In 2008, Fr. Francis Mulakal, requested ICI India Ltd (an AkzoNobel company) for paint for Jan Vikas, a society he founded for street children and rag pickers. The CSR team of R&T Centre in Mumbai visited the institute and after making an assessment of their requirements, donated 620 litres of paint to brighten up their world. A team of 35 AkzoNobel volunteers from Mumbai came together to give Jan Vikas a Dulux makeover by painting the dormitory; compound wall and creating designs on their walls.
As we reviewed this interaction, we realized that it didnt need to end there We could do so much more! Installing a water purifier, visiting the home on weekends, helping the children with their studies, and conducting safety programmes were some of the small contributions Dulux has made to Jan Vikas.
The children were delighted and actively participated in all the programs conducted by the AkzoNobel CSR team. The response was so great that we went on to engage them in many more activities. A poster and safety quiz competition was followed by a field trip to a bird sanctuary. Weve organized medical check-ups, donated furniture, set up a library, and have been encouraging them through our programmmes to Go Green planting trees and becoming environment conscious and to build their all-round personalities.
We have a lot planned in the near future for the institute and the residents of Jan Vikas. The words Jan Vikas in Hindi mean uplifting of society, and it is our endeavor to bring this promise to life, to continue in the spirit of Dulux, adding colour to their lives. |
