Insights

Shrestha Ganguly

Student Welfare

Honoring a Legacy of Education and Empowerment

The URM Memorial Scholarship is a deeply special initiative established by Anil Kumar Siddu (Angel Investor, Real Estate & Entertainment Industry), Dr. Anita Siddu (Renowned Gynecologist), and their family to celebrate the enduring legacy of their beloved mother, Smt. Manikyamba.

Smt. Manikyamba’s journey in the early 1950s is a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of education. Coming from a remote hamlet, disconnected from the outside world, she courageously pursued higher education—a rarity for women at the time. At an era when even boys hesitated to step beyond their villages, she defied societal norms by traveling 20 miles to town to complete her B.A. and later her B.Ed. She chose the path of dedication, becoming a teacher and devoting her life to shaping young minds. Her unwavering spirit and commitment to education continue to inspire generations in her village.

To honor her remarkable legacy, the URM Memorial Scholarship aims to empower outstanding and deserving girl students pursuing B.Ed., ensuring they can achieve their dreams without financial barriers. This initiative fosters future educators and nation-builders, just like Smt. Manikyamba.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Anil Kumar Siddu and Dr. Anita Siddu for their generosity in creating this life-changing opportunity for young women.

Rasika Durge

Partnerships

In-Person Volunteering with Standard Chartered: A Heartwarming Experience!

For the first time, we brought Standard Chartered volunteers in Bangalore together for an immersive in-person volunteering experience with Impactis!

We kicked off with a lively Baal Geet session—bringing back childhood memories and setting the tone for an engaging day. Volunteers then got a hands-on demo on evaluating scholarship applications, followed by an incredible effort where they collectively reviewed applications to support bright, underprivileged students.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves:
43 Volunteers
839 Evaluations Completed
49 Volunteering Hours
Impacting students’ futures through education

A huge thank you to Haresh Agrawal for making this possible and to Puja Kedia and Vaibhav Kabdwal for managing the event seamlessly!

Standard Chartered, you’ve set the bar high for meaningful volunteering!

Exciting News: We’re expanding this initiative! In April, we’ll be bringing our in-person volunteering series to all Standard Chartered Bank offices in Bangalore—creating more opportunities for employees to engage and make a lasting impact.

Want to bring this initiative to your company? Let’s make a difference together!

Rasika Durge

Partnerships

The Future of Volunteering: Key Takeaways From VolCon 2025

I was honored to be invited as a speaker at VolCon 2025, India’s largest volunteering conference, to share Impactis’ case study on how structured volunteering can create a lasting support system for underprivileged students. Our volunteers—top professionals from global corporations—mentor, evaluate, and guide students, bridging the gap between talent and opportunity.

One of the highlights I shared was our collaboration with Salesforce, where employees united to fund scholarships for 20 students in just one month. This success demonstrated the transformative power of corporate volunteering—not just in fundraising but in providing mentorship, career guidance, and a network of support for students with immense potential.

Beyond speaking, VolCon 2025 provided a valuable platform to connect with partner organizations, engage with corporate leaders, and gain insights into evolving volunteering trends. Discussions reinforced that structured, long-term volunteering is key to maximizing impact, benefiting both employees and the communities they support.

Key Takeaways from VolCon 2025:

• Volunteering enriches employees by fostering leadership, empathy, and purpose.
• Corporate volunteering enhances retention by strengthening workplace culture and engagement.
• Impactful models require structure—volunteering must be continuous and deeply integrated into company initiatives.
• The future of volunteering will be skill-based and engaging—moving beyond one-time activities like beach cleaning to initiatives that make the best use of volunteers’ expertise and time.
• Technology will play a key role—volunteering will become more global, tech-driven, quick to do, and accessible for busy professionals.

VolCon 2025 reinforced that the future of volunteering lies in sustained, meaningful engagement. At Impactis, we are not just mobilizing volunteers—we are inspiring them to take action, create scholarships, and invest in the next generation. The journey ahead is promising, and together, we can redefine what volunteering can achieve.

Pankaj Asthaana

Founder & CEO – Impactis Global Inc.

As we continue our journey of onboarding new customers, one thing remains constant — the deep joy and inspiration we draw from the stories and journeys of the students and the scholarship-givers who support them. Every new connection reaffirms the team and my belief that education is not just a gift to the recipient, but a deeply rewarding experience for the giver as well.

One of the most delightful insights we’ve gained is how meaningful it can feel to give a scholarship — to connect meaningfully with your own family and friends over a shared purpose, to see a student’s life change, to hear their hopes, and to know that your contribution set something powerful in motion.