Who We Are

Corporate Social Investment is undertaken in each of the countries in which Vodacom operates. In South Africa, the Vodacom Foundation was established in 1999 as the primary vehicle for Vodacom to implement its Corporate Social Investment initiatives. With the primary focus on education and health, and its secondary focus on security, the Foundation supports sustainable projects that help counter social deprivation. These projects provide a channel through which the company shares the profits it makes with the communities in which it operates. In 2009, the Vodacom Foundation celebrates its tenth anniversary, during which it has contributed some R500 million to community projects.

Through the Vodacom Foundation, the company is able to provide a single entry point to respond to the various approaches for social development support, with some measure of consistency, despite having to maintain a balance between reacting to applications and proactively selecting projects. Thanks to some solid financial results delivered by the company, increasing annual allocations have been voted by the shareholders towards social responsibility, every year of the Foundation's existence. Our Corporate Social Investments through the Vodacom Foundation provide Vodacom with a platform to do good, and provide a practical expression of the company's caring credentials.

A Board of Trustees, comprising internal Vodacom Executives was appointedin 1999, which has adjudicated on applications received, based on agreed criteria.

Amongst the highlights of the Vodacom Foundation's first ten years of operation, are the following:

		Progressively increasing budget allocations since 1999
		Shift from informal and reactive organisation and approach to a largely proactive approach to project selection, through a formal Board of Trustees, comprising Vodacom Executives, staff representatives and independent Trustees
		Cumulative spend reaching R 500 million since October 1999
		Consistent top 5 ranking amongst "most caring" companies, in the country
		Formal registration as Public Benefit Organisation
		Establishment of a vibrant staff involvement programme, the Yebo Heroes, with about 1750 signed-up volunteers
		Rationalising of focus areas primarily to capacity-building initiatives in Education and life-changing operations in Healthcare, using ICT technology to solve social problems, wherever possible, by targeting vulnerable groups such as children, youth, women, elderly including the disabled
		Expansion of the beneficiary community through strategic partnerships with like-minded associates and committed education and health experts
		Provision for some fixed infrastructure like schools, libraries, creches etc alongside mobile infrastructure like laboratories, clinics etc

VODACOM FOUNDATION - PROUDLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE