– Priya Pharande
Program Manager, Youth (CYDA)
Volunteering has evolved from spontaneous acts of charity into a structured, impactful component of sustainable development. In today’s interconnected world, it is no longer just an act of goodwill—it is a powerful tool for community transformation, individual empowerment, and bridging social divides.
Historically informal and localized, volunteering is now institutionalized through civil society organizations, CSR initiatives, and youth-led movements. It cuts across age, geography, and sectors—ranging from education and gender equity to climate action and digital literacy. The rise of technology and global consciousness has also enabled virtual volunteering, allowing individuals to contribute their skills from anywhere in the world. Volunteers bring diverse professional expertise, industry knowledge, and fresh perspectives, enriching both the organizations they support and the communities they serve.
For over 26 years, CYDA has placed volunteering at the heart of its youth development strategy. It provides a platform for young people to grow as socially conscious and responsible citizens. Over the past year, CYDA has actively collaborated with both corporate and college volunteers to address pressing social issues.
A remarkable example of last year is Deloitte’s Impact Day, held in November 2024, where over 50 volunteers conducted sessions on digital literacy, financial education, artificial intelligence, and creative expression. More than 195 beneficiaries—youth, women, children, and LGBTQIA+ individuals—participated across four CYDA centers. The event showcased the deep impact that even one well-planned day of volunteering can create.
Equally inspiring was the International Women’s Day mentoring session hosted by AllianceBernstein (AB) in March 2025. Thirteen AB women volunteers mentored 52 women entrepreneurs from non-traditional livelihoods in CYDA. Beyond technical support in resume writing and interview skills, volunteers helped participants overcome digital barriers and build self-confidence. This event highlighted mentorship as a powerful enabler of empowerment and independence.
Volunteer engagement also has a direct link with youth development. Through programs like “Code Without Computers” and AI courses facilitated by volunteers from companies like Cognizant, young adolescents not only gain exposure to emerging technologies but also learnt problem-solving and teamwork. These interactions offer youth positive role models, expand their horizons, and instill a sense of purpose and belonging. Other than the mentioned companies, Emerson, Persistent, TATA, PwC, Coforge has taken their share in last year’s volunteer engagement of CYDA
Corporate volunteers also contribute to long-term programs. For instance, Sagar Urgunde from TCS, who joined CYDA via the Tata Pro Engage platform in 2022, returned in 2025 with his past good experience currently he is teaching English and digital literacy at CYDA’s youth resource centers in Satavwadi and Ramtekdi. His journey reflects how volunteer engagement not only benefits communities but also fulfills the volunteers’ personal mission to give back meaningfully.
Alongside corporate participation, college students from diverse disciplines—including social work, engineering, law, management, and media—engage in CYDA’s volunteering initiatives as part of their academic internships. These structured programs across urban and rural Maharashtra offer students a unique opportunity to step out of the classroom and engage with grassroots realities. Some outstanding examples include Law students from MMCOE’s Shankarao Chavan Law College conducting legal awareness sessions and supporting documentation and content creation. Symbiosis Institute of Technology students partcipating cholera awareness campaignsduring rainy season in PCMC area. Garware College of Mass Media students contributing to documentary filmmaking for youth stories in Yerwada.
Such collaborations highlight how students from premier institutions engage meaningfully, learning from community experiences while contributing their skills. However, volunteer engagement is not without its challenges. Some college students participate only to fulfill academic requirements and may not fully commit. Similarly, some corporate volunteers lack the sensitivity or training to interact effectively with marginalized groups. These insights underscore the need for comprehensive orientation, clear expectations, and ongoing support to ensure impactful engagement.
One of the most powerful aspects of volunteering is its reciprocal nature. Beneficiaries gain skills, confidence, and opportunities, while volunteers often describe their experience as eye-opening and transformative. Whether it’s a Deloitte employee discovering community connection or an AB volunteer inspired by the determination of women entrepreneurs, these exchanges foster empathy and human connection.
As society seeks to become more inclusive and resilient, structured volunteer engagement must be embraced as a key development strategy. It calls for investment in training, strong partnerships, and continuous monitoring to maximize its potential. CYDA stands out by integrating volunteerism into its core programming, leveraging networks of colleges, corporates, and communities to expand its reach and deepen its impact.
In a world marked by inequality and uncertainty, volunteers are quiet agents of change. Their time, compassion, and dedication fuel progress, promote equity, and help build a better, more inclusive world for all.
