About 5122 children across 88 orphanages will get their Christmas wishes fulfilled. Thanks to Chennai Infosys employees who have donned the role of Santa Claus this season.
A unique initiative by the run CSR wing of the IT firm, Sneham, enables its employees to play Santa to children in orphanages across Tamil Nadu by sending gifts of their choice and this is the fifth successful year of the programme.
“What started as helping out around 50 kids today fulfils the wishes of about 5000 kids in orphanages across states,” says Shankar Rajagopalan, co-ordinator of the programme. All they need are simple things like water bottles, cricket bats, carom boards, dresses etc., he adds. The programme aims at helping from infants up to 14-15 years olds.
About 100 employees who act as volunteers of Sneham begun their groundwork about two months in advance. They approach orphanages across the state and collect wish lists from children on what they would like for Christmas. Each wish is then put into a chit and is circulated amongst employees who can pick up any number of chits and fulfill the wishes of these children. “The chit box got emptied in just two days,” says Shankar.
Though most gifts are delivered through Sneham volunteers, some field trips for direct interaction with the children are also arranged. “This year, we invited about 20 children to our campus and let the employees gift them in person. It was such a wonderful feeling to see those happy faces,” says Shankar.