Chennai Volunteers,  a social initiative of the Giving Matters Foundation,  is encouraging and acknowledging college students who volunteered to teach or assist individuals in need to foster the spirit of volunteerism. These students helped underprivileged individuals by educating children or supporting senior citizens and people with disabilities.

Chennai Volunteers believes that every act of service is amplified, every spark of kindness fuels change, and it should be nurtured and appreciated from an early age.

Chennai Volunteers has been a beacon of civic engagement, fostering a thriving ecosystem of positive change, since August 2011. It is a group of volunteers, united by their shared resolve to better the community and ignite change. By unifying volunteers’ diverse talent and expertise, they have successfully created a dynamic platform that channels skills into structured, purposeful initiatives

The Giving Matters Foundation established the Catalyst of Change 2024 Awards. Vikram Kapur, Additional Chief Secretary and Director of Anna Administrative Staff College, emphasised the value of volunteering in building character. 

“It instills humility, selflessness, brotherhood, leadership skills, and above all, a sense of nationhood, helping young people grow into responsible citizens,” he said.

Former cricketer Robin Singh was the guest of honor at the event and said volunteering is a unique opportunity to serve others. Michaela Küchler, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of India, Chennai,  another guest for the event, shared anecdotes of how her own volunteering experiences had enriched her personally.

Students from Women’s Christian College, Loyola, Stella Maris, Krishnaswamy College, Anna Adarsh, Justice Basheer Ahmed College, Madras School of Social Work, Madras Christian College, GSSV Shasun Jain College, and Sathyabama College were celebrated for their volunteer efforts in various projects led by Chennai Volunteers.