Nominations open for iVolunteer Awards in India

Volunteers are constantly contributing to India’s social development. While volunteering continues in the background, it is somehow absent from the mainstream national psyche. Celebrated annually, the iVolunteer Awards aim to change this by celebrating, rewarding, and promoting volunteering as well as volunteers in India. The Awards recognise the contribution of volunteers and organisations who engage them creating an environment that encourages more people to volunteer.

Objectives

• The iVolunteer Awards endeavour to:
  • Inspire by example: Through stories of common people with inspiring stories of nation-building
  • Identify path-breaking benchmarks of volunteering practices & models across India
  • Urge Indians to volunteer

Categories

• Volunteer Hero
  • iVolunteer Awards’s flagship category, awarded to individuals whose exemplary contribution of time and skills for community development inspires others to volunteer.
  • The applicants will be assessed on the basis of:
    • Demonstrated benefit to the community/organisation
    • Evidence of initiative and innovation
    • Commitment of the volunteer
    • Sustainability of the project after the volunteer has left
    • Length of service and number of hours spent volunteering
• Youth Champion
  • A special category awarded to young individuals under age 23 for their passion and commitment to volunteering.
  • The applicants will be assessed on the basis of:
    • Demonstrated benefit to the community/organisation
    • Evidence of initiative and innovation
    • Commitment of the volunteer
    • Sustainability of the project after the volunteer has left
    • Length of service and number of hours spent volunteering
• Leader in Volunteer Engagement
  • Awarded to NGOs that harness the vast potential of volunteers to achieve their mission.
  • The applicants will be assessed on the basis of:
    • Their volunteering policy, volunteer engagement and training processes
    • The efficacy and success of their volunteer management practices
    • The initiatives that ensure positive volunteer experiences
    • The impact of volunteer work on the Organisation’s mission left
• Leader in Employee Volunteering
  • Awarded to companies that with the finest practices that encourage and enable employee volunteering.
  • The applicants will be assessed on the basis of:
    • Extent of employee engagement
    • Support by the Company towards volunteering
    • Program design and impact
    • Initiative and innovation undertaken or success of initiative and innovation

What will the iVolunteer awards winners receive?

• Volunteer Hero: In recognition of his/her contribution to community development, the Volunteer Hero will receive a certificate and a trophy. The Volunteer Hero will also be mentioned on press releases, awards website and other media and related forums.
• Youth Champion: In recognition of his/her contribution to community development and inspiring others through their passion and commitment, the Youth Champion will receive a trophy and a certificate. The Youth Champion will also be mentioned on press releases, awards website and other media and related forums.
• Leader in Volunteer Engagement: In recognition of their efforts to strategically involve volunteers in community development, the Leader in Volunteer Engagement will receive a trophy, a certificate. The Leader in Volunteer Engagement will also be mentioned on press releases, awards website and other media and related forums.
• Leader in Employee Volunteering: In recognition of their contribution in setting high standards for promoting employee volunteering the Leader in Employee Volunteering will receive a trophy and a certificate. The Leader in Employee Volunteering will also be mentioned on press releases, awards website and other media and related forums.

How will the winner be chosen?

• For the Youth Champion category, Volunteer Hero category and the Leader in Volunteer Engagement category:
  • The Awards team will conduct an initial screening of all entries submitted to the iVolunteer Awards. If your entry is selected, then your volunteering experience as an individual or volunteer engagement experience as an organisation will be updated on the iVolunteer Awards website. The applicant profiles that receive the highest number of votes as well as profiles shortlisted by a Panel of Experts will qualify as finalists and be presented to a national jury. The National Jury will then select the Volunteer Hero, Youth Champion, and the Leader in Volunteer Engagement, whose names will be announced at the iVolunteer Awards ceremony.
• For the Leader in Employee Volunteering category:
  • The Awards Team will conduct an initial screening of all entries submitted to the iVolunteer Awards. Company applications shortlisted by a Panel of Experts will be presented to the national jury. The National Jury will then select the winner in the Leader in Employee Volunteering category whose name will be announced at the iVolunteer Awards ceremony.

Eligibility Criteria

• The awards are open to Indian residents from anywhere in India.

For more information, visit iVolunteer.