. However, through internal efforts and those coming from our volunteers, we managed to satiate every need till date. Identifying and eliciting more funding will be highly beneficial to reach out to other tribal villages too.

How has the NGO benefitted from CSR funds?

We approach CSR using a well-drafted proposal that helps corporates understand our initiatives. As we have always been tied with tribal social development, corporates have extended funding in kind and in cash by providing smokeless stoves to the women of Aarey Forests, solar lighting, cooking equipment, computer training to the youth, library setup in the heart of the Forests, health camps and initiatives of sanitation and hygiene, etc.

We have received CSR funds from various organizations in the past. However, during the ongoing pandemic this has become difficult and are trying to get funds from various CSR sources.

Why was WWH founded?

“WWH (We Will Help) Charitable Foundation was born out of the need to serve tribal villages in the midst of urbanization in Mumbai City. The dire conditions of people who are so pulled away from the hustle-bustle of the city made us realize how we are continuously only tied up in our rat races to the top. Being a part of the suburban Mumbai area, there were villages that did not even have electricity since India gained its Independence in 1947.

WWH in every way possible has involved itself to drive social and community development, the upliftment of women, and focus on health, food, and education as the main motivators of change in such a backward society that struggles with the modernization of everything around it. People in these villages cannot sustain any longer on farming alone, they have to understand how to integrate with mainstream society and this can only be achieved through positive systemic change. WWH aims for this at every step along the way.

We are grateful that Crowdteck understands this. Thank you for approaching us and giving us a potential platform to share our cause with the world.”

 

 

Write to me at nawal@thecrowdbridge.com

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Qatar Scientific Club to produce 6,000 face shields

The Qatar Scientific Club (QSC) is set to manufacture 6,000 face shields with support from Oryx
GTL for medical staff of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Oryx GTL employees.

These will be manufactured at the QSC’s Fabrication Lab, after a face shield previously manufactured
by the Club was tested and approved by the HMC.

Oryx GTL has supported the QSC to produce 5,000 face shields for the HMC and 1,000 for its
employees, in order to provide protection against the risk of coronavirus infection.

The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease, these locally-manufactured face shields
have a number of advantages, which include providing enhanced protection and reducing
condensation that could affect the wearer’s vision, and are also reusable after being sterilised, and are environment-friendly.

The shields were tested multiple times by the medical teams concerned, and the recommended
improvements were made accordingly.

Saad al-Muraikhi, director of public relations at Oryx GTL, said that this assistance comes
as part of the company’s efforts to support the Qatar society, and is in line with their corporate social responsibility which is being committed to support important and constructive programmes.
Abdulaziz al-Jabiri, technical director at the QSC, added that the support of Oryx GTL stresses the
strong and continued desire of the company to maintain community partnerships in a way that
benefits the entire society.

By: Nawal Mukadam
Email Id:nawal-m@crowdteck.com

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Ikea supports Qatar Charity to deliver 4,000 meals to those afflicted by Coronavirus

In cooperation with the
Municipality and Environment Ministry (MME), Qatar Charity (QC) has distributed
4,000 ready-to-eat meals — donated by Ikea Qatar — among those infected with
the Covid-19 at quarantine centers in Umm Salal and Mekaynis.

As part of its continuing
initiatives to include nutritious and preventative supplies, the delivery of
meals is meant to help minimize the spread of coronavirus, QC said in a
statement.

“As part of the efforts
made by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment represented by Al Daayen
Municipality to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the Awareness and Health
Department has provided full support to, and supervision of, such initiatives
that contribute to helping those affected by the virus,” said Ahmed Matar al-Shammari,
public health inspector at Al Daayen Municipality.

Alexey Sitkin, store
manager of Ikea Qatar, said: “Caring for people is one of Ikea’s values. We
strive to support the competent authorities and the local community during this
hard time in whichever way possible. As part of its corporate social
responsibility, Ikea Restaurant has played an essential role by offering over
4,000 healthy meal packages for the infected and needy ones.”

“Qatar Charity continues to
distribute meals and food baskets to families with low income and those
affected by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Abdulaziz Jassim, director of the
customer service department at QC.

He added that Qatar
Charity, as a civil society association and as part of its donation to social
services, provided food packages to poor households and staff, as well as
ready-to-eat meals for employees in various quarantine centers.

He also acknowledged that
this program initiated at the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic received an
unprecedented response from the country’s numerous companies.

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Britannia Marie gives 10 lakhs to homemakers to start their business ventures

Britannia Marie Gold,
the third-largest biscuit brand that has been a common household name for 60
years recently announced the winners of its annual women’s entrepreneurship
program Britannia Marie Gold My Start-Up, which aims to help homemakers from
across the country undertake entrepreneurial ventures so that they may become
financially independent.

In addition to giving
Rs. 10 lakhs each as the principal amount to start their businesses, the
organization has collaborated with the National Skill Development Corporation
to provide online skill training to around 10,000 homemakers.

The online skill
training program would revolve around various skill sets required to start a
small business so that the homemakers are well-equipped with appropriate skills
before starting a business.

