Introduction: In countries with low donation rates, one of the contributing factors is lack of public awareness. Well trained volunteers can act as foot soldiers for raising awareness.
In 2017, MOHAN Foundation, an NGO in India, initiated a specialized volunteer training program called ‘Angels of Change’ for empowering individuals with knowledge about organ donation and to equip them to share this information within their communities. The face-to-face training approach inspired volunteers to seek further information and fostered strong connections with NGO's staff, driving their passion for the cause.
During COVID-19 lockdown, the program was adapted into online sessions, rebranded as ‘Organ Donation Ambassador Program’. This presentation discusses the delivery method of this program and the resulting impact.
Method: The ‘Organ donation Ambassador Program’ is designed as three sections –
1. Gift of Life Course – a four-hour, online interactive course created on an open-source learning management system, with following topics - 

• Deceased organ donation – process and importance
• Legal and ethical aspects
• Religion and organ donation     
• Voluntary whole-body donation

2. Periodic sessions with participants via video conferencing, where they interact with transplant clinicians, donor families, recipients, and transplant coordinators, to understand their perspective and clarify doubts
3. Finally, they were expected to undertake activities promoting organ donation
Results: 330 ambassadors were trained through 22 batches, in 2 years. The trainees were mostly students, members of other NGOs and social groups, donor families and recipients.
Following awareness initiatives were undertaken by the Ambassadors after their initiation –

• Face to face workshops - 25
• Online workshops - 16
• Assisting with online projects -16
• Social media campaigns -5
• Surveys and field work -6
• Creating organ donation chatbot -4
• Online competitions for students -2
• Podcasts -2
• Creative poster designing -1
• Introducing chapter on organ donation in a book -1
• Participation in rallies -35

A few of the activities such as - organ donation conversations to smaller groups, friends and families, or distribution of donor cards, could not be measured.
Transition of volunteer training to online mode and the interactions have been readily embraced by younger volunteers. Senior volunteers needed more interaction and help in making presentations. A WhatsApp group of these volunteers has created a healthy competition among them to take-up more initiatives.
Conclusion: The online training has been an effective in not only spreading awareness about this sensitive topic, but also creating an effective volunteer force from across India, during the difficult pandemic period. These volunteers continue to add value to the work of the NGO as they bring with them various skillsets, expertise and energy.