ISSUE 11 / APRIL - Vodafone Fiji

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...Fiji’s first Corporate Philanthropy SeminarRajeshwar Singh of BristishAmerican Tobacco (BAT) spoke onEmployee Engagement in CommunityDevelopment.Singh said BAT believed in addingvalue to communities in which it operates.He said employees needed a sense ofbelonging, something they needed toassociate with apart from their routinework.“We emphasize on employeeempowerment, get involved in activitieswe believe in”. Some of the activitiesthat BAT contributes to are Clean-UpFiji Campaign, Old People’s home, andHome of Compassion to name a few.The company also formed partnershipwith Rotary Pacifi c Water for LifeFoundation and supplied water to over200 households.He said the company recentlyembarked on two employeeengagement programmes: WorkplaceGiving Programme where employeeshave agreed for a payroll deduction andwhen it is needed the funds are given forWomen needed to praisethemselves more for the amazingcontribution they make to families,communities and the country.We must all learn not to beshy of our achievements, said Mrs.Manorama Singh to the Nausori RuralWomen’s Association’s InternationalWomen’s Day Celebrations onWednesday 10 March. Mrs Singhwas invited by the Association toshare her thoughts on the status ofwomen.“I’m not suggesting we becomeboastful and proud, but rather wetalk about each other’s successesinstead of gossiping about failures.”“The supporting and caring naturethat is innate in each of us is thestrength we need to help each otherreach our goals…it’s not a hand out,10 l www.vodafone.com.fj/foundationcharity. Volunteer Paid Leave Programmewhere employees are given paid leave forvolunteer work in the community.Hamidan Bibi of University of the SouthPacifi c’s Pacifi c Leadership Programmespoke on Corporate Social Responsibilityin a Leadership Context.Bibi focused on the learning thatoccurs within the working hours. “Timethat employees spend with employersis the most important part of the 24hours. She said employers should provideleadership in providing various skills setthat are important for both at workplaceVodafone’s Shalendra Prasad handing over prizes to seminar participantsand outside work.“Leadership qualities developedat work enables individuals to betterunderstand the social environmentand contribute to community at large.She particularly mentioned skills suchas communication, motivation, teamwork, networking, healthy living, changemanagement to name a few.She said corporates have a socialresponsibility to provide leadership toemployees so that they can contributeit’s a hand up…giving each other theboost needed to scale diffi culties,”she said.“Every success takes time andcommitment, every achievementtakes dedication to a goal. I suggestthat to get the equality we so crave,we have to be able to pat ourselvesand each other on the back fi rst,before we expect others to do it.”Fiji has ratifi ed the Conventionon the Elimination of all Forms ofDiscrimination against Women,also known as CEDAW. There havebeen huge achievements aroundthe globe for Equal Rights and EqualOpportunities for our gender, but,said Mrs Singh, there are also hugegaps that still remain to be fi lled.“The goal seems far away andhard to reach when you look at it onEVERYONE CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCEeffectively to society.Dr Ponnu Goundar of the Child HeartFoundation (CHF) spoke on the CHF andhow the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundationhas helped so many children live healthierlives. He said the Foundation had givenalmost $1million for heart surgeries forchildren with defective hearts.Dr Goundar explained to seminarparticipants the process involved inevacuating patients from Fiji and the costassociated with each case.Resina Koroi of the Rotary Pacifi c Waterfor Life Foundation said philanthropy wasabout the love of mankind. She said thefour local companies that support thewater project, Fiji Water Foundation,Vodafone, Westpac, and GoldenManufactures are examples of goodcorporate social responsibility.“They contribute $150,000 each yeartowards our programme for the last twoyears.”She said the foundation accounted forevery cent they spend on projects.She urged other organisation to comeup, sponsor, and own projects done bythe foundation. Koroi said the Foundationalso ran training on water management.Media Consultant Verleshwar Singhspoke on Strategic Philanthropy andPublicizing Giving.Singh asked companies to be strategicin their giving by striking a commonground between business and socialresponsibility.“Any giving that does not make asocial impact is useless. It is importantthat we create both social and economicimpact in our philanthropic executions,”said Singh.He said other organisations shouldlearn from Vodafone on how corporatesocial responsibility should be practised.Hamidan BibiDr Ponnu GoundarResina KoroiVerleshwar SinghWomen challenged to change, appreciate themselvesVodafone’s VdsMManorama aSSingh hllighting gccandle at the celebrationsa global llevel, l even at national llevel.l our nation.”But right here in Nausori, amongst “We should be able to stand upyour sisters, I believe we can achieve tall and say, ‘Yes, I did that and I’mgreat things. Even on a local scale, very proud of it because it took hardwe can act and be the change we work and perseverance.’ And wewant to see in our community and must persist at it.” Mrs Singh said.
