Amway social responsibility

One by One Campaign for Children One By One is Amways Global Campaign for Children. In each of the 80 countries and territories that Amway is present it takes up and supports these Children of Hope. In India, this work is carried out under the banner of Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) a registered non profit organization. All Amway employees and distributors are volunteers of AOF. Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) ( mehrin you write this article as introduction) Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) a registered non-profit organisation which looks after Amway Indias Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Amway distributors are also volunteers of AOF and they participate in AOF activities. AOF currently has two projects under its ambit: National Project for the Blind and National Project for Children (Project Sunrise). Globally, Amways CSR campaign is known as the One By One Campaign for Children. Vision: Enable the less privileged child to lead a better life Mission: To be the front-runner in providing opportunities for child education and health to attain economic independence, with special focus on the blind child A Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of Indias Leading Direct Selling FMCG Company Former President, Dr Abdul Kalam, has recently been quoted saying that instead of addressing (them as) street children, it would be better to refer to them as children of hope. If we stretch this definition a bit, that is what we are all about reaching out to all Children of Hope in the best manner at our disposal: One By One is Amways Global Campaign for Children. In each of the 80 countries and territories that Amway is present it takes up and supports these Children of Hope. In India, this work is carried out under the banner of Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) a registered non profit organization. All Amway employees and distributors are volunteers of AOF. And why work for children? Half of the worlds poor are children.

Every year, 10 million children do not live to see their fifth birthday. More than 115 million children dont have access to the most basic education. With presence in most of the countries across the globe, Amway finds itself in a position to focuses its philanthropic efforts so as to maximize a positive and sustainable impact on society. In short, the One by One Campaign for Children is designed to assist maximum numbers of children of hope attain their full potential. The program pulls together all of our resources Business Owners, employees, affiliates and customers to make this happen. Each of Amways markets is free to decide in which sphere it would like to concentrate its resources. But in essence, One by One program is designed to build local partnerships, addressing issues specific to children in their community Live, Achieve, Learn, and Play. Through the One by One Campaign for Children, we are making a difference for children around the world. As of December 31, 2006. We have Provided hope and opportunity to 5 million children. Donated more than 600,000 volunteer hours to childrens programs. Contributed more than $39 million to childrens causes. In each country, success is measured by impact whether it is the 250,000 children in West Michigan whose lives have been changed through the campaign, the 85,000 blind children who received Braille textbooks in India, the 1,135 children who received cleft palate surgery in Thailand, the 170,000 children in China who were given the opportunity to attend school, or the 90,000 boys and girls in developing countries who received vaccines that are giving them a fighting chance.

National project for visually challenged people : Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) is a registered non-profit organization that looks after Amway Indias Corporate Social Responsibility. Amway staff and distributors are volunteers and participate in AOF activities. Under the National Project for the Visually Challenged, AOF has:

Ensured that around 85,000 visually challenged school-going children have had access to Braille textbooks. Between 1999-2005 this project has covered Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. This work - done twice each three states was carried out in partnership with the All India Confederation of the

Blind (AICB) and the National Association for the Blind (India) NAB Celebrated the International White Cane Day for nine years running, wit our NGO partners, at over 35 locations across the country each year Celebrated Louis Braille Day for five years again with our NGO partners Donated audio-textbooks for Bangalore University and extended support to theKarnataka Welfare Association for the Blind (KWAB) in conducting a cultural event in Bangalore. Presented a 0-volume Websters Dictionary in Braille to the Delhi Blind School and Braillon machine to the Indian Blind School at Madurai Supported Dr Shroffs Charity Eye Hospital (Delhi) in onducting communications workshops, as well as a car rally at Surat for the visally challenged. Distributed 1000 Braille kits in Kerala and enabled state-level chess tournament for the for the visually challenged in Tamil Nadu. Organized eye camps at Surat, Erode, Balasore, Delhi and Siliguri over 5000 persons from economically challenged sections of society have taken part in these camps. At Delhi, these camps have been held for three years running, along with Mahavir International, an NGO that runs a hospital for the visually challenged.

All this work has been carried out by the active partnership with the 550,000 Amway distributors in India, who have helped raise a significant part of the funds for this work. While Amway has received a citation from the World Blind Union in Dec 03, Amway does not accept any awards for the work we do.

Computer Centres and Vocational Training for the visually challenged. Having created a vast body of work for visually challenged children, Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) has now taken this effort to a newer level by helping set up fully functional computer centres at schools for the visually challenged. This includes complete hardware and software (Jaws), internet, UPS, electrical wiring and air-conditioning of the room, as well as recurring costs such as computer instructor, electricity etc.

Poona School and Home for Blind Trust, Pune 200 students here can potentially learn IT skills at the AOF-PSHBT Centre for Excellence at Koregaon, which has 10 computers, open book, screen magnifier, scanners etc.

Rama Krishna Mission Blind Boys Academy, Narendrapur, West Bengal - Eastern Indias first cyber caf for the visually challenged - The RKMBBA-AOF Computer Training Centre was set up at RKMBBA. Besides the 300-plus students from

Narendrapur, those from Jadavpur University, Kolkata University have trained at this Centre. This centre has ten Computers. Rajasthan Netraheen Kalyan Sangh, Jaipur around 100 students use the eight computers the AOF-RNKS Computer Centre at Gangori Bazaar. National Association for the Blind, Thiruvananthapuram around 150 students have access to six computers at the AOF-NAB Computer Centre at Plamood, which includes special features such as Spellwell, Magic Magnification, Open book, talkingtyping teacher pro, quality quiz pro etc. National Association for the Blind, Kolkata around 180 students have access to the AOF-NAB Centre for Excellence at Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, which has ten computers, safa software, Braille book converter, scanners, printer etc. Devnaar Foundation for the Blind, Hyderbad the 700 students of Devnaar Foundation school potentially can make use of the AOF-DFFB Centre for Excellence at Begumpet, which has 10 computers, magic pro, Open book, scanners etc. Andh Kanya Prakash Gruha, Ahmedabad the 450 students of this school can potentially learn IT skills at the AOF-AKPG Centre for Excellence at Memnagar, which has 10 computers, open book, screen magnifier, scanners etc.

National Association for the Blind, Chandigarh 120 students of this institution can use the six computers at the AOF-NAB Centre for Excellence at Asha Kiran, Sec 46 D.

AOF has also helped AICB (Delhi) set up a vocational training centre at Rohini, where intensive training is imparted to post-graduate students over a 12-month period. Here, students train on computer and internet usage, English language & Personality Development, Technical writing, as well as the skill of operating a computer system while on the phone with customers.

Project sunrise by amway 2009 was a significant year in the Amway family when Amway Corporation celebrated its 50th anniversary. To commemorate this occasion, Amway Corporation had taken a decision to disburse grants under the One By One campaign for children, worldwide. AOF received a three-year grant, with which it has launched Project Sunrise in 56 locations across the country. At each location, an orphanage or institution for children had been identified, and then support extended to them, with clean drinking water as a focal point with education and nutrition elements added to make an effective partnership. This work has been carried out at all corners of the country from Port Blair, to Kohima, to Shimla, to Rajkot, to Hubli. This is a truly pan-India effort where Amway staff and distributors have helped in identifying partner NGOs, based on the work they do and local reputation they enjoy. Besides the direct intervention spelt out above, AOF makes it a point to engage our partner institutions at least thrice a year for a painting contest where children of Amway staffers and distributors, join the children of our partner institution for a painting competition. May 5th is designated AOF day and on Childrens Day on November 14th each year, team AOF, along with Amway distributors of that particular town, do all they can to make it a special day for the children at our partner organization. Our aim will be to ensure that we carry on these partnerships, beyond the grant period.

Promoting volunteerism At AOF, we believe that quality improvement happens when people come together. This core belief is what all AOF initiatives are based upon and it holds true time and again. With a passionate and vigorous workforce ready to contribute their bit to the well-being of society, volunteering becomes a way of life in Amway. The 550,000 Amway distributors and 450 full-time employees are all considered AOF volunteers. At 56 Amway offices across India, AOF has formed a team of 6 or more distributors and employees to form a Local Implementation Committee (LIC). LIC takes ownership of being the face of Amways CSR at the location. They identify potential partners, form a project, and implement this with other volunteers. The LIC also plays a lead role in raising funds they wish to utilize. The beauty of this system is that the LIC raises the funds, and then decides how best to utilize this in their town or city. After all, they know their city the best. To engage larger numbers of distributors, LICS have held movie shows, outings at amusement parks, held music concerts and rock shows. Musical nights have been held on a regular basis, involving a group of blind musicians. At a cultural show, distributors and their children put up skits, sing songs etc. Amway employees too, have been given full rein in giving back to society and it is often amazing to witness the passion with which they take up this work. They are more than willing to spend that precious week-end with a partner NGO, evolve a special plan for the children and be there from start to finish. AOF volunteers record an average of 22,000 volunteer hours annually.

