Vinu Venkatesh is the Group CFO of Apexon.
Corporate responsibility should go beyond boardrooms to create meaningful, lasting social impact, measured not merely by profit margins but by the positive transformation it brings to people’s lives. This vision fuels Ignite, Apexon’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. As a key pillar of our broader ESG framework, Ignite turns our commitment to equity, education, health, and sustainability into action by impacting lives and reshaping the futures of the communities we serve.
Since its inception in 2009 as a volunteer-led movement, Ignite has transformed into a multi-faceted platform addressing pressing societal challenges. Our initiatives span education, vocational training, women’s health, and sustainability, impacting thousands across India. It continues to be powered by our employees who are determined to drive meaningful change. This is their story, one of empathy, innovation, and hope.
Transforming Lives Through Education
When children’s aspirations are constrained by poverty, meaningful education can be the key to breaking this cycle. Since launching in 2018, our Ahaan Learning Centres have provided a holistic, nurturing learning environment for underprivileged children.
Over the years, Ignite has grown into a high-impact platform tackling critical challenges such as access to education for underprivileged children, fostering STEM learning, equipping youth with vocational skills, and promoting menstrual wellness for women. With active participation across all our locations and strong leadership support, Ignite has impacted over 3,500 children, 1,500 youth, and 15,000 women, leaving a meaningful and enduring mark on the communities we serve.
Ahaan Learning Centres – Planting Seeds of Knowledge
At our Ahaan Learning Centres, learning goes far beyond academics. It is hands-on and engaging. Instead of simply reading about vegetables, children visit markets, interact with vendors, and participate in creative activities like vegetable painting, making learning an immersive experience. With over 25 Ahaan Centres across India, including Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad, our initiative has positively enhanced learning outcomes for over 3,500 children living in slums, construction sites, and temporary shelters.
Education is the foundation of opportunity, and our Ahaan Learning Centres are transforming the lives of thousands of children from underserved communities. These children face immense hardships – poverty, poor living conditions, and social challenges such as alcoholism, leaving them without consistent schooling or family support. Many have parents working in labour-intensive jobs, making education a distant dream.
Ahaan bridges this gap by providing a safe, nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive. Focusing on foundational literacy, numeracy, socio-emotional development, and life skills, the programme goes beyond academics. Children are also taught health, hygiene, and moral science, empowering them with essential life skills for a better future.
At our Ahaan Learning Centres, learning goes far beyond academics. It is hands-on and engaging. Instead of simply reading about vegetables, children visit markets, interact with vendors, and participate in creative activities like vegetable painting, making learning an immersive experience.
With over 25 Ahaan Centres across India, including Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad, our initiative has positively enhanced learning outcomes for over 3,500 children living in slums, construction sites, and temporary shelters. In close collaboration with local NGOs, we design customised interventions that address educational gaps, ensuring a community-driven, inclusive approach to learning.
To measure our effectiveness, we conduct baseline and post-intervention assessments, which have revealed transformative outcomes:
- 70 per cent of students have developed reading and writing skills.
- 90 per cent gained arithmetic proficiency.
- 65 per cent have displayed enhanced interpersonal skills and creativity.
Our flagship skill development initiative, Ahaan Vocational Centre, is transforming lives by bridging the gap between education and employability. Designed to equip youth from underserved communities with industry-relevant skills, financial independence, and entrepreneurial capabilities, the programme enables long-term socioeconomic mobility. Launched in 2019, our Ahaan Vocational Centre offers programmes in BFSI, beauty salon operations, digital literacy, and specialised vocational trades aligned with local economic opportunities.
Igniting Curiosity and Learning – Ahaan STEM Labs
To extend learning beyond the basics, we launched Ahaan STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Labs in 2025. These labs equip students with hands-on access to digital sensors, LEGO-based physics models, and Arduino kits (The Arduino Student Kit is a hands-on, step-by-step remote learning tool for ages 11+ to get started with the basics of 
electronics, programming, and coding at home) help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills, preparing them for future academic and career opportunities.
Located in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, the labs directly benefit 730 students while inspiring over 1,700 learners. The programme also trains educators, tracks student progress through 
assessments, and encourages participation in STEM competitions, fostering real-world problem-solving abilities.
