P&G Shiksha was launched in 2005, and has since provided children from thousands of underserved communities and schools with access to schools and learning aids, impacting over 50 lakh children over 2 decades

Hyderabad, December 6, 2024: Procter & Gamble India (P&G India), maker of brands like Whisper, Tide and Gillette etc. is celebrating 20 years since the inception of P&G Shiksha, its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. P&G Shiksha was formally set up in 2005, way before the national CSR law came into effect, to provide children in underserved communities access to education by enhancing school infrastructure.

Over these 2 decades, P&G Shiksha has single mindedly focused on education as a core impact area. Within this, Shiksha has evolved from focusing only on building school infrastructure to now focusing on learning outcomes. Today, Shiksha’s efforts are directed towards improving foundational literacy and numeracy via prevention and remediation of learning gaps, to ensure that every child learns with conceptual understanding at their grade level. Over 20 years, P&G Shiksha has worked in thousands of communities and schools, collectively impacting over 50 lakh children.

Marking the onset of the milestone celebrations on International Day of Volunteers, over hundreds of volunteers comprising of P&G employees, families, agency partners, distributor partners and NGO volunteers came together at various locations across the country in one of P&G India’s largest volunteering drives of its kind.

The volunteers engaged hundreds of students through specially curated teaching modules that were tailored to meet the diverse needs of students in different locations. These included modules that focused on enhancing emotional intelligence in young children, developing collaborative story writing techniques, driving awareness on diverse career pathways children can choose, explaining simple wonders of science in relatable ways. For a special group of scholars of the P&G Shiksha Betiyan Scholarship, that provides financial support and mentorship to girls pursuing STEM education, there were sessions on resume writing, interview tips, and mentorship insights. 

The volunteering drive was held, at the same time and on the same day, across cities including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Goa, Baddi, Mandideep, Bhiwadi, Ahmedabad, and Chennai.

Telangana is a key focus area for P&G Shiksha, where it continues to create meaningful and sustainable impact through education. In the state, the program has been impacting lakhs of children, including those in in underserved tribal communities in partnership with renowned NGOs and State Government. In collaboration with the state’s Tribal Welfare Department, the program is enabling children in learning with conceptual understanding through programs like Early Childhood Education and Digital Remedial Learning. Leveraging technology, as part of its Digital Remedial Learning program, P&G Shiksha is implementing ‘Mindspark’, an AI-powered adaptive learning tool that personalizes education for students and impacting thousands of children from tribal communities.

Speaking on this occasion, Kumar Venkatasubramanian, Chief Executive Officer, P&G India said, “P&G brands and P&G people are committed to helping communities around the world through meaningful actions that improve lives every day. From the early origins of our company, our founders made giving back a priority. P&G Shiksha reflects this commitment, and our ambition of driving continued positive impact in communities through education. It is a moment of pride to celebrate two decades of work and impact. So, when it came to kicking off our celebrations, we had to start with our two strongest pillars – our people, and the communities we serve, live and operate in. Witnessing our employees, families and partners come together with such passion to celebrate Shiksha’s 20-year milestone has been incredibly inspiring. This volunteer drive is a testament to the deep connection our people have with the program.”

This milestone initiative marks the beginning of P&G Shiksha’s 20th-anniversary celebrations, reasserting the company’s dedication to driving inclusive education, cultivating meaningful engagement, and shaping brighter futures for millions of children across India.

About P&G Shiksha: Launched in 2005, P&G Shiksha is P&G India’s flagship CSR initiative which focuses on providing holistic education for underprivileged children through a 360-degree educational intervention. Over time, P&G Shiksha has evolved into a holistic education program that aims to improve learning outcomes in children, strengthen educational infrastructure and empower marginalized girls through education. Since inception, P&G Shiksha has supported thousands of schools and communities, impacting over 50 lakh children nationally.

About P&G India: 

P&G serves consumers in India with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Vicks ®, Ariel®, Tide®, Whisper®, Olay®, Braun®, Gillette®, AmbiPur®, Pampers®, Pantene®, Oral-B®, Head & Shoulders®, Herbal Essences® and Old Spice®. Please visit in.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G India and its brands.