Will raise funds through Giving Championships, which aims to provide education to 30,000 out-of-school girls
India CSR News Network
NEW DELHI: Vodafone India, one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, announces the third season of ‘World of Difference’ (WOD) programme in India, a flagship initiative run by the Vodafone Foundation. Operating in 22 countries worldwide, the WOD programme is Vodafone’s unique way of corporate giving that goes beyond the traditional ‘cheque book’ approach. The WOD programme in India runs in partnership with Dasra, India’s leading strategic philanthropy foundation.
33 highly skilled Vodafone employees, identified after a rigorous selections process, will work with 29 NGOs addressing women issues in India for a period of 8 weeks. WOD taps into the skills, expertise and passion of employees and enables them to take time out from their regular jobs and work for a charity of their choice. The employees continue to receive their salary and all related benefits from Vodafone India throughout the WOD Programme.
Beginning this year, Vodafone Foundation is also introducing World of Difference Connect programme, thus taking engagement deeper by providing four senior managers to work on key strategic projects of four NGOs for a period of eight weeks in a specific format.
Speaking about the initiative, Marten Pieters, Managing Director and CEO, Vodafone India said, “The World of Difference programme is an integral part of our commitment to contribute to society in the most meaningful way. Our employees are true representatives of the commitment and we gain from the rich experiences and learnings that they bring back from their stint in the programme. We have received phenomenal response over the last two years and will continue to build this exclusive employee volunteering programme.”
During this time, Vodafone India will also raise funds through “Giving Championships” for the NGO-‘Educate Girls’, for the second consecutive year. The Giving Championships aim to put nearly 30,000 out-of-school girls in school and ensure they stay there through one academic year. The cost to enable one girl to do this is only Rs.250. Vodafone’s robust network of 454 exclusive retail stores will also raise funds and create awareness about girl child education through the sale of special school-theme ZooZoo and Zumi merchandise.
Another interesting innovation in this year’s WoD program is the new World of Difference Mobile App. This application that has been developed by mVentus will improve reporting, connect and communications from the ground whilst the 33 WoD winners are in their respective NGO locations.
The company believes that such initiatives lead to more flexible, creative and innovative organization that serves diverse segments of the market and society cutting across geographies.
Expressing his delight on this wonderful association, Deval Sanghavi, CEO, Dasra says, “Dasra is honored to be associated with the Vodafone Foundation ‘World of Difference’ programme for the third year since its inception. Through the volunteer hours Vodafone employees dedicate every year; this one of a kind programme provides NGOs with something far more valuable than donations- exceptional skills and the power of human passion to transform the lives of those living in poverty and facing challenges in different spheres of life.”
Since 2011, 45 employees have donated over 15,000 hours of their time working with 44 diverse NGOs on defined projects over 8 weeks in India. In 2013, Vodafone employees raised INR 97 lakh for 25 unique social causes through the Giving Championships held during the WoD programme.
