Employees Are the Superpower Behind Giving Tuesday

Anshu Anchit, F5 Senior Scrum Master, India

I’m supporting: Nirmaan AVANTI Women Skill Development, which helps women from economically disadvantaged families build the skills and confidence needed for economic and social independence.

Why I’m passionate about this cause: “From my teenage years onward, I have seen the struggle of economically deprived families, especially women. In my school, they used to work hard for long hours and get less salary because they were not skilled. Women are half of the total population in India, and I always believe that when women work, economies grow. Unless we address issues related to women like gender inequality, gender disparity, malnourishment, social dependence, etc., I believe our society cannot improve and grow.”

Why I give: “Nothing is more rewarding than giving back to society. Giveback promotes a feeling of kindness and greater responsibility towards society. And doing the act of giveback in person gives a lot of satisfaction, especially if the resources are utilized in the best possible way.”

Paula Gomez, F5 EIG Program Manager, Mexico

I’m supporting: Diagonal 45, which helps people 45 and older re-integrate into the labor force after losing their jobs or taking a career break.

Why I’m passionate about this cause: “I´m convinced that every person in the world has a lot to share with everyone regardless of their age, ethnicity, gender identity, hard and soft skills, etc. It is great to serve people and help them self-discover their ‘special gift’ to the world. Usually, during my interventions, I find that people feel stuck, and the most common reason is because they’ve lost their self-confidence, thus impacting their capacity to highlight and self-promote their own talent. Sometimes people just need a safe space and the right encouragement to reconnect with themselves. To be a witness of that is a privilege life has given to me.”

Why I give: “I would answer this one with one of my favorite quotes from Jane Goodall: ‘What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.’”

Jamal Jeremiah, F5 Program Manager, U.S.

I’m supporting: Washington Ethnic Studies Now (WAESN), which is working to bring ethnic studies into every Washington state classroom taught by anti-racist educators committed to centering the history and lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

Why I’m passionate about this cause: “There is a grassroots swelling of support for ethnic studies in schools in order to provide students of color with a curriculum that represents an honest depiction of their history. I’m a father of two young Black boys, ages 1 and 4, who live and go to school in Washington state. It would be amazing if they, their friends, their friends’ friends and everyone in-between could grow up in an education system like the one WAESN is trying to create.”

Why I give: “I think it’s important to give back because that’s what you do when you love something. Whether it be a person, a cause, or an entire community, when you love something, you do what you can to help.”

Anjuli Lam, F5 Senior Technical Writer, U.S.

I’m supporting: Densho, which documents oral histories from Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II.

Why I’m passionate about this cause: “In Japanese, Densho means ‘to pass on to the next generation’ or to leave a legacy. The Employee Inclusion Groups at F5 have encouraged me to revisit and, in many cases, dive deeper into the uglier chapters of American history. Organizations like Densho are crucial for future generations to understand the Asian American experience, so we can have a better future. Remembering the personal stories and identifying with these experiences can prevent us from making the same mistakes again and enable us to better recognize injustices while they are happening instead of after.”

Why I give: “I want to support organizations that dedicate their time and expertise to valuable projects like preserving Japanese American stories of the past for the generations of tomorrow. We can learn so much from organizations like Densho, but they rely on our support to keep the archival work going.”

Galit Lendner, F5 Accounting Manager, Israel

I’m supporting: ALUT, which works to ensure the well-being, rehabilitation, economic status, and future of people with autism in Israel.

Why I’m passionate about this cause: “I was exposed to people with autism as a young girl. My neighbor used to manage a school for kids with autism, and I was fascinated with the stories of how much improvement they can make when they’re well-supported.”

Why I give: “When you give there is such a huge reward. I personally volunteer now on a weekly basis with older people, and I am always excited by the appreciation and love I receive back.”

Chriselna Welsh, F5 Field Marketing Manager, South Africa

I’m supporting: Dullstroom Bird of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre, which rehabilitates and releases injured birds of prey into their natural habitat and promotes awareness of the raptor species.

Why I’m passionate about this cause: “From a young age I took an interest in birds and identifying the various species. It became a hobby and a passion as I often spent time outdoors looking to the skies for large raptors. I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about their habitat, their nature, and how they hunt. It is up to us as humans to take care of the wildlife around us and preserve it for generations to come. The conservation of raptors is critical to the sustainability of many ecosystems and their functioning. If we protect them, we can also keep many other species safe for many years to come.”

Why I give: “The importance of giving back stretches far wider than just that of the people—or animals in this case—around you. Giving back means that you can have a positive impact on your community and that of generations to come.”