iVolunteer Awards 2024

Why iVolunteer Awards

The iVolunteer Awards are not just an event—they are a heartfelt celebration of the profound impact that volunteering has on individuals, communities, and our nation. Our vision is deeply rooted in the belief that every act of kindness, every moment of selflessness, has the power to change lives. By honoring those who give of themselves so generously, we aim to spark a movement that inspires others to embrace the spirit of giving, recognizing that in lifting others, we elevate ourselves.

Each volunteer's contribution is a testament to the boundless potential of human compassion. These Awards are a way of saying, "We see you, we value you, and we want the world to know your story." Through this recognition, we highlight the quiet heroes among us—those who lead by example, creating new pathways in volunteerism and setting benchmarks that others can aspire to. Organizations that foster volunteering are not just supporting causes; they are nurturing a culture of empathy and connection, showing us all how we can be better together.

Through the iVolunteer Awards, we hope to touch hearts and kindle a deeper sense of purpose in all who hear these stories. We believe that every act of kindness, no matter how small, ripples outwards, creating a more compassionate, equitable, and sustainable world. By shining a light on these champions, we are not just celebrating their achievements; we are inviting everyone to join in the journey of making the world a kinder place, one volunteer at a time.

iVolunteer X YuWaah

Are you ready to be part of something extraordinary?

For 22 years, we have been on a mission to connect volunteers with organizations, facilitating social development through the shared gifts of time, skills, and passion. The iVolunteer Awards is our way of recognizing and honoring those individuals and organizations who have selflessly dedicated themselves to the betterment of our country. We believe that even the smallest act of kindness has the power to change lives.

This year, we are excited to partner with YuWaah (Generation Unlimited in India) at UNICEF to amplify the contributions of our awardees. Through this collaboration, influencers will share inspiring stories from the Green Guardians campaign with their extensive follower base, bringing greater visibility to the incredible work being done. Since its launch in 2019, YuWaah has positively impacted over 79 million young individuals, playing a crucial role in empowering the nation’s 350 million adolescents and young people, particularly those from vulnerable and marginalized communities.

The iVolunteer x YuWaah collaboration for the ‘Green Guardians, Youth for a Greener Future’ campaign underscores our shared commitment to recognizing and celebrating the efforts of young volunteers who are shaping a brighter, greener future for us all.

Shalabh Sahai, Co-founder & Director, iVolunteer

Award Categories

Volunteer Hero

Our flagship category, recognising individuals, of all ages, who have significantly contributed their skills and time to communities or NGOs.

Youth Champion

Our category celebrating and recognising the exceptional passion, dedication, and efforts of youth under the age of 23.

Leader in Volunteer Engagement

Our category recognising organisations for their successful engagement with volunteers in creating positive change within a community or beyond.

Leader in Employee Volunteering

Our category recognising organisations that inspire their teams to embrace volunteerism to make the world a better place.

New Segment in Partnership with YuWaah: Green Guardians

This category honors the unstoppable spirit of “Youth for a Greener Future,” celebrating those who fuse innovation with passion to build a sustainable tomorrow.

Are you a changemaker dedicated to transforming our world through unwavering commitment to social development? Let’s amplify your extraordinary efforts by connecting you with influencers who can elevate the causes you champion.

We recognize visionary volunteers like you who lead the charge in creating and implementing groundbreaking green solutions that address the vital intersections of STEM, climate change, gender equality, and overall well-being. Your inspiring work sparks hope and lights the path toward a sustainable, equitable, and brighter future for all.

If you’re an Indian citizen aged 14- 29, this is your moment. Apply for Green Guardians now and leave a lasting impact!

Objectives & Legacy

The iVolunteer Awards seek to amplify the inspiring stories of volunteering from across the nation. By celebrating the remarkable contributions of individuals and organizations dedicated to nation-building, we aim to ignite a passion in others to join this transformative movement.

In 2017 alone, the iVolunteer Awards touched the lives of over 600,000 people and reached an audience of more than four million. Our mission has been championed by leading media partners like Hindustan Times, Zee TV, NDTV, Your Story, The Logical Indian, and Good Deeds Day International, all recognizing the transformative power of volunteering. This year, we are proud to partner with YuWaah for our Green Guardian campaign, where we will spotlight 10 exceptional individuals and pair them with social media influencers to amplify their impact stories.

Over the years, our awards have been graced by distinguished personalities such as Ms. Nandita Das, Mr. Abhishek Bachchan, Shri Vinod Tawde, Mrs. Shikha Sharma, Mrs. Rajshree Birla, Ms. Hannah Wojno, Ms. Shriya Pilgaonkar, and many more, further enhancing the prestige of the iVolunteer Awards.

Together, we are building a compassionate society, fuelled by the spirit of service and leadership. Join us in celebrating the extraordinary impact of volunteers and be a part of the change!

iVolunteer Awards 2023 Winners

Press

Hindustan Times

Indian Express

The Logical Indian

Your Story

Gallery

FAQs

What are the iVolunteer Awards?

Volunteers play a crucial role in India's social development, yet their contributions often go unnoticed. The iVolunteer Awards, held annually, seek to change this by celebrating, rewarding, and promoting volunteering and volunteers nationwide. These awards recognise the invaluable efforts of both volunteers and the organisations that engage them, fostering an environment that inspires more people to volunteer.

What are the different categories for the iVolunteer Awards?

Volunteer Hero — This award recognises volunteers who have contributed to and impacted social development through their voluntary work; thus inspiring more people to volunteer.
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Youth Champion — This award recognises young individuals under the age of 23 for their inspiring display of passion and commitment to volunteering.
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Leader in Volunteer Engagement —This award recognises organisations that engage volunteers strategically, using policies and procedures that are innovative; to advance the organisation’s goals.
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Leader in Employee Volunteering —This award recognises companies with the finest employee volunteering practices that encourage volunteering.
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What will the iVolunteer Awards Winners receive?