Passion for the Vanuaby Aslam KhanFast-tracking the Red Alert Programmefor Cyclone TomasThe Vodafone Red Alert programme was to be launched on April 1, 2010 by allVodafone companies worldwide. In Fiji, the programme was fast-tracked because wesaw an immediate need after Cyclone Tomas devastated parts of the country.We quickly responded to the call for help by launching this programme. TheVodafone ATH Fiji Foundation contributed F$10,00.0. We also received support fromVodafone Group Foundation - £10,000, Vodafone New Zealand - NZ$10,000 andVodafone Australia - A$10,000. To make the programme more effective, we haveplans to advise our customers through SMS broadcast and not-for-profit campaigns.Customers and stakeholders of Vodafone Fiji Limited can help others by makingSMS donation and becoming part of the energy working to rebuild lives in Fiji. Theprocess is very transparent and involves all relevant stakeholders including VodafoneGroup Foundation. The Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation is engaged into partnershipwith us, ensuring the transparency, accountability and governance aspects of thisprogramme.My personal vision for this programme is to be able to assist the communities ofFiji during this disaster and engaging the stakeholders in helping those who needimmediate disaster relief to recuperate from the damages. We sincerely hope thiswill help them get their lives back to normal.Vodafone Red Alert complements the passion, values and strategies of all of uswho are involved. We continue to provide support to the Vanua. However, a nationalemergency such as Cyclone Tomas is a time when those affected need our supportmore keenly. We are achieving this by a simple and satisfying process – the givingby customers to fellow customers.Words from Foundation DirectorsSince I have come on board as Chair, I havewitnessed the hardwork put in by charitableorganisations in the areas of health, environment,education and youths, enhancing sustainablerelationships between corporate, civil society andother stakeholders. This is indeed making positiveimpact to local communities ... building trust andrelations with our charity partners and communities--- Michael Stanley, Chair and TrusteeBeing one of the donor to the foundation andseeing the changes being brought about in thecommunities of Fiji indeed gives me satisfaction.Our small Fiji is capable of doing wonders and littlesupport turns lives of communities. At heart we areable to engage with the communities where ourcustomers, employees, investors and suppliers live.We want to extend the benefi ts of technology tocommunities where we operate ... help protect thenatural environment of Fiji --- Tomasi Vakatora,Vice Chair and Trustee.I was able to bestow all my passion for children’shealth through the foundation and farewellingand welcoming childrens at the airport was anaffectionate event. Love to parents whose childrenare sick --- Manorama Singh, Trustee2009 was a challenging year for the foundationwhen the trustees embraced better fi nancialgovernance practices within and amongst ourcharity partners. Theproject took a sustainabilityand visibility turn makingsignifi cant interventions toeffective grant managementinturn building the capacitiesof charitable partners. Therewas good distribution of fundsin major thematic areas. Lets make a world ofdifference --- Divik Deo, TrusteeWitnessing the hard workof charitable organisations andvolunteers kept me being veryclose to the foundation. I takemy hats off for the volunteerswho got engaged to helpthose who needed assistance.Together we can help you helpothers --- Ateen Kumar, TrusteeBeing able to be ofassistance to the communitiesof the west and Virtues Fijidoing the outreach on instillingvirtues in children, parents,families and communities, mypassion for the unfortunatesare being realised in the west ...lets join hands and take the power of empoweringour communities --- Antonio Kitione, Trusteewww.vodafone.com.fj/foundation l 112004-2009$7million social investment in FijiSince inception, the Foundation hasdisbursed direct grant of $5.5m and indirectgrant of $1.5 million to 219 community basedprojects whilst partnering with more than 150organizations.In 2003 through support from VodafoneGroup Foundation $184,000 was disbursedto two charity organizations to help peopleaffected by cyclone Ami. In 2004, the foundationmade grant of $472,000 to 24 partner charityorganizations. With contribution of $638,000it endorsed grants to 30 community projectsin 2005. Majority of contributions were beingreceived from Vodafone Group Foundation.In 2006, 29 organizations received close to$793,000 to execute activities in communitiesthat would enrich lives. 2007 showed anincreased need in area of health and total of$F1.3 million were made to 36 civil societyorganizations, including UNICEF, contributingto millennium development and strengtheningpartnership with UNDP on global space.Dominated by the need in education sector,$931,000 worth of grants was made to 48community-based organizations includingschools in 2008. 2009 saw a signifi cant increasein grant disbursements with total of $1.24mgiven to over 50 charity organisations.Grant Distribution by Year‘Social Investment’At the heart ofour business’
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ISSUE 11 / APRIL - Vodafone Fiji

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