IBM CSC — South Africa 18 — Life time Experience — Rama Tadepalli
It’s Wow feel when I saw the email that I got selected for CSC Corp assignment. Started enjoying a unique experience from last 3 months and will continue with the association of great team connected on this program.
I am honored to be flying off to Johannesburg, South Africa for an IBM Corporate Services Corps (CSC) assignment in just over a week. I’ve created this blog that I’ll be using to post pictures, videos, share experiences and stories of my journey and I hope that you will follow along. Please leave comments, ask questions and provide a familiar face.
For those of you who have not heard of the IBM Corporate Services Corps, IBM’s CSC is a leadership program that takes high performing IBMers from different countries, to all join together in a developing country to perform a community service project.
The Corporate Service Corps was launched in 2008 to help provide IBMers with high quality leadership development while delivering high quality problem solving for communities and organizations in emerging markets. The program empowers IBM employees as global citizens by sending groups of 10–15 individuals from different countries with a range of skills to an emerging market for four week community-based assignments. During the assignment, participants perform community-driven economic development projects working at the intersection of business, technology, and society.
For more information on this IBM program please look at the following site -> http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/corporateservicecorps/
We the IBM team for this South Africa assignment are 15, while two of us are from India rest of team comes from other countries / continents. The team comprises with different experiences, skills, cultures and many more. Very excited to meet all our team in person and also show to the world how we are capable of performing with cross cultural teams and also inspire the communities.
Strongly believe that we are “ Born to Win”, “Happiness Unlimited” and these come when you serve someone unknown and we are going to experience the same on this journey and assignment. Stay connected for more updates, bless me for a unique life time experience that will help me to elevate my community to the next level.
#CSCZA18
#ibmcsc
07th Oct Updates : Today I am sharing my story on how I got connected to IBM CSC Corp
Always want to connect with society and communities around me and find out opportunities to inspire and support the needy. The same attitude pulled me to follow and understand more about IBM On demand community activities and CSC Corp program. This picture is one from the “ Love Yoga “ walk initiative done in Hyderabad, India. The motto is to spread awareness about importance of Yoga and it’s benefits for integrated personality development.
Below pictures are from IBM Community activity connecting govt schools inspiring them and also distributing books and other stationary articles.
This CSC program also recapping my college days time. During my college days 70% of my week ends spent on service activities. This is from an eye camp organized for poor in rural villages near my home town Tenali, India.
07 Oct 2017 Night: Today our #Sub Team 3 first prep call completed, it was nice collaboration across the team members, sharing and understanding each other in the right spirit. Happy to be part of the team, clear vision for a successful completion of the aimed project.
I shared details about # IBM CSC Corp and my travel details to my family members, relatives, friends, colleagues and in Yoga friends network. Huge positive response, encouragement, wishes and blessings from all.
11 Oct Update :
It was nice gesture from our team Wishing all the best to entire # IBM CSC SA Team 18.
Very happy to add you all and your wishes in this blog. Requesting everyone support to keep our account flag high with innovative ideas, Automation, Cognitive solutions and delight the customer.
23rd Oct :
Week 1 completed in South Africa on #IBMCSC assignment, it’s amazing experience working with Global diverse top talented IBMers. Our sub team 3 project is on Internet 4 All in SA. The target beneficiaries are rural segment women/girls, challenged people, youth, Small/Medium/Micro level enterprises. Happy to be part of this project and with the team. After spending one week with team and client confidence levels improved and getting indications that it will be another great success story. Other team members in SA Team 18 also sharing their ideas, thoughts and as a team we will make it.
On 16th October #IBM CSC SA Team 18 is launched by South Africa Joburg Leadership team. Our IBM Leader SA COO also presented and delivered key message and our commitment to support South Africa development road map. All the teams were so excited and started working with their project clients. Great Team, Great Commitment.
IBM Leadership team & CSC Leadership team organized activities so well to ensure that all of us well connected to know each other and collaborate for higher cause in right spirit.
We were taken to museum https://www.apartheidmuseum.org/ and Swoeto tour.
Soweto obtained its name from the first two letters of South Western Township which was the original description of the area. “Soweto is a symbol of the New South Africa, caught between old squatter misery and new prosperity, squalor and an upbeat lifestyle, it’s a vibrant city which still openly bears the scars of the Apartheid past and yet shows what’s possible in the New South Africa
Visiting museum and going through Soweto streets helped us to understand the agony of pain the people were been through for ages and this will also helps us to connect and understand their socioeconomic conditions that would be a great input on the projects we are working. Anyone planning to work on any CSC project, I strongly recommend to complete the above two activities before they start on the engagement.
#IBMCSC #CSCZA18
24th Oct Visited IBM Software Labs to discuss with NGO teams on a community service activity planned with IBM Teams. Very productive discussions and able to finalize the approach. During the discussions it was eye openers for many of us on the challenges the SA citizens are going through on issues like HIV Aids, Teen Pregnancy etc
We also got an opportunity to meet University professor who designed and developed an Innovation design lab, very happy to meet him and had a picture with such a great personality.
For dinner, first time experienced Ethiopian dishes. Had Ethopian masala tea and the food is having typical Indian style steam dosa, above that they service the ordered curries. It was nice experience and was very impressed on their culture of eating. Most of them order full meal, the same plate will be shared by friends or family members. It spreads the culture of sharing and enjoying :-)
25th October we had fun time with customer family. They were so nice and good, we were moved by their hospitality. Our best moments can be seen in the video. First time, experienced the Portuguese dishes and enjoyed 2 hours Banyan theater show. We had fantastic time.
Our Team Projects and experiences.
It’s Life time experiences and memories for ever. A Big Thanks to IBM CSC Program and CSC Team 18 Friends.
