Voices that matter: How Unisys associates are changing lives through audiobooks

Books expand worlds, and everyone deserves the chance to explore them. A volunteer group at Unisys is opening the door to these worlds for the visually impaired through an audiobook project.

The Unisys Audiobook Initiative in India aims to increase educational accessibility for visually impaired people. Employees who volunteered to record audiobooks reflect Unisys’ commitment to accessibility, with more than 70 employees providing essential learning resources in audio format.

Launched in 2024, this volunteer initiative supports Unisys’ corporate social responsibility efforts and plays a role in Unisys’ broader mission of being a caring corporate steward. Less than a year later, Unisys participants have recorded 117 books in four languages – English, Hindi, Kannada and Telugu.

“Unisys employees feel good to be associated with corporate social responsibility activities,” said Unisys Audiobook Initiative Lead Shailesh Tukaram Bhatkande. “The initiative’s impact for the visually impaired includes improving literacy and learning opportunities, support for students preparing for academic and competitive exams, increased engagement with literary content and fostering a culture of knowledge and empowerment.”

Teaming up for positive community impact

The Unisys India CSR team is working with the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled on this initiative. This National Award-winning non-governmental organization prioritizes projects that empower people with physical impairments, visual limitations and learning difficulties.

According to Manoj AP, who’s in charge of corporate partnerships for the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, people with visual impairments often lack affordable access to audiobooks. Many books are not available in the tactile writing system Braille, and it takes about an hour to print one textbook in Braille. Kindle and other audiobook platforms on the Google Play Store or the Apple Store have audiobooks but often require a subscription fee and ongoing renewal charges.

The Trust’s audiobooks are globally accessible, and downloads are free. The online library, called Sugamya Pustakalaya, has more than 300,000 books, opening doors for learning, independence and educational opportunities.

Giving employees an opportunity to help

The Unisys India CSR team plans to expand its involvement with the project. By engaging more volunteers and partners, they’ll be able to record audiobooks in various languages for a broader range of age groups and on more topics, including specialized content for children with disabilities.

For the Unisys Audiobook Initiative, the Samarthanam Trust selects the books and provides recording guidelines, such as maintaining a uniform speaking pace. Unisys India CSR team participants sign up for the books they want to record from a list. The trust edits the recorded audiobooks, which include leisure reading materials and textbooks to support diverse learning needs.

Unisys Business Analyst Madappa B.D. joined the audiobook project because of a desire to help. He appreciated the challenge of reading aloud with clarity and conveying each character’s emotion, recognizing that “someone is relying entirely on your voice to experience the story.”

“The Unisys Audiobook Initiative is a unique and rewarding way to give back,” Madappa said. “There’s a deep sense of purpose in knowing that your small contribution makes a real difference in someone’s life. It motivates me to stay involved and contribute more in the future.”

Unisys Engineering Project and Program Management Director Prasad Krishnagiri recorded “Mystery with a Dangerous Beat,” part of the Hardy Boys series. He recalls almost finishing a chapter before experiencing unexpected background noise and having to rerecord. After that, he reserved a meeting room and recorded for two hours at a stretch for a few days to complete the recording.

Prasad loves the scalability of this volunteer opportunity. “One recording can be shared with many people,” he explained.

For Unisys Quality Analyst Geetha Omtri, this initiative represents fulfilling a “longtime wish come true.”

“I always wished to lend my voice to a noble cause but did not come across the right platform. When I heard about the Unisys Audiobook Initiative, I immediately signed up for it,” Geetha said. “I enjoy imagining myself as the character while reading a book. Participating in this initiative makes me extremely happy.”

Encourage volunteering in your organization

Corporate giving programs benefit the larger community while employee participants gain a sense of satisfaction from helping others. Unisys believes in the remarkable benefits of corporate social responsibility and supports employee volunteering through our corporate social responsibility program. Learn more about Unisys Cares initiatives around the globe to inspire your initiatives and contact library@samarthanam.org if you’re interested in recording an audiobook.