April 11 & 12 - Elephants at a Press Conference

After two exciting days with the Desi Corps Team we kept working, working and working on Wednesday. On Thursday another Media Event was schedule… a Press Conference about the CSC Program and our projects. Late morning we left to go to the Fortune Hotel where the Press Conference was held. Shortly after we have arrived our NGO partners arrived as well. Mamtha gave us a quick introduction of what to expect at a press conference as it was the first for most of us. After a while the press arrived and Mamtha did a great job in giving the press an overview of IBM’s CSC activities and what it is all about. We were introduced and our NGOs presented themselves. To conclude the Press Conference we answered their questions.

Hemal speaking to the press

the press conference taking place

The next day we found articles about the CSC and our projects in many newspaper, below I included 2 of the English aticles. Most of the articles published were in Hindi.



Times of India, April 13





Hindu Times, April 13



The whole Team: India 17, our
NGOs  and Mamtha

After the press conference we managed our first picture with all 12 CSC India 17 participants. This is us:





Paul and his 13 elephants



While we were at the press conference, the housekeeping was supposed to set up Paul’s room. One evening we have talked about the Towel Animals which we regularly find in our beds. Paul fell in love with his Towel Elephant. A few days later Jessica had this brilliant idea to ask housekeeping to put 30 Towel Elephants on Paul’s room while we are at the Press Conference. All was arranged for; we arrived back at the hotel and followed Paul to his room to not miss his face when 30 Elephants would be facing him while opening the door to his room. Unfortunately… not a single Elephant at sigh. Something went wrong. But the second attempt worked. Paul was working with his team in the afternoon in the business center while housekeeping covered his bed in towel elephants. When he returned to his room Tyler and I heard a big laugh… hehe… unfortunately Jessica wasn’t around, as she was not feeling well. Jessica, thanks for this brilliant idea… lightened up this afternoon.

btw – we were told by the hotel manager (Nishi) that it is not an elephant but a Ganesh.