Vodafone to introduce 'World of Difference'

Accra, May 21, GNA - Vodafone Ghana would soon introduce its flagshi= p Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme dubbed 'World of Differen= ce'. Under it, high skilled professionals would be paid to bring their expertise to bear on charity projects across the country. The company has already initiated moves to get some of its high valu= e corporate clients to volunteer some of their high skilled employees to ta= ke leave without pay and get onboard the Vodafone 'World of Difference' trai= n and contribute their skills to charity as they get paid full salaries and=

allowances by Vodafone.

Mr. David Venn, Chief Executive Officer told a cross section of Vodafone's high valued corporate clients that for starters, 20 high skill= ed professionals would be taken onboard the 'World of Difference' train, whi= ch will soon be launched under the Vodafone Foundation. Mr. Isaac Cudjoe, Head of Corporate Communications, Vodafone Ghana, told the GNA that 'World of Difference' is a flagship CSR for Vodafone Foundation at both the group level and in Ghana as well. He said the programme would afford high skilled professionals the opportunity to take time off their normal work and undertake a project in= a community of their choice. Mr. Cudjoe said individual skilled persons would have to apply to the=

Vodafone Foundation, which would be chaired by Professor C.N.B. Tagoe, Vi= ce Chancellor of University of Ghana.

He said every application would be scrutinised on the basis of its genuineness and relevance to the intended beneficiary community. "Once selected the skilled person would preferably be working with an=

NGO on a project that is of relevance and of importance to the selected beneficiary communities," Mr. Cudjoe said. He said that "They will be expected to bring their skills to bear in various ways, including training, adding quality to the projects among ot= her things". Mr. Cudjoe said once World of Difference is set in motion in Ghana, Vodafone Ghana would surprise Ghanaians with numerous innovative ways of philanthropic activities across the country. Vodafone's World of Difference is an innovative programme that currently operates in 17 countries across the world, with more countries including Ghana, launching in 2010. To date, it has allowed over 700 individuals around the world to work=

for their dream charity and be paid. The Vodafone Group Foundation recently announced that it has stashed away 100 million Pounds sterling to support CSR activities across the wor= ld.