Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Vodafone Ghana earmarks GH¢150,000 as social investment

Vodafone Ghana Foundation is to commit GH¢150,000 into its ‘World of Difference’ project to enhance community development and social investment programmes.

Kyle Whitehill, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana who disclosed this, said the investment is directed at making a positive contribution to the society by providing specialised capacity building programmes for locally registered charities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with suitable social investment strategies and objectives.

“By investing in the community in this way, the Vodafone Ghana Foundation seeks to make a contribution to poverty reduction and strengthening conditions for the most vulnerable members of society to participate in the country's future economic growth.

“When Vodafone Ghana Foundation was launched, one of the promises we made was to deliver a different yet refreshing approach to corporate charity. We said volunteerism and community building were going to be key drivers of our foundation,” he stated.

Mr. Whitehill, made this statement in Accra at a programme to officially introduce thirty final applicants selected to commence voluntary work in partnership with NGOs and deprived communities to make a positive contribution to the underprivileged people in society.

The applicants, including doctors, teachers, journalists, football administrators, nurses, social workers and lecturers, will be expected to bring their experience and knowledge to bear on the work of NGO’s they have opted to work with and help change lives in their communities.

The Vodafone World of Difference aims at bringing corporate philanthropy to a new level, whereby individual professionals step out of their regular jobs and get into peri-urban and rural areas - making a difference to rural folks’ prospects and lives.

The project, which is one of the key activities of the Foundation, currently runs in 17 operating companies and has seen individuals make a huge difference and transformation to the lives of communities and NGO’s across the world.

Ms. Afua Amankwa Sarkodie, Secretary Vodafone Ghana Foundation, said the project is a way of renewing the spirit of volunteerism in the country while reshaping the approach of corporate entities to helping the needy in society.

“I am optimistic that the applicants will bring a swift and sustained change to the lives of NGO’s and particularly the communities in which the NGOs’ operate.”

She explained that applicants will be spending a total of two months with a chosen NGO or charity and get paid for the period. This is to make their stay as pleasant as possible.

Dr. Kobina Quansah, Board Chairman of the Foundation, said “I am excited for the future of our country. I am excited that there is hope, that we still have committed young men and women who are willing to sacrifice their time and knowledge to build our country.”

Vodafone had invested over 100 million pounds in projects since 2002, concentrating on disaster relief, helping disadvantaged young people via sport and music initiatives, and specific local projects across Vodafone's 23 foundations worldwide.

Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group, with approximately 269 million customers as of June 30, 2008. Currently, it has equity interests in 27 countries across five continents and over 40 partner networks worldwide.

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