Participation of Youth in CSR projects – NSN Connect 2022 Ep-6

In the second series of NSN Connect 2022, we focused on “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India: The Big Picture.” Ms. Meena Ragunathan, a CSR Specialist, is the eminent guest of the six-episode series. She is an expert in the development sector and has decades of experience setting up and leading Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments for big organizations.

The sixth and final episode in the series is on “Participation of Youth in CSR projects”.

Ms. Meena Ragunathan talks about navigating the changes and foreseeing CSR in the coming years, youth volunteering as a first step towards appreciating CSR and the required skills and knowledge for youth to participate in CSR activities. 

Here are some of the highlights from the episode. To watch the full episode, please visit our YouTube channel.

Participation of Youth in CSR projects

In this episode, while talking about navigating the changes and foreseeing CSR in the coming years, Ms. Meena Raghunathan says, “Understanding the mindsets of youth is an important component of successful education and skilling.” Technology has been a game changer in recent years and; has shown that continuous learning is possible for youth through skill development with the use of new technology. It is critical to comprehend the youth’s aspirations and desires, as well as how we can bring reality closer to those.

Years of experience in NGOs have resulted in a completely different mindset and ideology. Later, when the transitions happen, there is a need to balance business requirements with societal requirements. The context changed in business, and negotiating and understanding that context became necessary. Today, not many prefer jobs in NGOs and want to enter CSR directly which leaves a gap. It is recommended to work at an NGO for at least two to three years before making the transition and entering CSR directly.

Also read: Beyond Funding: CSR in Skill Development and Vocational Education – Episode 3 – https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/beyond-funding-csr-in-skill-development-and-vocational-education-episode-3/

Skills required for youth to participate in CSR activities

• Negotiation
• Conflict resolution
• Patience

Volunteering is suitable for anyone who wants to get involved in CSR. Even businesses that want to start CSR can engage their families and employees and create a platform where they can participate in volunteering. It is an appropriate opportunity if companies can foster more volunteerism based on skills.

There are different kinds of volunteering in CSR

• Going out to an orphanage and spending time
• Doing group activities and raising money
• Getting employees to contribute their core skills

Many companies have a written volunteer policy. The top management would handle the volunteering policy and be in charge of organising it. Some organisations incorporate it into performance reviews, add volunteer work, and make it a requirement for moving from mid-level management to senior management. Therefore, more attention is given to it, but more structuring and change in the system would be beneficial.