We are called PGPB6 - The sixth batch in SDA Bocconi Asia Centre. For a century, Bocconi has played a leading role in Italy's social and economic modernisation. It has remained true to its founding values of being a major research university, with democratic values and open to the world, as well as financially and politically independent, This year, the Centers of Excellence at SDA Bocconi Asia introduced CSR internship where all the students had to intern for a period of 15 days with NGOs/ CSR Departments of companies/Social Enterprises.
The objective of CSR internship was simple - to understand the laws/rules governing CSR, objective/mandate of the organization culminated with field work which must comprise of 95% of the internship.
I chose Toybank, The Open tree Foundation as the NGO I would want to work with to understand the grassroots problems. Interning with Toybank were the most blissful 15 days of my life. It involved understanding the Toy warehouses, Toybank play session centers, understanding the workflow of toy donation drive etc. To understand Toybank’s working, it was imperative to visit a play session. I was privileged to go to Mankhurd center where I learned the nuances of play sessions. A typical play session involved a self-awareness activity followed by a game session where kids could choose the games/board games from the library set up by Toybank at those respective shelter homes. I worked on an explicit Toy Collection drive where the project involved advocating the right to play amongst the housing societies. I conducted a sensitization session in the building after taking the Chairman’s prior approval. It was a bliss to see children taking up initiatives right after the sensitization and helping me set up boxes and a Toy Donation camp in the lobby of both housing societies. My mother helped me spread the word by connecting me to the ladies of the household where I requested them to spread the word. Quite quickly, the noble word spread around and it was surprising to see that children took up the initiatives like setting up boxes, standees and putting up posters. It was even better when they started assisting when others came to donate. They had read the donation rules many times and understood to reject violence toys- guns and lifestyle depicting toys.
It was wonderful to intern in NGOs/social enterprises because that is what makes you a professional at the end of the day. It’s the culmination of logical thinking, structure and the problem-solving acumen that b-school students need to develop from the grassroots level.
Which ABG company do you want to work with and why?
I would like to start my career with Aditya Birla Fashion Retail Limited. I have a keen interest in retail and fashion particularly post Mallennial Challenge, organized by Unbox Retail. I have learned about the ABFRL culture and I believe it would be the perfect place to embark a career path. With an array of brands like Allen Solly, Peter England, Louis Phillipe which have formed the crux of our daily wear items. As a blogger, I always envisioned myself working in retail, observing the friskiness in stores and visualizing the atmosphere. With a flair for retail and being in the mecca of the retail word, ABFRL is the company I would like to work for.