While Ahaan Learning Centres build strong foundational knowledge, Ahaan STEM Labs provide advanced tools aligned with school curricula, ensuring students from Grades VI to XII are equipped for the future. Through this holistic, multi-tiered approach to education, we are bridging gaps and opening doors for thousands of young learners, one innovation at a time.
Our Ahaan initiative goes beyond academics. It transforms distressed families’ lives and builds resilient individuals equipped to tackle life’s challenges. Parents often recount the profound impact of these Centres, not just on their children but on their communities.
Empowering Livelihoods: Ahaan Vocational Centre
Our flagship skill development initiative, Ahaan Vocational Centre, is transforming lives by bridging the gap between education and employability. Designed to equip youth from underserved communities with industry-relevant skills, financial independence, and entrepreneurial capabilities, the programme enables long-term socioeconomic mobility.
Launched in 2019, our Ahaan Vocational Centre offers programmes in BFSI, beauty salon operations, digital literacy, and specialised vocational trades aligned with local economic opportunities. The initiative blends theory, hands-on training, industry exposure, and mentorship, ensuring students graduate with practical expertise and job-ready skills. To date, we have trained over 2,000 youth across 10+ centres.
A Pathway to Professional Success
A key differentiator of the programme is its immersive, real-world learning approach:
- Our BFSI students gain insights through industry visits like GIFT City, BSE Institute, and major banks.
- Internships, expert-led sessions, and leadership interactions with our executive team provide mentorship and professional exposure.
- Trainees earn NSDC-accredited certifications, enhancing their credibility in the job market.
- We collaborate with businesses for job placements, securing opportunities at HDFC, SBI Card, Bank of Baroda, and other institutions.
Our most transformational initiatives – Happy Periods and Sabarmati Saheli – tackle menstrual health challenges while empowering women through skill development and economic independence. Together, these initiatives break taboos, provide access to biodegradable sanitary pads, and create financial opportunities for women, both inside and outside prison walls.
From Struggle to Success
Real impact is measured in lives transformed. For Kishankumar Prajapati, Apexon Ignite’s vocational training became a turning point. Struggling to support his family on ₹10,000 a month, Kishankumar took a leap of faith and joined the BFSI programme at Ahaan Vocational Centre. With rigorous training, industry exposure, and mentorship, he secured a full-time role at Kotak Bank, increasing his family’s income by 230 per cent. Reflecting on his journey from uncertainty to stability, he says, “Before this, I never imagined I could work in a bank. Today, I can provide for my family with confidence.”
For Kulsum, education was always a distant dream. Raised by a single mother, she faced immense financial constraints that limited her opportunities. When she enrolled in the Digital Literacy and English Proficiency training, it became more than a course – it was a stepping stone to self-reliance. Today, she holds a stable marketing job, proving that with the right skills, resilience, and support, transformation is possible.
Entrepreneurship, too, has emerged as a powerful force for change. Kusum, Rita, and Sejal, once unsure of their future, channelled their skills from Ahaan’s Beauty Salon training into a thriving business. With guidance from Apexon Ignite, they launched Ahaan Sangini Beauty Parlour, defying social expectations and earning over ₹15,000 a month. “People would question us – Why beauty? Why business? Now, they see our success and ask how we did it,” Kusum shares with pride.
From doubt to determination, they are now business owners and community role models, inspiring others to pursue their dreams.
These stories serve as reminders of how education and skill-building can be tools for liberation, especially for youth from underserved communities.
Dual Forces for Change: Happy Periods and Sabarmati Saheli
Our most transformational initiatives – Happy Periods and Sabarmati Saheli – tackle menstrual health challenges while empowering women through skill development and economic independence. Together, these initiatives break taboos, provide access to biodegradable sanitary pads, and create financial opportunities for women, both inside and outside prison walls.
At the heart of this programme is Sabarmati Saheli, a rehabilitative initiative designed to help incarcerated women regain dignity, purpose, and financial security. In partnership with Sabarmati Women’s Prison and the Karma Foundation, we established a sanitary pad manufacturing unit inside the prison, where inmates are trained to produce biodegradable sanitary pads. This initiative not only provides meaningful work and skill-building but also serves as a path to rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Dignity Through Work, Confidence Through Access
For many women, the opportunity to participate in Sabarmati Saheli is life-changing. Amara (name changed), an African woman incarcerated far from home, struggled with isolation and hopelessness. Learning to manufacture biodegradable pads gave her a sense of dignity and purpose. “For the first time, I feel I’m doing something meaningful. This programme has given me hope for the future,” she shares.
