The Flipkart Foundation hosted the third edition of its annual conference, Sampark, on 20th Nov 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, where community workers, nonprofit organisations, and CSR leaders came together to discuss how partnerships can create long-term impact. Voices from the field, programme partners, and senior leadership shared their progress and spoke about how communities can continue driving change.
Speakers and beneficiaries shared their experiences. An artisan from Kutch spoke about reviving a traditional craft with the Foundation’s support, helping nearly 700 women earn a regular income. Another beneficiary spoke about moving from unemployment to a stable job through a skills programme, showing how a single opportunity can lead to confidence and a better livelihood.
Reflecting on what the platform aims to achieve, Puja Trisal, Director at Flipkart Foundation, said, “Sampark is a platform where we listen to communities, learn from partners. And acknowledge the progress we’ve made together.”
The keynote address was delivered by Mohammad Asif, Executive Director of Plan International India, who spoke about why change sustains when communities lead it. He shared examples from India’s self-help groups and other community-driven initiatives in health and livelihoods. These examples were brought together to the overall point that development outcomes are most durable when the people lead the process.
A panel discussion followed, featuring representatives from UNICEF, Essar Sagar Foundation, Nasscom Foundation, Samhita Social Ventures, and Sesame Workshop India. The discussion focused on what makes partnerships work, with the panel saying they don’t fail due to a lack of funds but rather when communication and expectations are unclear. The panel explored the importance of stronger governance structures for collaboration, shared data, and evidence-based decision-making.
After the event, Sarah Gideon, Vice President of CSR at Flipkart Foundation, said the conference reinforced the belief that communities are not just recipients but also the drivers of change, and that shared purpose can lead to meaningful work on the ground.
Sampark 2025 demonstrated that creating lasting change requires staying connected with communities, understanding their needs, and collaboratively shaping solutions. The event ended by acknowledging the Sampark Saathis and nonprofit partners who are carrying out the work on the ground. The key takeaway was simple: real progress comes from paying attention to people and working with honesty and steadiness over time.
