Case studies
Case studies
Real work from Marpu Foundation, told as short stories: the situation, what was done, the numbers and why it worked. Company names are left out on purpose; places, dates and figures are real.
| Stories | Eight, from 2020 to 2025 |
| Places | Hyderabad, Kochi, Chennai, Kolkata, Vijayawada |
| Model | Volunteer-First CSR |
49
CSR themes and 102 programmes in Marpu’s catalogue
5,216 fundable initiatives
36
volunteering themes with 4,797 activities
Indoor, outdoor, virtual and skill-based
23+
Indian states with programmes, with 250+ partner companies
Marpu Foundation, 2026
Case 01
Pandemic relief, run by student volunteers
The situation
When the first lockdown hit in 2020, daily-wage families and migrant workers in Hyderabad lost their income overnight. Marpu Foundation was a year old and run by students.
What was done
Raghu brought together about 150 volunteers. They cooked and delivered meals, packed dry rations, coordinated with officials to help migrants travel home, and ran awareness roadshows in slums about how the virus spreads.
Results
- Over 16,000 meals served
- Dry rations for more than 3,000 families
- 15,000 migrants helped to reach home
- Awareness roadshows in 12 major slums
Why it worked
Volunteers were organised like an operations team, with roles for cooking, logistics and outreach, which is why a student-run nonprofit could work at this scale. Reported by The Hans India in June 2020.
Case 02
A lake clean-up with the city
The situation
Urban lakes in Hyderabad collect plastic, construction debris and household waste faster than any single clean-up can remove it.
What was done
Marpu organised a volunteer clean-up of Alwal Lake with support from the local police and the municipal corporation, so that collection, transport and disposal were planned before the first volunteer arrived.
Results
- 500 to 600 kg of waste removed in a single drive
- Clean-up planned with the police and the city
- Waste taken away and disposed of, not left in piles on the bank
Why it worked
A clean-up is only as good as what happens to the waste afterwards. Working with the city made the difference between a photograph and a cleaner lake.
Case 03
Saplings and solar street lights for a coastal city
The situation
A technology company wanted a CSR project in Kochi that residents would see and use every day, not a one-day event.
What was done
Marpu planted saplings and installed solar street lights in Kochi, as part of a programme for the company that also included plantation and public infrastructure work in Hyderabad.
Results
- 334 saplings planted in Kochi
- 20 solar street lights installed
- Work in a second city under the same programme
Why it worked
Pairing green cover with light gave residents two things they notice daily: shade and safer streets after dark.
Case 04
Bicycles that keep students in school
The situation
For many students, the distance to school decides whether they stay in it.
What was done
With a manufacturing company, Marpu distributed bicycles to students of a high school in Chennai.
Results
- 120 bicycles for students of one school
- A simple, lasting asset for each student
Why it worked
Small assets that remove a daily barrier often do more for attendance than large one-time events.
Case 05
A school project for 400+ girls
The situation
A personal care brand wanted its CSR to reach girls directly, inside schools, rather than through a campaign.
What was done
Marpu ran a school project in Kolkata for girl students, including murals on the school’s walls.
Results
- 400+ girls reached
- School walls turned into murals
Why it worked
Working inside schools, with teachers on board, made the project part of the students’ day rather than an interruption to it.
Case 06
Plastic bottles into planters
The situation
A technology services company wanted employee volunteering that taught something about waste, not just a clean-up.
What was done
Employee volunteers upcycled used plastic bottles into planters in two cities, turning waste into something people took home and kept.
Results
- Drives in two cities
- Waste turned into planters by employees
Why it worked
Hands-on upcycling changes how people see waste at home, which is where most of it is created.
Case 07
A river bank clean-up on the Krishna
The situation
River banks in growing cities gather waste that eventually reaches the water.
What was done
Marpu ran a volunteer clean-up of the Krishna river bank in Vijayawada.
Results
- A clean-up on one of South India’s major rivers
- Volunteers from the city itself
Why it worked
Local volunteers who live by the river are the ones who keep it clean after the drive ends.
Case 08
A sanitation campaign with a central armed police unit
The situation
National cleanliness campaigns work best when they bring institutions and citizens to the same place.
What was done
During the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 campaign, Marpu partnered with a CRPF unit in Hyderabad on cleanliness drives.
Results
- A public-institution partnership
- Part of a national campaign
Why it worked
When a uniformed service and civilian volunteers work side by side, the message reaches people who would ignore a poster.
About these case studies
Why are company names left out?
Marpu Foundation does not use partner names on this site without their agreement. Places, dates and figures are real; company details can be shared with prospective partners on request.
Can my company run a similar programme?
Yes. Marpu Foundation runs programmes like these across 23+ states. Start at marpu.org or write to connect@marpu.org. For employee volunteering, see OurVolunteer.com.
How big is the range of programmes Marpu can run?
Marpu’s catalogue covers 49 CSR themes and 102 programmes, with 5,216 fundable initiatives, and 36 volunteering themes with 4,797 activities, from lake regeneration and solar power to scholarships, health camps and kit-making in offices.
How is impact measured?
On two axes: what the programme achieved, and what volunteers contributed. See CSR audit and impact assessment and Volunteer-First CSR.
Want a programme like these?
Tell Raghu the cause, the city and the budget range, and he will point you to the right model.
Ready to partner?
Marpu Foundation implements CSR programmes across 23+ states, with 12A, 80G and CSR-1 in place.