“International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).” Volunteering and the spirit behind Movate’s ‘SHINE’ framework was on display at the MEPZ office in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Movate’s leadership distributed smart vision glasses, motorized wheelchairs, and laptops and tablets with accessories to multiple beneficiaries. Photographs shown toward the end of this blog.
The United Nations General Assembly’s announcement of 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (#IVY2026) places global focus on one powerful thought—sustainable progress picks up pace when communities volunteer with purpose; across India, organizations are translating this vision into action, and Movate’s CSR initiative at its MEPZ office in Chennai is a heart-touching model of what local, people-centric volunteering can achieve.
Aligned with the fervor of IVY 2026, Movate organized a distribution event on the 5th February 2026 to equip differently-abled persons from economically weaker sections of the community in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Movate’s CEO, Sunil Mittal, inaugurated the event and flagged off the battery-operated wheelchairs toward the end of the event.
The event was graced by Movate’s CEO Sunil Mittal; Arvind J, EVP & Global CHRO; Arun Gopalakrishnan, EVP & CCO; and Director of ESG at Movate, Shelton Victor.
All project team members, project heads, and functional heads participated in the event. The initiative reflects how corporate volunteerism that stems from empathy for the community has an indelible impact on the lives of people.
SHINE A Spotlight: A Focussed Approach to Social Impact
At the heart of Movate’s CSR programs is the ‘SHINE’ theme or framework of initiatives. The abbreviation stands for Skill development, Health care, Diversity & Inclusivity, Neighborhood development and Environment. Rather than sporadic acts of charity, ‘SHINE’ theme focuses on scaling up the impact in a periodic and focused manner as it addresses real needs while preserving dignity and independence.
‘SHINE’ has shaped Movate’s CSR journey over the years, enabling consistent contributions across education, accessibility, environment, and community well-being.
From April 2024 to March 2025, Movators volunteered 2,203 hours, benefiting 10,407 individuals across 19 CSR initiatives—this is an example of focused volunteering delivering measurable results.
Chennai CSR Initiative at MEPZ: Technology That Empowers Livelihoods
The recent CSR initiative at Movate’s MEPZ campus in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, focused on assistive technology and digital access, which are two critical enablers of inclusion. Key contributions included:
- NeoMotion’s (NeoBolt) battery-operated wheelchairs, complete with helmets and accessories, for individuals with permanent mobility challenges;
- SHG Technologies’s smart vision glasses for the visually impaired, along with basic smartphones and neckbands to support daily navigation and communication; and,
- Laptops and tablets with accessories for school children, helping bridge the digital learning gap.
These devices and equipment were designed to restore mobility, confidence, improve access to employment, and help people have a strong sense of independence.
How it all works?
MEPZ Special Economic Zone authorities have partnered with the Government of Tamil Nadu’s “Namma School Namma Ooru Palli” (NSNOP) initiative to enhance the quality of education in government schools. MEPZ will be the interface between Movate and NSNOP. NSNOP will be the final touchpoint as they securely hand over the laptops, tablets and accessories to the students.
Impact Through Collaborations
Impactful initiatives hinge on the close collaboration with other implementation partners, device manufacturers, and NGOs for transparency in operations, and ensuring resources reach the intended communities.
Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME): chartered in 1985 and among the premier NGOs in Rotary District 3234, which served as a key implementation partner for assistive devices. Partnership with RCME, ensured that resources reached the right beneficiaries at the right time
#IVY2026: A Broader Commitment to Society
Movate’s CSR efforts extend beyond social inclusion. This balance of social and environmental responsibility mirrors the broader goals of IVY 2026, where volunteering supports holistic, sustainable growth.
This initiative to help the community shows how the true spirit behind corporate volunteering can move from intent to impact on the ground; by combining Movators’ participation, strong NGO collaborations, and a framework like SHINE, volunteering becomes a ‘rallying call’ for sustainable development that has local impact yet globally aligned.
References
Movate. (2025). ESG report 2025: Environmental, social and governance performance highlights. Movate. https://movate-website-data.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24113334/Report-ESG-2025_24072025_FINAL_UNGC.pdf
Movate. (n.d.). Environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives in India. https://www.movate.com/about-us/environmental-social-governance/
United Nations Volunteers (UNV). (n.d.). Recognition of volunteerism: International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026). United Nations. https://www.unv.org/recognition-volunteerism-ivy-2026