February is a month with a lot of changes…the cold gives in to mild spring. There is more sunshine, pleasant breeze, flowers all over and one thing that comes with all of this is – hope.
We at iEnergizer have always valued life and strongly believe in a better tomorrow. This February, iE took a huge step forward by joining hands with GBC in the global war to fight against AIDS. Even we had not expected such a pleasant challenge coming our way this spring.
- This pact started off a lot of study at our end and we realized a few important facts about HIV / AIDS -
The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that there are now over 40 million people living with HIV or AIDS worldwide.
- Most of them do not know they carry HIV and may be spreading the virus to others.
In India, nearly 500,000 people have HIV infection or AIDS.
- At least 20,000 Indians become newly infected with HIV each year, and it is estimated that more than half of all people with HIV in the India have not been tested and do not know they are carrying the virus.
- Since the beginning of the epidemic, AIDS has killed more than 30 million people worldwide.
- AIDS has replaced malaria and tuberculosis as the world's deadliest infectious disease among adults and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
- Over 13 million children have been orphaned by the epidemic. Close to 25 years after the first cases of AIDS were reported, millions of people continue to become infected with HIV every year. Today, 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS around the world and women and young people are increasingly at risk for HIV infection.
- While scientific advances have allowed HIV-positive individuals to live longer and healthier, the best defense against HIV is still prevention.
- For this reason, it is important for everyone to stay informed and understand how HIV can and cannot be spread. How much do we actually know about HIV/AIDS?
We decided that we wanted to make our contribution in any we could to make our world a better place to live in. We decided to “Donate Now”.
“Donate Now” means donate your time and energy to help enlighten the world around us and extending our support to GBC, since they have such a huge challenge ahead of them.
The genesis of the first project through S.A.V.E.R.A. was with an ambitious task of gaining personal and difficult to access information about the Sexual Behavior pattern and knowledge of the employees. A questionnaire with about 18 questions was framed and so began the Sexual Behavior and Health Awareness Survey.
With this started the tough task, with very tight timelines, with the IT team worked extremely hard to make a simple and easy to use questionnaire and make to available to all employees on the intranet. The more difficult part of planning and collating the data received was also something that was very meticulously planned and executed by them.
An important challenge faced by all was to generate curiosity and interest among the employees. A lot of interesting posters and slides were created and came up on all the floors in less than 24 hours. About 30 volunteers came together to discuss how they would ensure that the Survey is executed by the organization.
Of course there was a lot of skepticism and doubts on every face. All of us had questions, but did not know where to begin. So we started the session with a detailed background of GBC, their 3 tiered plan and what role each iEnite was to play in achieving the same. Then we went through the questionnaire, each single question one at a time right through till the end. By this time the ice had broken and the questions and suggestions came fast and plenty. We decided that we wanted to wear the red ribbons to show our awareness. There was a contest rolled out for the Best Decorated Floor. And of course a small lucky dip contest as well for all those who wanted to fill in the questionnaire along with their personal details.
We also decided to do Town hall sessions with all processes, which was to begin at 7 PM Wednesday 1st March 2006. The Survey was rolled out for the entire organization at the same time.
That left us with just about 23 hours to organize 1200 red ribbons and most of the markets closed! Not ones to give up; volunteers of S.A.V.E.R.A. ran around and found 100 meters of red ribbon and sat through the night making the Universal Symbol of HIV / AIDS awareness. New wallpaper was designed to be placed on all desktops in the organization to continue the same mood.
The next day, was very important for all of us! We had volunteers from all processes flowing into the HR area throughout the day to help complete various tasks. The solidarity and camaraderie that one feels at a time like this is something that is really special.
By Six o’clock we were all set with the ribbons sealed in envelopes for each process and volunteers eagerly awaiting them. All process owners started off with the Townhall sessions for their respective processes. They had already designated separate areas and systems where the people could fill in survey in complete privacy.
There were a lot of questions from all the floors, which was a good sign – for that showed that there was a concern among all and a certain amount of comfort level was beginning to develop.
Team by team across all floors, people were taken through the entire survey, answering questions all through the night.
The first day itself we had an awesome score of 640 surveys, with almost 75 percent of the surveys giving the optional personal information as well – something that all of us had not expected.
All through the day, the camera team went around capturing thoughts and feedback across all floors. The evening saw the creative aspect of all the teams, with most of them completing their floor decorations in the last two hours of the time given to them.
One of the processes planned a very fun filled concept, giving a lot of thought to the detailing and the total finished product belied the fact that it was completed by the team after their grueling shift. A lot of statistics balanced out the some funny and some very cheeky quotes.
On the other hand there were others who had a much more serious take on the whole concept. Their collages and posters were very well researched and through these they were able to touch the hearts of all, bringing out not only the fatality of those affected, but abject humiliation and pain that the affected go through every day of their lives.
The Support Teams of course could not be left behind – the team while running around arranging all the goodies for later, managing their daily schedules, worked hard to make their share of posters with quotes.
The Management team went around all the floors after 8 PM and decided on who the winners should be for this contest. And well, even though for us all iEnites are – for they have shown solidarity, a lot of commitment and of course determination to make sure that even if they have not been able to decorate their floor completely, they made an attempt to do so with a lot of creative variation of the red ribbon. That in itself was commendable.
Monday was the day when the results were declared! Through the very hectic schedule we all were happy that the first part was successfully completed. However, this was just the beginning….all of us already started to gear up for the next part! One very interesting aspect of the whole process is that it has sparked off a very healthy discussion all over, with people writing in and voicing their thoughts, and most importantly – asking questions. And we all may not have the answers, but we are definitely on the path to seeking them.
The Survey closed on a total of 1100 responses with almost 75 per cent volunteering their personal information. The numbers are important, but there is something that is even more important – the beginning of the journey seeking knowledge.
That is the first step and given the spirit of iE and the ‘The Fire to Excel’ we all believe that it would not be something difficult to achieve!!