Another inmate, Kusum, describes her transformation: “People used to call me a prisoner. Now, I feel like a student learning in a hostel.”
Through Sabarmati Saheli, she and other inmates receive vocational training in pad manufacturing, sewing, beauty salon management, and computer literacy, skills that ensure long-term employability and reduce recidivism.
Integrating the Happy Periods initiative with the Ahaan Vocational Centre at Sabarmati Prison has transformed lives by enabling women inmates to manufacture biodegradable pads. Many of these women were abandoned by their families and marginalised by society, but now find livelihood and a renewed sense of dignity and purpose. The income they earn supports their post-release stability, while the skills they gain empower them to reintegrate into society with confidence. A defining moment came during the convocation ceremony, where inmates stood alongside prison officials to celebrate their achievements, many for the first time in their lives.
Meanwhile, Happy Periods is changing the lives of young girls and women in underserved communities. Rina, a 15-year-old student from Maharashtra, used to miss school every month due to a lack of menstrual products. Through menstrual health workshops and pad distribution, she now attends school confidently, free from stigma. “Now, I don’t have to feel ashamed or stay home. I can focus on my studies,” she says.
Restoring Dignity, Building Futures, Creating Impact
Integrating the Happy Periods initiative with the Ahaan Vocational Centre at Sabarmati Prison has transformed lives by enabling women inmates to manufacture biodegradable pads. Many of these women were abandoned by their families and marginalised by society, but now find livelihood and a renewed sense of dignity and purpose. The income they earn supports their post-release stability, while the skills they gain empower them to reintegrate into society with confidence.
A defining moment came during the convocation ceremony, where inmates stood alongside prison officials to celebrate their achievements, many for the first time in their lives.
The impact extends far beyond the prison walls. Through our Sabarmati Saheli Pad Distribution Drive, over 1.5 million eco-friendly pads have reached underserved communities across 18 States, offering a sustainable solution to menstrual hygiene. Meanwhile, 75+ menstrual health workshops in schools are breaking taboos and ensuring that young girls never have to choose between their education and their dignity.
Beyond sanitary pad manufacturing, the Ahaan Vocational Centre equips inmates with training in sewing, beauty salon management, computer literacy, and cotton wick production. These programmes provide practical skills that open pathways to employment, reduce recidivism, and improve mental well-being. For many, this initiative is more than just skill development; it is a second chance at life.
Our initiatives bear testament to a singular message: that change is possible, and it comes one step, one impact area, one human connection at a time. We stand committed to scaling these solutions. Whether it is sparking young minds through STEM education, empowering women with health and dignity, or reimagining sustainability, we are not just imagining the world as it could be. We are building it.
Sustainability in Action
Our ESG principles are central to how we drive responsible growth. We believe that true success comes from balancing business excellence with sustainable impact, embedding ESG into our operations, partnerships, and community initiatives.
As part of our environmental responsibility, we focus on climate action, resource efficiency, and responsible procurement.
Our environmental actions include:
- 20,000+ trees planted across 10 cities.
- 2,800 employees engaged in our Adopt-A-Plant programme.
- 125+ laptops donated, benefiting 2,700 students and offsetting 50.5 metric tons of CO₂e.
- Ignite Fashion Week promoting slow fashion through upcycling and donation drives.
Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond Ignite’s community programmes. Across our offices, we embed ESG-driven practices—responsible procurement, renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, and waste reduction—making sustainability a shared responsibility, not a standalone effort.
Building a Future of Purpose
Our impact resonates far beyond the immediate beneficiaries. By tackling education, skill-building, gender equity, and sustainability, we aim to address a broader mandate, mobilising responsibility, resourcefulness, and resilience to shape better futures. Through baseline and end-line assessments, we track quantifiable changes, ensuring we stay aligned with our goals.
Our initiatives bear testament to a singular message: that change is possible, and it comes one step, one impact area, one human connection at a time. We stand committed to scaling these solutions. Whether it is sparking young minds through STEM education, empowering women with health and dignity, or reimagining sustainability, we are not just imagining the world as it could be. We are building it.