Telecom operator, Vodafone has marked 25 years milestone of transforming lives globally with its charity arm, Vodafone Foundation.
The foundation also unveiled a new logo to define its next line of direction.
The foundation has over the last two decades empowered a number of people and communities in health, education, mentoring programmes as well as other social interventions.
Speaking at the programme to commemorate the milestone, Serpil Timuray, Regional CEO of Vodafone, Africa, Middle East & Asia Pacific Region said the foundation had invested over $1 billion on its interventions in 27 countries including Ghana.
“At Vodafone, we believe that our mobile communications technology can address some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Our responsibility is to utilise our strength in innovation and creativity to mobilize social change and improving people’s lives.”
“Globally, the Vodafone Foundation supports projects that are focused on delivering public benefit through the use of mobile technology across the areas of health, education and disaster relief. Over the 25 years, Vodafone’s local foundations operating in 27 countries including Ghana have invested a combined $1 billion in their communities and supported organizations,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, CEO of Vodafone Ghana, Yolanda Cuba said the move forms part of Vodafone’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
She said such initiative is central to their business model adding that “we have made it a habit of always searching for creative opportunities to contribute to the communities in which we operate.”
Yolanda Cuba further highlighted some projects executed by the foundation including “early literacy development and growth through provision of libraries; reading materials and organising reading clinics for children in deprived communities and schools across the country.”
The rest are: “increased ICT literacy by setting up centres and training teachers and students of schools in deprived communities, provisions of medical incubators to give premature babies a greater chance of survival whiles reducing mortality rates.”
“Supporting correctional Institutions through training workshops for social workers to equip them with knowledge and information on Behaviour Management to assist juvenile offenders, equipping remand young girls with practical training in batik tie and dye, sewing, modeling, and customer service experience, to make them useful when rehabilitated.”
Notable initiatives by Vodafone Foundation in Ghana
The Foundation was launched in Ghana in 2009 with the aim of supporting sustainable initiatives that drive social change, improve people’s lives and solve pressing social needs.
Some broad projects it has initiated include Healthline, Mobile 4 Good, MoJa among others.
Under Moja, the foundation uses a mobile phone app to get volunteers to donate blood to the nation’s blood bank to save more lives.
In education, it has built an ultra-modern library for the Asofan Cluster of Schools, near Ofankor in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The foundation with its Healthline is footing bills for free scan for pregnant women and educating thousands of others on health.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin