Sudesna Mishra is a Technical Systems Analyst at McCormick India. She’s been a McCormick employee for five years.
Sudesna Mishra’s reason for giving back to her community is simple: “I want to make a difference on a bigger note,” she says.
Mishra has been involved in AARAMBH, McCormick India’s employee-led, corporate social responsibility (CSR) group since its inception in 2016. AARAMBH, which means “beginning” in Hindi, contributes to the sustainable development and welfare of the less fortunate in their community, made up of employee volunteers.
While the group partners with many charitable causes (like organizing blood drives for Red Cross India and converting books to Braille for the Volunteers for the Blind Foundation), Mishra is especially passionate about one group: the Diksha Charitable Trust, which operates a non-profit school that provides free and quality education for children from disadvantaged families in the Delhi and Gurgaon area.
“We looked for nonprofits that would be the right fit for our organization’s size, where our contribution will have an impact,” says Mishra. “After many visits to nonprofits, I stumbled upon an advertisement from Diksha on a government website. A colleague and I visited the school campus and we knew it was the right fit for AARAMBH, where our efforts and resources would make a long-lasting and significant impact.”
Nearly 40 percent of students in India drop out of school without completing their elementary education, either due to lack of family support or challenges with the school's curriculum. In less than a year since its inception, Mishra and AARAMBH have made an incredible contribution and impact to these children’s lives. With their support, along with salaried teachers and other donors from the community, they have created a safe, stimulating learning environment at Diksha that allows more than 400 children from disadvantaged families to go to school and eat a balanced lunch—the daily rice requirement for the children’s lunch is sponsored by McCormick.
“Money is important, but these relationships are priceless, says Mishra. "Spending time with Diksha has had a positive effect for us all.”
Mishra and the other AARAMBH employees give their time generously, coaching and engaging with the children at organized events, playing sports, celebrating holidays together, and even painting furniture to brighten up the school environment. AARAMBH plans at least one event with Diksha every quarter.
“The very essence that our actions or my actions are helping a child live with dignity is meaningful to me,” says Mishra. “Doing my part of duty towards them and seeing it converge to something meaningful right in front of me – that’s my definition of doing charity.”
Click here to learn more about Diksha and find out how you can become involved.
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