Skip to main content Skip to footer
History

History

At Cognizant, it is firmly believed that corporate actions play a very important role in creating a climate of positive opinion and that giving back to the Society is not only imperative to the company’s growth, but also an earnest reflection of the values it stands for. This belief is what led to the establishment of Cognizant Foundation, as one of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arms. Cognizant Foundation was set up as an independent corporate entity in March 2005. It is headed by an eminent Board of Directors with experience in public and corporate affairs.

2005 - 2009

  • Inception
  • Healthcare & Education adopted as two pillars of development
  • Branched out from Southern to Northern, Eastern and Western India
  • Four-pronged implementation strategy - Partnerships with NGOs, Institutions, Government and Cognizant Associates
  • Preventing avoidable blindness and promoting women & child health - adopted as flagship programmes under Healthcare
  • Promoting digital learning and STEM education - adopted as a flagship programme under Education
  • Launched first scholarship programme
  • 80+ projects supported
Teacher teaching her students

2010 - 2014

  • Livelihood adopted as a third pillar
  • Forged new partnerships with credible NGOs and strengthened ties with existing partners
  • Adopted disruptive technologies to solve pressing challenges in society, particularly for the disabled
  • Innovative projects supported
    •  e-Classroom on Wheels
    • Science on Wheels
    • Teachers’ Community of Learning
    • Lifeline Express - Hospital on a Train
  • 200+ projects supported
A boy learning with shapes

2015 - 2017

  • Flagship programmes developed in all the three sectors
  • Launched Rebuilding Communities Programme for communities affected by the floods in Chennai
  • Promoting Vocational Technical Education adopted as a flagship programme under Education
  • Expansion of scholarship schemes - for visually impaired, Social Sciences and Special Education
  • Strong linkages with Cognizant Outreach
Student learning with a tablet

2018 - 2019

  • Making education accessible and affordable
    • Developed vibrant learning environments
    • Persons with disabilities provided technology aids, enabling inclusive education
  • Improving access to quality healthcare
    • Significant contribution to reduce the burden of blindness in India
    • Improved access to quality and timely healthcare for underserved women and children
  • Building an inclusive society through skilling
    • Enabled disadvantaged youth, women and persons with disabilities for gainful employment
  • Expanded to states where Cognizant does not have a presence
  • 280+ projects supported
Boy leaning to operate a tool

2020 - 2022

  • Completed 15 years of empowering social change
  • Healthcare awards
    • Cognizant Foundation's 'Preventing Childhood Blindness' initiative selected as the winner in the 'Healthcare (Large)' category of the 7th CSR Impact Awards
    • Cognizant Foundation's 'Promoting Women and Child Health' initiative selected as the winner in the 'Healthcare (Small)' category of the 8th CSR Impact Awards
  • Launch of Tech4All
    • Skilling persons with disabilities and women for jobs in technology and technology-enabled services
  • 500+ projects
A garndma testing her eyes