YouWeCan
- India
YouWeCan is an Indian non-profit organization dedicated to fighting cancer. It was established in 2012[1] by Indian ex-cricketer Yuvraj Singh[2] with the help of his mother, Shabnam Singh. The association focuses on four key areas: cancer awareness, screening, treatment support, and survivor empowerment.[3] YouWeCan's operations are primarily in India.[1][4]
In 2012, Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with cancer that was successfully treated in the United States.[5][6] This experience inspired him to launch YouWeCan.[5]
In September 2012, the YouWeCan app was initially launched by Microsoft for the Windows Phone. For each purchase of the app, Singh donates ₹565 (US$6.80) to the foundation.[7] In September 2012, Colors and YouWeCan announced a television show, Zindagi Abhi Baaki yHai, inspired by Yuvraj Singh's story of beating cancer.[8]
In April 2015, Yuvraj Singh announced his intention to invest INR 40-50 crores in tech startups and expanding YouWeCan by setting up YouWeCan Ventures.[9] Initial investments were made in Vyomo,[10] Moovo,[11] Healthians,[12] EduKart,[13] JetSetGo,[14] and most recently Cartisan.[15]
History
The YouWeCan Foundation operates different entities with varied objectives, partners with other organizations, and creates a funding medium.[16] YouWeCan Ventures, one of the entities of the YouWeCan Foundation, supports entrepreneurs. It was founded in 2013.[17]
The foundation organizes awareness programs in rural areas focusing on oral, breast, and cervical cancers and facilities in district-level community health centers for cancer screening.[2] By July 2020, the foundation had screened over 150,000 people.[18]
By 2019, the foundation supported the treatment of 25 children suffering from cancer.[18] In 2020, Payback India extended support to the YouWeCan Cancer Foundation to aid children's treatments.[2] Currently, the foundation runs a treatment fund for pediatric patients, providing financial assistance to underprivileged and low-income families with a household income of less than Rs 2 lakhs annually.[2]
The foundation also organizes anti-tobacco workshops as well as tobacco-cessation counseling.[2]
YouWeCan has invested in several startups, including Healthians, Holosuit, JetSetGo, EazyDiner, and Wellversed.[17] In 2020, YouWeCan invested in the nutrition product startup Wellversed for an unknown amount with an enterprise value of Rs 100 crore.[17]
In one initiative in June 2020, YouWeCan Foundation and OctaFX launched a mutual relief campaign to provide help for communities in India.[4] OctaFX started a campaign called "Trade from home, help battle COVID-19" in April 2020 to donate for each lot traded. From 23 April to 22 May, OctaFX's overall donation amount amassed $82,332, which was donated to various charity organizations in Asia.[4] Following this principle, OctaFX transferred a portion of its charity funds to the YouWeCan Foundation.[4]
References
- ^ a b "From Top of The World to Cancer Treatment Ward: Shabnam Singh Stood With Her Son, and Now Leads YouWeCan". in.makers.yahoo.com. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Payback India Partners With 'Youwecan' Foundation in Its Fight Against Cancer". BW Businessworld. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Bhatla, Prabhjeet (1 September 2020). "Yuvraj Singh: The Risk-Taking Entrepreneur". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Yuvraj Singh and OctaFX Help the Most Vulnerable Fight COVID-19". PR Newswire. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Yuvraj Singh's 'YouWeCan' to fight Cancer in India". Cricket Country. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ "Yuvraj Singh's positive attitude helped during treatment: Doctors". Cricket Country. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ "Join Yuvi's fight against Cancer with the 'YouWeCan' App on Windows Phone". msn.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ "Yuvi's story now on telly". Deccan Herald. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ "Yuvraj Singh starts new innings as businessman with YouWeCan Ventures". The Economic Times. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Yuvraj Singh's YouWeCan Ventures invests undisclosed amount in Vyomo". The Economic Times. 20 April 2015.
- ^ "Logistics platform Moovo raises funding from Yuvraj Singh's YouWeCan Ventures and others". The Economic Times. 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Healthians.com raises funding from Yuvraj Singh's YouWeCan Ventures". The Economic Times. 23 June 2015.
- ^ "YouWeCan Ventures and United Finsec lead Rs 6.4 cr investment round in education services marketplace EduKart". The Economic Times. 23 June 2015.
- ^ "Taking to the skies: YouWeCan Ventures invests in JetSetGo". The Economic Times. 23 June 2015.
- ^ "Cartisan gets funds worth around Rs 3 crore to ride into new markets". The Economic Times. 31 July 2015.
- ^ "World Cancer Day: Yuvraj Singh on how he's trying to create awareness about cancer through YouWeCan". Hindustan Times. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "Yuvraj Singh plans investment in tech startups in health, sports, food sectors". The Economic Times. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ a b "World Cancer Day: Yuvraj Singh on how he's trying to create awareness about cancer through YouWeCan". Hindustan Times. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
External links
- Official website