DONATIONS MADE BY AOF In 1996 (two years prior to the start of commercial operations) Amway donated a fully-equipped mobile dental van to Rotary Club of Delhi mid-town. In 1997, it donated a set of Websters Dictionary in Braille to the school run by the Blind Relief Association. AOF volunteers donated sports equipment to the MGD School for the Deaf and Blind at Bhatinda. AOF volunteers at Guwahati comprising the local Amway distributors collected and donated Rs 30,000 to the district administration to help combat the flood crisis in the north eastern state. AOF volunteers and Amway distributors donated necessary furniture and clothing to St Micheal Blind School Ranchi. These funds were raised at a special film-screening in Ranchi which was supported by Amway distributors of Ranchi.

AOF donated study material and sports equipment to the NAB hostel for blind boys at Bhopal. AOF donated a group hearing system to the Red Cross Koshish School for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. Using an amplifier, this equipment enables 12 deaf persons/children to hear lessons being imparted by teachers. These funds too, were raised locally by the AOF volunteers Amway distributors. Amway volunteers donated musical instruments and toys to the Anubhab school for mentally challenged children, Siliguri. At Bhubaneshwar AOF donated Braille textbooks and other study material to the Bhima Bhoi Blind School, Bhubaneshwar, from funds raised by AOF volunteers of that city. The January 26th killer-quake that rocked Gujarat in 2001 devastated almost the entire state. Tens of thousand lost their lives, uncounted others lost their homes. A whole slew of aid-agencies rushed into the beleaguered state, offering first aid, medicine, food, blankets etc. After sifting through a host of possible partners through whom Amway could channelise its relief money, AOF proposed that CRY would seem a preferred partner. AOF took a conscious decision to channelise Rs. 35 lacs that Amway distributors, employees and Awmay as a company, had collected. CRY utilized the Amway funds in the following villages of Anjar (Bhuj) and Dhrol (Jamnagar). Rambav Rapar Kuda Jampar Rapar Kakavav Bhachau Nilper Bhachau Meghpar Bhachau Saran Vandh Rapar Trambau Rapar Vanoi Rapar Suvai Rapar Gauripar Rapar Naranpar Rapar Amway raised close to Rs 50 lacs, post the Dec 2004 Tsunami that wrecked havoc on Indias eastern coast. Currently, it is jointly building a school-cum-orphanagecum-old-age-home at Nagapattinam.

Adopt a Child - Project Muskaan Objective: To expend support financial or material to select orphanages/homes, under the umbrella of One-By-One - Amways social project that is at work in 88 countries and territories worldwide, with children as its focal area of work. Our commitment to each orphanage is in multiples of 12-month blocks. A definite criteria for the selection of the orphanages was established even before the identification process started. The orphanage would need to be small, with 30-40 children being an ideal number, though we could raise the ceiling in exceptional cases. With little or no institutional support at the moment. It would need to be well respected in the local community with an impeccable functioning record. It would need to be an institution sans local political or religious patronage or overtones. No infamous personality on its board. It would be preferable that the orphanage be based at a permanent premises. Project This project is carried out in partnership with Amway Business Owners (ABOs) who contribute to help meet expenses of the children in these orphanages. Amway matches the donations made by ABOs. Needs (of children) identified (i) Education - 25% (ii) Food and nutrition 50% (iii) Healthcare 10% (iv) Clothing, bedding & toiletry needs 15% How monies are collected Donations can be made via cheque in the name of AOF Orphanage Fund, and handed over at the various Amway offices. In addition ABO's can authorize deduction from their AR account while Amway employees can authorize deduction from their salaries. NANHE CHITRAKAAR AOF has, in the past three years, held two painting contests for children of the Amway family. These contests take place in some 20 cities, where children of distributors, employees and other service partners participate. With the venue and all other infrastructure taken care of, the children have a field day giving wing to their imagination. All entries (four thousand plus) are sent to Delhi, where a rigorous selection system involving well-known painters and others, is followed. The first ten paintings then serve as impressions for Seasons Greetings, Congratulations and Thank You cards, which are then sold by Amway distributors. The proceeds of these cards form the bulk of AOFs annual budget. Thus, the Amway

distributor is intricately linked to AOFs work, and hence has a significant share in Amway's social responsibility.