Volunteer Hero : Recognised for their contribution towards community development, the winner will receive a certificate and a trophy, and will be mentioned in press releases, the awards website, and other media.

Youth Champion : Honoured for their community work and inspiring others, the Youth Champion will receive a trophy, certificate, and will further get recognition through our press releases, awards website, and other media.

Leader in Volunteer Engagement : Acknowledged for effectively involving volunteers in community development, the winners of this award will receive a trophy, and a certificate and will further get recognition through our press releases, the awards website, and other media.

Leader in Employee Volunteering : Celebrated for setting high standards in promoting employee volunteering, the organisation will receive a trophy, and certificate as well as recognition through our press releases, awards website, and other media.

How can I/we apply?

To apply for the iVolunteer Awards, visit the homepage and click on the 'Learn More' tab under your chosen category. Then, navigate to the 'Submit Application' tab on the category page. For assistance with the form, contact us at: awards@iVolunteer.in

Categories:

Youth Champion
Volunteer Hero
Leader in Volunteer Engagement
Leader in Employee Volunteering
Green Guardians

Can volunteers and organisations who applied for previous editions of the iVolunteer Awards apply again this year?

Yes, apart from the winners of the last two years, all volunteers and organisations are encouraged to apply for other categories

Which geographic regions can apply to the iVolunteer awards?

The awards are open to all Indian residents and organisations from anywhere in India.

Who were the winners of the last edition?

Winners in all the aforementioned categories were announced and the awards were handed over during the iVolunteer Awards Ceremony on 24th February 2024 at the IRA by Orchid in Mumbai. The title of Volunteer Hero 2023 was awarded to Avula Shobana. The title of Youth Champion 2023 was awarded to Jeevitha B Kong. The Leader in Volunteer Engagement 2023 was awarded to Goonj. The Leader in Employee Volunteering 2023 was awarded to Firstsource and Standard Chartered Bank.

How will the winners be chosen?

For the ‘Youth Champion’, ‘Volunteer Hero’, and ‘Leader in Volunteer Engagement’ categories:

The Awards team will initially review all entries submitted to the iVolunteer Awards. If your entry is chosen, your individual volunteering experience or the organisation's volunteer engagement efforts will be showcased on the iVolunteer Awards website.
Entries receiving the highest number of votes and those shortlisted by a panel of experts will qualify for the final round.
The top 10 finalists will be interviewed online by our team to gain a direct understanding of their volunteering background and then, the details are presented to our international jury.
The international jury will then select the Volunteer Hero, Youth Champion, and Leader in Volunteer Engagement winners, whose names will be announced at the iVolunteer Awards ceremony.

For the Leader in Employee Volunteering category:

The awards team will initially review all entries submitted to the iVolunteer Awards.
Applications for organisation will be shortlisted by a panel of experts and will be presented to the international jury.
The international jury will then select the winners for the Leader in Employee Volunteering category, whose names will be announced at the iVolunteer Awards ceremony.

Who can apply for Green Guardians?

This category recognises volunteers who are actively creating and implementing solutions that combine STEM, climate action, gender equality, and well-being.

Any Indian citizen within the age group of 29 who is actively creating and implementing solutions that blend STEM, climate action, gender equality, and well-being. The applicants applying for either two categories ‘Youth Champion’ or ‘Volunteer Hero’ can apply for this.

How to apply for Green Guardians?

If you fill out the form for Volunteer Hero or Youth Champion, you'll find an option at the end to apply for Green Guardians and make a lasting impact.

Visit the iVolunteer Website

Deepam Yogi is an adventurer at heart, socially conscious in her gut and professionally a strategic consultant. She is a marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in the field of marketing and specializes in Advertising, Media & Branding. She is a people person and a firm believer that everyone must work in a good work environment; and that companies owe this to their employees. This belief led her to transition to HR and she co-founded Yellow Spark Solutions. Deepam’s strength lies in bringing resources together (especially people) to provide unique, strategic and structured solutions to situations at hand. Her integrated marketing approach, ability to create inspiring content and passion for change is contagious.
She began her marketing & media career with Lintas Media Group where she worked closely with brands to develop strategic media solutions & innovations for her clients. After 5 years, Deepam moved on to lead the Marketing team of the only volunteer organisation in India - iVolunteer. After setting up the marketing team at iVolunteer, Deepam took over the operational responsibilities of setting up the Indian First Social Communication Agency - Social Access Communications in 2012. She continues to engage with cause-related communication campaigns and serves on the board of Social Access. In 2015, she co-founded a human resources consulting firm with a vision to support organisations to build workplaces that people love being a part of. In her capacity as a co-founder, Deepam concentrates on developing strategies for better people management and leads training on a variety of topics ranging from soft skills to business skills to management skills. In particular, the subject of preventing sexual harassment at workplaces (PoSH) is very close to her heart. Deepam is an external PoSH committee member in several other organisations as of the date and she believes that ‘sexual harassment’ is gender neutral and that creating awareness will empower individuals of all genders to prevent and support others experiencing sexual harassment at the workplace.
Committed to social change and an active volunteer herself, Deepam believes that each one of us can impact social change if we have the intent to start with ourselves. She is passionate about the environment and its conservation and runs a passion project ‘Wild Ventures’ where she leads treks, trails and wildlife safaris to bring people closer to nature so that they may feel inspired to protect it. If you don’t find her at her desk, she would probably be outdoors climbing a mountain, perhaps soaking in the forest or capturing the world around her through the tiny lens of her camera.

Let's celebrate, reward, and promote volunteering in India with the iVolunteer Awards 2024!

Why iVolunteer Awards

iVolunteer X YuWaah