#ibmcsc ibmcsc india
Hi there!
Hi there!
This blog will be covering my corporate volunteering efforts; this summer I got notified that I was going to be a participant of IBM's Corporate Service Corps program:
The Corporate Service Corps was launched in 2008 to help provide IBMers with high quality leadership development while delivering high quality problem solving for communities and organizations in emerging markets. The program empowers IBM employees as global citizens by sending groups of 10 – 15 individuals from different countries with a range of skills to an emerging market for four week community-based assignments. During the assignment, participants perform community-driven economic development projects working at the intersection of business, technology, and society.
This program increases IBM’s understanding and appreciation of growth markets while creating global leaders who are culturally aware and possess advanced teaching skills . The Corporate Service Corps offers a triple benefit: leadership development for the IBMers, leadership training and development for the communities, and greater knowledge and enhanced reputation in the growth markets for IBM.
I am very grateful and pleased to be granted this opportunity. Thank you, IBM!
We are a diversified group of ten IBMers that constitutes the 12th team going to India:
- Alex [Brazil]
- Amanda [Argentina]
- Benjamin [United States]
- Cordula [Germany]
- Gaston [Argentina]
- Lisa [Netherlands]
- Mercedes [Spain]
- Saken [United States]
- Sverre [Norway]
- Vasek [Czech Republic]
The INDIA 12 team will be deployed in the southern region of India, in the city of Coimbatore. The population is about one million and it represents a major commercial centre in the state Tamil Nadu. It is situated about 400 meters above sealevel with the following climate statistics:
Compared to the climate in Norway I'm afraid it could take me a long time to acclimatize. The good news, however, is that there is a swimming pool available where we will be staying!
I am, along with Mercedes and Alex, going to work on an assignment for the non-profit organization Sankara Eye Care Institutions India. Their mission is to work toward the eradiction of preventable and curable blindness. Currently, they have eight institutions located across India. They provide comprehensive free eye care to the rural poor throughout India.
On the weekends, groups of doctors and medical staff travel to rural areas to identify people in need of eye treatment. Those identified will be given the accomodation, food, medicines, surgery, and treatment they would need.
The organization is growing rapidly, with several new institutions to be established. It is important to ensure consistency and quality in the processes and procedures throughout the institutions. There is a need for a knowledge management system. We will make our best effort to analyze their needs and design a system that could help increase their level of efficiency. Ultimately, our efforts of optimizing their knowledge management could make them capable of treating more patients.
I'd better start packing now(!) - my flight will depart on Friday September 23rd. I will do my best to provide you with updates every now and then. Stay tuned!
Sverre
#ibmcsc ibmcsc india
#ibmcsc ibmcsc india
