Social networking sites set to go offline for charity
By siliconindia   |   Monday, 19 April 2010, 22:13 IST
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Kolkata: Popular social networking sites have now realized that offline events are good way to boost their network in India. Companies like Facebook and Twitter trying to develop some other media that can substitute internet to build sustainable business models based on user involvement. Internet is not going to be the only medium to build communities for these social networking sites. The companies are looking forward to partake in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities across the globe to reach out more and more people in different part of the world. Twitter is organizing a global Twestival in different location across the world every year. The second global Twestival was held on this March 25 across over 175 cities. The money, $3.47 lakh, raised from Twestival contributes to Concern Worldwide, an Irish charity working on relief and development in underdeveloped economies. Twestivals across India raised roughly Rs 3 lakh. Indian cities on the Twestival map included Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi. "The Twestivals are a mix of cultural events, brainstorming sessions, contests and many other activities," said Vaijayanthi K M, regional coordinator for the Twesstivals in India. Delhi, Kolkata and Kochi Twestivals had performances by rock bands and DJs, the Bangalore Twestival had a corporate cricket league, which featured teams from SAP and Tech Mahindra. Twitter is not the only online platform leveraging off-the-web events. Facebook has become a top choice for corporates such as Mahindra Group to raise funds for social work. The Mahindras' non-profit wing, KC Mahindra Education Trust, has created as many as three Facebook pages for their flagship project, Nanhi kali (managed jointly with the Naandi Foundation), to promote girls' education. The Facebook forums of the organisation have around 10,000 members worldwide, who organise cultural events in places like Boston and Omaha for Nanhi kali. "We have raised more funds after the Facebook pages were created. Last year, our online donations went up 48 percent to Rs 43 lakh," said Sheetal Mehta, CSR head at Mahindra Group and Exicutive Director of KC Mahindra Education Trust.

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