Dell launches community programmes

BANGALORE: Around 1,000 employees at Bangalore''s Dell International Services India kicked off their volunteer programmes with the Dell Global Community Involvement Week from September 9 to 18.
It''s a company where they don''t have to push employees into volunteering for community work, if you ask Harjit Kaur, Director of Corporate Communications. The young and happening crowd that deals with clients from Europe, US and the Asia Pacific region was already working with CRY.
The activities in Bangalore will be a launchpad for Dell''s activities throughout the country.An NGO, Charities Aid Foundation, interacted with employees and talked about what goes into volunteering for a cause. CAF also helped cull around 120 volunteers from among employees to work with NGOs for children, women, mentally and physically challenged persons and the aged.
``In India, our staff is aged 24 or 25 years. Our `winning culture'' is not all about making money. Our efforts are to give back to the community. We want to share with the community. We are not writing a cheque every year to charity,'''' says Kaur. And so, there is no fixed amount Dell is talking about either for their community activities. The Dell Foundation, the company''s trust, is also a source for such programmes.
Last week, the Development of Weavers and Rural Artisans in Kalamkari Art sold their handicraft to employees of Dell. Employees shared lunch with underprivileged children from Ashraya and AVAS at their office cafeteria and took them on a trip to the planetarium.
Dell has also identified a school in Bangalore for a pilot project, where they will set up a computer lab, train teachers, provide educational software and non-school curriculum, and which employees will also visit thrice a month to teach the children.
``Dell wants to reach out to children through technology, specially to those who do not have these facilities.'''' Another project is under way to provide special equipment with computers for challenged children in India. Computers in the company that need upgradation are refurbished and used for these projects. ``We were able to mobilise 50 computers over four months from our Asia-Pacific region offices for kids in Indonesia,'''' says Kaur.
But work has not been easy. There''s 40 per cent tax on bringing computers to India, and road permits to be obtained for them. ``It''s a challenge,'''' says Kaur. Dell in Bangalore is also considering a monthly fund-raising event where staff use their skills.