vivo India Wins ‘Best CSR Project of the Year’ Award for ‘vivo Ignite Initiative’ at CSR Summit and Awards 2024
In a recent feat, vivo India won ‘Best CSR Project of the Year’ award for its ‘vivo Ignite: Technology & Innovation Initiative’ at the 11th Edition of the CSR Summit & Awards 2024. The event, organized by UBS Forums Pvt. Ltd. in New Delhi, spotlighted vivo’s efforts to transform the way young minds across India approach science, technology, and innovation.
Incepted in 2022, the vivo Ignite initiative has made significant headway with a vision that was simple yet profound – to ‘ignite’ curiosity and creativity into the minds of school students across India from classes 8 to 12. This initiative has provided an open platform where students are encouraged to dream big, conceive ideas, and build prototypes that could address the country’s most pressing social issues integrating technology and innovation.
Expressing delight on receiving the award, Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy at vivo India said “Two years ago, we launched vivo Ignite: Technology & Innovation Initiative with the goal of inspiring students to think beyond traditional classrooms and curriculums. Since then, we’ve engaged over 22,000 students from grades 8 to 12 across India, driving innovative solutions for the country’s development. As we continue to grow, vivo remains dedicated to weaving technological innovation into the very fabric of young Indian minds. We’re honored to receive this award and excited to elevate the program to new heights”.
The vivo Technology & Innovation Initiative is a year-long engagement with students that guides them from the conceptualization of an idea to the creation of a prototype. In this journey of transformation, the program offers students the opportunity to refine their ideas through regular mentoring sessions, focusing on critical aspects like scalability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Participants are guided on how to think beyond the obvious, to push the boundaries of what is possible and achievable. The program serves as a medium through which students can nurture ideas with care, and as a result, every prototype built is a testament to the potential of young Indian minds.
In its first year, the program witnessed over 3,000 registrations, growing to 19,000 participants by 2023. It emphasizes sustainability, having planted over 200 trees to offset its carbon footprint, with each tree representing a top idea. Partnering with institutions like Hindustan Times, CIET-NCERT, and iHub DivyaSampark IIT Roorkee as Knowledge Partners in 2023, the program brought in a wealth of expertise to further elevate the students’ experience. These partnerships became more than just alliances as they were bridges that connected dreams to reality, providing students with access to resources and insights that sharpened their innovative abilities.