Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Celebrating Women at Microsoft India.

Youth of India Foundation was invited graciously by 微软 's Philanthropies Department to showcase our efforts in championing women's rights and causes at its Bengaluru and Hyderabad campuses.

Youth of India Foundation set up stalls featuring our eco-friendly, sustainable products crafted by marginalized and tribal women. Through our skilling workshops, these women have been empowered to create a livelihood for themselves, and their talent shines through in every meticulously crafted item, which includes everything from bamboo flasks to jute bags, and from diaries made of recycled paper to bamboo pen drives and SDG Lanyards! Our product range embodies quality and sustainability, reflecting our commitment to the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Our materials, including waste cardboard, husk, bamboo, and stainless steel, are sourced responsibly, ensuring a positive impact on both the environment and society, as is reflected in the attached brochure.

We believe in action more than talk. All sales proceeds from this event are going to support the livelihood of two families for six months, as on-ground change is a priority at the Foundation. Not only this, but at the heart of our mission is audience engagement, and we achieved this through the YoI Sustainability Challenge of "Never Have I Ever" questions with the employees focusing on daily sustainable habits. Encouraging participants to adopt eco-friendly practices, we rewarded them with plantable pencils—a small gesture with a big impact.

Our showcase also aligned with the United Nations ' 2030 Agenda and Microsoft's unwavering support for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We emphasized SDGs 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, and 17, showing how our initiatives contribute to global sustainability and social progress, specifically focusing on the entire spectrum between No Poverty and Partnerships for the Goals!

This outpouring of love and appreciation from Microsoft and our visitors reaffirms our commitment to realizing our dreams. As echoed by two gracious visitors who voiced the one feeling that keeps us pushing: “We’re here for work, you’re here for a better cause. This very well makes it clear what your passion is and what you’re actually working towards, which is something that we take away from here today. Youth of India Foundation’s story is very inspiring!

This perception was shared between both the cities, as is reflected in the words Miss Naomi: "I just bought a beautiful bamboo water bottle that has been made by tribal women of India that the Youth of India Foundation has skilled. Their philosophy is beautiful and the products are amazing. And I'm so proud of myself for being able to support this. This organization continues to inspire me."

That being said, even our team's- Sailesh S. , Preethi Munde , Sai Gokul N , and Drishti Kedia - hard work for days on stretch paid off, as is evident in the words of the man behind the camera, Sai Gokul: “Capturing these moments on film was both challenging and rewarding. As the event unfolded, I felt a sense of pride knowing that I was contributing to a cause greater than myself.” Adding on to this, Preethi Munde says: “The camaraderie within our team added to the enjoyment of the day, leaving me with a sense of fulfillment and a desire to continue our mission of promoting eco-friendly alternatives.”?

All of this culminates in the energy of our Founder Sailesh Singhal - “Here's to many more moments of inspiration and impact!”