The HCl Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of HCl Technologies, recently organised first national sports meet – ‘Sports for Change’ held in Noida to support and encourage sports skills and nurture talent among students of HCl supported ‘My School’ and ‘My Community’ (Gurukuls and Yuvakendra) projects. These children belong to underprovided sections of the society who don’t get adequate sports facilities.
The Union Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Mahesh Sharma felicitated over 350 children participating in this sports meet. Sharma encouraged the children and presented some of them with scholarships supported by HCl Technologies’ ‘Power of One’ initiative – a voluntary contribution scheme by HCl employees.
Over 150 children from Chennai, Madurai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad also participated in the meet. These children are from 53 schools, 24 gurukuls and four NGOs in the region. From the northern part of the country, nearly 200 students from 46 schools and 11 gurukuls joined the participated in the meet.
“I’m delighted to be a part of HCl’s Sports for Change. It gives me immense pleasure to see these children full of enthusiasm and passion excel in these fields of sports. Sports is one of the basic pillars of growing up and I congratulate HCl for recognizing its importance and taking steps to inculcate the spirit of sportsmanship in these young children,” Sharma said.
Speaking at the event, Nidhi Pundhir, director – CSR and Head, HCl Foundation said: “We, at HCl, have always believed in efforts to strengthen the community. Children learn the value of team building, positive attitude and attain physical and mental strength through sports. As part of our national reach, we also aim to work in schools and ensure basis amenities for children to play and take up sports as a part of education.”