On October 1st, PVR NEST, the CSR trust of PVR INOX Limited, in collaboration with VFS Global, the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service provider for governments and diplomatic missions, launched the Power of One program. This initiative is designed to create sustainable, positive community change by developing cohorts of 500 empowered changemakers who will make long-lasting, intersectional impacts in their communities. It focuses on fostering economic resilience and empowerment, particularly among women in urban slum areas.

For the past four years, PVR NEST has partnered with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to establish specially designed learning spaces for women in vulnerable urban slum communities. These centers, known as Garima Grih and Pink Centers, provide first-generation earners with opportunities to achieve financial independence. Located in some of Delhi’s most at-risk neighborhoods, including Kirti Nagar, R.K. Puram, and Vikaspuri, these centers have become crucial rehabilitative spaces where thousands of women have received skill-based training, enabling them to become economically self-reliant.

At the heart of this initiative are PVR NEST’s 10 Cohort Leaders, women who have demonstrated leadership and perseverance to inspire and empower others. The Power of One program is developing a training framework to help these women realize their potential to drive social change. The Cohort Leaders will be offered customized mentoring to build their confidence and leadership skills as they work to form their own groups of 500 women. This initiative aims to extend its reach further by empowering thousands more in their respective communities.

The launch event was attended by notable figures, including Shri Abhishek Kumar Mishra (IAS), Deputy Commissioner KBZ, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global, Ria Vaidya, AVP of Corporate Communications & CSR at VFS Global, and Deepa Menon, Senior Vice President of CSR and Corporate Communications at PVR INOX Limited.

The day featured the unveiling of the Power of One logo and inspirational stories of change shared by the 10 women leaders. These leaders recounted their journeys of overcoming adversity, marking the beginning of a larger vision for the program.

The partners expressed their pride in the community women’s commitment to their vision and pledged continued support to build resilient and empowered communities.