United Way Chennai

United Way Chennai is a non-profit organisation that works with companies to plan and run their CSR programmes for communities. It is part of the global United Way network. Its work covers education, health, livelihoods, environment and disaster response. The organisation says it aims to "catalyse social change by aligning corporate responsibility with community needs". It describes its approach as combining strategic partnerships, grassroots expertise and integrated solutions so that programmes can grow and last. Its mission is to support every individual with access to education and health, guided by compassion, equity and community collaboration.

Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Major Areas of Work

• Education: Building safe, inclusive and well-equipped learning spaces in schools and Anganwadi centres, and providing scholarships.

• Health: Strengthening government hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres with better infrastructure and medical equipment, and promoting preventive health practices.

• Environment: Planting Miyawaki forests, restoring water bodies and raising awareness about protecting water and the environment.

• Livelihoods: Training youth and women in skills that help them find work or set up small businesses.

• Disaster Response: Providing financial aid, dry ration kits and essential supplies during disasters, and supporting the worst-affected families to rebuild afterwards.

Major Initiatives and Programmes

• Anganwadi Refurbishment and Upliftment Program: Upgrades Anganwadi centres with improved infrastructure and learning facilities, working with Anganwadi teachers and local communities.

• School infrastructure and scholarships: Renovates schools, sets up modern learning facilities and gives scholarships to students.

• Healthcare infrastructure support: Provides equipment and infrastructure upgrades to government hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres.

• Miyawaki forests and water body restoration: Plants dense urban forests and revives ponds and tanks that have dried up or become polluted.

• Skill development for women and youth: Offers training to help participants earn steady incomes or start small enterprises.

• Employee volunteering: Runs year-round volunteering events for corporate partners' staff, including school renovation and painting, awareness sessions and e-waste collection drives.

United Way Chennai works with companies to design and deliver programmes, and it lists firms including Microsoft, Ford, Applus IDIADA and L&T among its corporate partners.

Working here suits people who want to deliver projects on the ground while working closely with corporate CSR teams. Staff work across schools, Anganwadis, public health centres, environmental sites and disaster relief. This gives broad exposure to several areas of development work, as well as practical skills in planning programmes, managing partners and running volunteer events. It is a good fit for people interested in CSR, programme management or on-site project delivery in and around Chennai.