How Piyush’s remarkable efforts ignited a larger impact of giving back | McAfee Blogs

At McAfee, we support team members who are passionate about giving back. You are encouraged and empowered to make a substantial impact in improving our community and volunteering to help others. 

Piyush, a Software architect in our Bangalore office, is a team member particularly passionate about his community and has dedicated countless hours volunteering at the Sheila Kothavala Institute for the Deaf (SKID).  

Two years ago, his impact was multiplied when he shared his volunteer story during McAfee’s Social Initiative Contest (SIC), a program that contributes resources to the causes important to select employees who volunteer for non-governmental organizations (NGO). 

Moved by Piyush’s story, the judges funded his program for two years in a row! Funding enhanced infrastructure of a special school for hearing impaired kids and provided a tactile library that helps visually impaired students see the world through touch. 

We asked Piyush four questions to learn more. 

How did you get involved? 

I’m a son of educators. My father was a principal and my mother was a university senior lecturer. The importance of educational success runs deep for me. Seven years ago, I found my own educational calling when I was introduced to the Sheila Kothavala Institute for the Deaf  (SKID), an organization that supports the education of differently-abled students and equips them to successfully graduate high school. 

How often do you volunteer? 

What started as a weekend volunteer endeavor soon grew into an every-morning commitment. Before going into work at McAfee, I dedicate an hour each morning teaching math and volunteering with students at SKID.  

What has helped you the most in your volunteer journey? 

Figuring out how to communicate with hearing–impaired kids was a challenge for me. However, the immense support I received from the kids helped to relieve a lot of the pressure. I started to learn sign language along with them and became more effective at teaching. Spending time every day with these kids has motivated me in unexpected ways. Not only do I want to do as much as I can for them, but I also find myself more engaged at work. I’m thankful McAfee supports our passions in and out of the office.

Describe how your involvement evolved with SKID. What do you hope to accomplish in the future? 

First, I want to thank McAfee for their encouragement as I can take my volunteer activities to greater heights and accomplish even more through their support. With the funds McAfee awarded, I was able to establish a complete science lab and build an interactive curriculum that complements day-to-day learning, procure games catered towards kids with special needs, and build a tactile library for visually impaired students. 

After volunteering seven years with hearing-impaired students, this year, I’ve taken it upon myself to work more with the visually impaired. The joy on the faces of these kids continues to motivate me to do even more! 

Piyush is a stunning example of how one person’s selfless contributions have the power to inspire others and spark change on a large scale. He continues to inspire, not just through his unrelenting dedication to helping others, but through his words by encouraging others to take simple steps in giving back.

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