2021 has been a year full of ups and downs. While it began with the chaos and fear that came with the second wave of COVID-19, we all eventually found our ways of coping with the new normal. There are numerous things that we learnt during the year – patience, resilience and the adaptability to change. What has resonated with me most is the importance of community during the time of crisis.

The past year was not just another year in our lives but a time full of surprises and lessons. It was difficult yet empowering, a period that almost brought us down on our knees and yet taught us how to stand up on our own.

However, it has been immensely inspiring to witness how each one us has been able to expand, innovate and improve in our own ways despite several personal and professional challenges that came our way.

Innovation has been the key for us during these times. Beginning from the integration of technology in education to focusing on vocational training programmes for the under-privileged, from expanding our health initiatives like tele-medicine and SOW to promoting financial independence of women and working towards empowering the grassroots organizations, we were able to rethink our work to cater to the need of the hour.

Collaborations have also been vital to our efforts. The last two years of the pandemic redefined the relationship between people, corporate, and non-profits in many ways which can be seen through all the collective ground-breaking work that was done during both the waves of the pandemic. While organizations quickly resorted to acting on the ground to mitigate the emergency, the corporate stood as a pillar of strength to enable the work that was happening throughout. The generosity of individuals who did their bit during the period of crisis through volunteering and other forms of giving kept our faith in humanity alive.

It is overwhelming to look back and realize that we have been able to reach out to over a million people across the country in the last two years. This has only been possible due to your trust and constant support. Despite all the challenges that COVID-19 brought with it, it has certainly given us a reason to acknowledge the values of human relations, empathy, and care. We could only get through the pandemic because we stood together.

As we embark on another year of hard work, we as an organization are proud that we have once again been certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’. We hope to continue this streak for many years to come.