A Sneak Peek into Voice of SAP updates on impact in Jan and Feb 2022
Newsletter Highlights
- Goodera to leverage VOSAP digital tools for Corporate volunteering ‘Ek Nayi Soch, Ek Naya Nazariya’: A Short Film by VOSAP Volunteers
- 90 Para Atheletes joins VOSAP, took pledge for accessibility awareness.
- VOSAP founder, panelist at CII event, National Youth Volunteerism Summit.
- UNACCC Journal features VOSAP founder among SDG World Leaders.
- VOSAP Donates Wheelchairs on shared services basis, funds 500 eye surgeries.
- VOSAP Ignite: 26 high schoolers actively volunteeirng.
- VOSAP selected to deliver 3 minutes statement at UN – 66th conference on Status of Women.
- Inspiring Story: Sneha (SAP) learnt to earn from her graphic designing.
Dear friends,
Trust you are having a very good start of the year 2022. We are excited to share activities among youth volunteers, new partnerships, ongoing impact of changing lives of hundreds of SAP in last 2 months.
With great success of launching virtual exhibition of innovative Assistive Tech products in Dec 2021, we have now put in exclusive programs with several exhibitors to enable 5,000 Specially Abled People this year. We are also in the process of selecting partner NGOs to reach the large number of beneficiaries, get their applications to VOSAP portal for further processing.
1. Call for Accessible India in 75th year of India’s Independence: VOSAP Founder, Pranav Desai was invited as panelist for National Youth Volunteerism Summit – 18 Jan 2022 (Virtual): on Collaborative & Participative Volunteerism by India@75, a CII (Confederation of Indian Industries) Initiative
Focusing on Need of wheelchair Accessibility and Importance of Accessible India Campaign, launched by Honorable PM of India, Mr.Desai explained how VOSAP Mobile App can help India become more accessible. “In the 75th year of Independence, our youth in India can gift the country; crowdsourced information of public places for accessibility using the VOSAP app. This crowdsourced data helps people find accessible public places. There are more than 18,000 public places rated for accessibility in VOSAP mobile app and various volunteering activities.”
2. Goodera and VOSAP join hands to promote Corporate volunteering with VOSAP tools
VOSAP’s partnership with Goodera aims to promote Virtual Volunteering with VOSAP digital tools among employees of leading US and Indian companies. Goodera helps 200+ clients, companies execute impactful virtual and hybrid volunteering experiences for their employees and manage CSR, ESG goals.
VOSAP Digital Tools like VOSAP Art Platform, VOSAP Mobile App, VOSAP Assistive Technology Exhibition and VOSAP Essay Platform will be leveraged for this initiative. Goodera is connected with more than 200+ corporates and 5+ M Employee Volunteers in 100+ countries. Voice of SAP understands the value of E-Volunteering among corporate leaders and employees for inclusion of SAPs. VOSAP has a DII (Diversity Inclusion Index) framework to provide corporations of all sizes and industry segments a standardized and comprehensive benchmark to measure the efforts in disability inclusion.
3. ‘Ek Nayi Soch, Ek Naya Nazariya’: A Short Film by VOSAP Volunteers
VOSAP volunteers in Los Angeles, USA came up with the script, enacted and produced this very impactful short film that conveys several eye opening messages to get inspired to join the VOSAP mission.
Accessible Educational infrastructure in schools and colleges is a fundamental need for Inclusive Education.. No one should be denied the Right to Education. ‘Ek Nayi Soch, Ek Naya Nazariya’ shows the importance of changing the social perspective, the need and acceptance of SAPs in society for Inclusive education.
VOSAP volunteer Ms Rgini Goel, the writer, director and actor was joined by Raj Rana, Apoorva, Aneesha and Arya Joshipura and Khyati Desai. Sapan Doshi and young volunteers took care of videography, editing to produce the short film. Please share this You Tube link of the short film to spread the awareness of inclusive education far and wide. Check the full video here.
The Para Sports Association of Gujarat, under the Aegis of the Paralympic Committee of India, organized the 44th Gujarat State Para Athletics Meet 2021-22 on February 19,2022 in Nadiad. Voice of SAP joined the event as a Sponsor and more than 400 Para Athletes participated under different categories at the event. 90 Para Athletes joined VOSAP, took pledge to volunteer as accessibility champions using VOSAP app to crowdsource data and speak up for their rights.
VOSAP volunteers Ranjit Gohel, Kalpeshbhai and Nitinbhai Shah joined the event and inspired these Para Athletes to achieve their goals in sports as proud VOSAPians.
UNACCC is a leading Indian public policy , think tank and research Institute. A global, organization of over 200 professionals and partners working together to accelerate the transition of India to a sustainable world. This edition covered SDG leaders from India such as Mr Abhishek Bachchan, Ira Singhal, Pankaj Maru and others.
VOSAP Founder Pranv Desai shared his views on “Impact of Society on Self-Esteem of a Disabled Person” Check his views in the article here.
6. Enablement with Assistive Devices:
Taking the Enablement Initiatives of Voice of SAP to the next level, Shared Services model.
VOSAP Donated 10 Wheelchairs to APH, Belgavi to support the needs of their members on demand – shared service model for APH members. At APH, if a member wants to go for a tour, or to go out with family, they can take this as a rental for a week or month at no cost so that more people can use this service, and get around when they need to. New Program for 2022: VOSAP is partnering with 6 Exhibitors On our Virtual Exhibition platfrom – Torchit, Indent, Trestle Labs, Dextroware, Inali and Neomotion to enable 3,000 SAP with Innovative Devices such as Saarthi (Smartcane), mouseware (Wearable Head device), Ibex (100% India made Electric Wheelchair), Kibo (Accessibility App for visually impaired), Inali (Prosthetic Arm) and Neomotion (wheelchair cum scooter). Online applications have started coming to VOSAP from across India and multiple camps are lined up with partners in March and April. This novel program is targeted to facilitate empowerment and employment of many more beneficiaries with our Partner’s products. Enablement with Surgical Interventions: VOSAP has enabled 500 more people with visual impairment in rural India by funding a program with BPA for surgical interventions. 500 people received the gift of vision at no cost. Check the Pictures of the beneficiaries here
7. VOSAP Ignite: 9 months volunteering by High School students in the US
Here are a few interesting updates of the VOSAP Ignite: Volunteering Program for Highschool Students in the US.
- The First Ignite Newsletter was published by Highschool students with a team led by Jazmine Cabaluna to support the VOSAP Mission.
- 300+ places across United States were rated for Accessibility on VOSAP App by the students in the First Quarter and 100+ people were inspired to take a pledge to join VOSAP Mission
- 8,500$ raised by Ignite Volunteers to enable SAP with assistive devices
8. VOSAP to deliver statement at UN during 66th Conference on Status of Women
Once again, VOSAP thought leadership is recognized by United Nations by selecting our statement, content during 66th Conference on Status of Women – CSW66. VOSAP youth leader Manushri will deliver oral statement through video, addressing to global community of 180 leaders in NY during March 14 to 25, live on UN TV.
We are happy to share the inspiring life story of our Graphic Designer and Volunteer Sneha Khaitan who has Muscular Dystrophy. Her approach towards life and never give up attitude, focusing on the best motivates us to do the best we can.
“I don’t believe in wasting time. We must all focus on the solutions instead of the problems. In my own life, I often think that if I had focused on all my challenges, I would not be able to achieve the things I have today. If I had wasted time and not pushed myself to improve my situation, my life would have been very different.” shares Sneha. Read about her life Journey here.
