The E2 Team - HappynessBrigade: February 2014

WMLogistics India Pvt. Ltd. Initiated First CSR Activity on February 14, 2014 by celebrating the ‘Spirit of Valentine’s Day’ in a unique way.

“SpreadingLove to Those Who Need it the Most!!!”

We have initiated our first CSR activity in collaboration with Samarpan Care Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre for the Mentally Ill. An Organization working for mentally challenged individuals of the society in Indore District. Initially, organization worked on institution-based management of mentally challenged through vocational training for livelihood and day care shelter. Samarpan gradually increased in its Activities and started operation in other sectors of development as well.

The activity started with a small introduction about the Samarpan Care Centre by Ms. Reena Khot and the visit of the entire Center. This helped each of the WML Employees to interact with the in-mates and understand their situation and problems. Later, all of the employees participated in used paper bags and wristband making workshop. The salient feature of this workshop was that they were inmates who actually taught us to make bags and wristbands. All the items made by us will be put on sale by the Centre to generate revenue for their day-to-day needs. The activity ended with the snacks party for the inmates and blanket and bed-sheets distribution by WML.

All the employees were happy to be part of this CSR Activity. Let’s hear them out in their testimonials below.

	Mandeep Vats: This was a touching event especially on a day linked to spreading love and care. The team took the initiative to visit the center and spend some time with the people undergoing treatment. The Samarpan team helped us to do more than just donating few things. I urge everyone to experience this at least once in lifetime.
Pramod Prasanna: It was a very enriching experience to be able to visit Samarpan Care Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre at Indore. The facility inmates and the volunteers were kind enough to open about their day-to-day challenges and activities. They displayed their skill developing activities such as making articles like Paper bags as well as friendship bands. Many of us were new to these skills and I can proudly say that I have developed my paper bag making skills from this organization. In essence, I think it was a very good activity for us as an organization and gives us an insight to the life and challenges of these troubled women. Such interactions will provide us a platform to contribute: whether in terms of marketing their products or spreading a word about their organization.
	Abdul Samir Khan: This year’s Valentine day was not same as I have celebrated throughout my life. This time, I was at Samarpan Care Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre. I spent few hours with mentally challenge people. I learnt from them how to create wristband and Paper bags that requires lot of concentration, skills and passion. In addition my perception was that mentally challenged people can never live their normal life but hats off to Samarpan Care team who trained depressed and mentally challenged people and help them to reinvent there life. This completely changed my perception. This was my best valentine I ever celebrated.
Bhupesh Karanakar: I was very touched by visiting the Centre, and actually seeing the situation of these women. I felt very helpless at a certain level but was also happy to share my ideas with them. Being a Software Engineer, the least I can do for them is to create a website/ blog where they can showcase their hand-made products for sale. I am happy that we are doing such activities at Organizational level, and will be looking forward to many more such activities in future.
	Deepak Sharma: I have been a part of many such activities in future like visiting old-age homes, orphanages, blind schools, etc. But visiting a center like this was all together a new experience. I would look forward to such activities in future.
Nidhi Kanodia: Visiting Samarpan Centre for Mentally Ill Women was all together a new experience for me. I was aware of our plan that we were planning to donate some blankets and bed-sheets to the in-mates. I was going there with a pre-planned agenda to GIVE them something. But, by spending 3 hours with inmates my whole perception was changed. All of them were trying so hard to recover from their illness. None of them was dependent on anyone for their day-to-day activities. By making small things like used paper bags, wristbands, jewelry, greeting cards, lamps etc. they were trying to keep them busy, learn concentration and earn their lively hood. All of them were far better than all of us. I returned back with a whole new perception.