After being launched
in February 2020, over 1.5 million applicants from 32 states and Union
Territories applied through telephone, web, and WhatsApp in which one-quarter
of the entries came through WhatsApp.

Due to a nationwide
lockdown in place, there was a digital finale where the finalists were asked to
give an online presentation to the jury consisting of entrepreneurs, media
persons, and higher officials from Britannia.

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Food For All

About Assi Anna Kshetra

It is a small group of around a dozen like-minded individuals committed to philanthropy across Varanasi. The group has been proactively undertaking free food drives during the lockdown to help vulnerable sections. Pranav Singh, a proactive member of the organization shares some significant details about their charitable endeavor

How are
you helping people in times of pandemic?

The lockdown due to the pandemic
has crippled business and employment across localities in Varanasi. Many
migrant laborers and daily wage earners have lost their livelihoods, pushing
them to the brink of penury. We have ensured that at least one meal a day
reaches out to the affected people.

What’s
the main goal of your organization?

The
primary agenda has always remained to help the underprivileged sections with
food, clothes, and other necessities. The current scenario has prioritized our
‘food for all’ idea over other aid and assistance. Initially, we had been
undertaking free-food drives every Saturday for the last two years across
different regions of Varanasi.

How
many members form your team? Where do you operate?

We are currently a team of 12 like-minded
individuals who wish to bring positive change across our society through philanthropic
acts like ‘food drives’ for the poor and vulnerable. We have been doing this
for the last two years on a small scale depending upon the budget we had.

We operate from a small shop located at
the Assi Ghat in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

How
do you acquire funds for your charitable assignments?

The contributions from our members form our primary source
of funding. We have also been reaching out for donations through social media
and WhatsApp. Good word of mouth across our locality has also helped us raise
funds for our cause.

About Pranav Singh

A
commerce graduate from Purvanchal University and MBA in Human Resource
Management, Pranav has been one of the founding members of the Assi Anna
Kshetra. He currently resides in Varanasi.

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Synchrony provides 5000 masks to Hyderabad police

Financial
Services Company Synchrony has distributed 5,000 surgical masks to Hyderabad
Police to ensure their well-being while they have been at the forefront in the
battle against the pandemic.

 Synchrony, along with the Telangana police,
has been instrumental in enhancing security across Telangana with the
successful installation of 280 CCTV cameras across Hyderabad for surveillance
purposes. The company has provided almost 15,000 masks to the Telangana State
police since the outbreak of the virus until now.

 “Never before have communities where we live
and work been so important to us, and Synchrony is committed to supporting
them,” Mr.Andy Ponneri, Senior Vice President and Business Leader – India,
Synchrony was quoted as saying.

 “Synchrony has a long-standing association
with Hyderabad City Police, and we are grateful for their ongoing efforts in
keeping our communities safe.” he further added.

The
company has also been in collaboration with the Officer of Commissioner of
Police to impart soft skills training to police personnel to enhance their
communication and interpersonal skills.

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Nilkamal Furniture and MMRDA join hands for BKC modular hospital

Nilkamal
Furniture has joined hands with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
Authority (MMRDA) to set-up an emergency hospital by arranging 1000 COVID
Quarantine Beds, furniture, and other essential stuff.

 The Quarantine facility has been prepared in two
weeks, and beds designed by the Nilkamal group have a cabinet that can be
utilized for dining and storage purposes.

 “On behalf of residents of Mumbai, we are
thankful to the MMRDA for the swiftness of their action in creating this
mammoth makeshift hospital with such great prowess. This has been exhibited
through the MMRDA’s Operations Committee’s ability in swift decision making,
its clarity of mind, strict demand for quality, and tight delivery timelines.
The project was commissioned in record time with a keen eye on attention to
detail. We are grateful to the MMRDA for believing in our capabilities and
extending us an opportunity to do our bit. We are proud of our team that
despite numerous challenges and limitations, we have been able to deliver successfully
on this project and well before the timelines. We stand together in solidarity
with the Government of Maharashtra, MMRDA, and all bodies in this fight against
COVID-19.”

Ajay Agarwal, VP Operations, Nilkamal Limited was quoted as saying.

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Vodafone Foundation to provide ration to vulnerable families

The CSR arm of Vodafone Idea Limited Vodafone Foundation has reached out to vulnerable sections with essential items during these testing times under its Gali Gali Gaon Gaon initiative. Collaborating with the Learning Links Foundation, Vodafone Foundation has distributed ration kits to around 3000 families across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharastra &Karnataka.

“With over 64000 reported COVID 19 cases in India, the Government, as well as Businesses, have been employing various initiatives to comfort the lower stratum of the economy and invited collective support from development organizations like ours to enhance the efficiency and scale. This endeavour to provide 10 days’ worth of ration kits to 3000 families each, is supporting the larger cause as well as taking care of the basic sustenance needs of some of the most impacted families that we have been working closely with under our ongoing Jaadu Ginni Ka financial literacy programme. I would like to thank the team’s efforts and co-operation in facilitating the JGK infrastructure and network to help and support the people in need, during this crisis.” P. Balaji, Director – Vodafone Foundation, was quoted as saying.

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