14th February 2012...Leading converged communications solutions provider Safaricom has today launched a unique corporate giving initiative that will see its executive staff and managers volunteer their skills and expertise to partner organizations for a specified period of time.
The Safaricom Foundation’s World of Difference (WOD) program dubbed ‘Make A Difference (MAD) About Leadership World of Difference (WOD)’ targets management and executive level Safaricom employees for a series of strategic management and leadership secondments within a flexible time-frame.
It is an extension of the ongoing World of Difference (WOD) program, a unique Corporate Social Responsibility initiative that is run by Safaricom Foundation. WOD has been providing opportunities to Safaricom staff to work full time for a period of up to three months in the Foundation’s partner organizations, providing their technical knowledge and skills, with the aim of making a difference and impact in the selected institutions.
Bob Collymore, Safaricom CEO, who will also be seconded to one of the Foundation’s project partners says that the new ‘Make A Difference (MAD) About Leadership’ WOD program has been designed to allow Safaricom staff to volunteer their strategic and management expertise to partners and support the Kenyan community.
“When we launched the first phase of World of Difference in 2009, we moved away from only engaging our staff in day-long events, to giving them an opportunity to go for longer term secondments to contribute their knowledge, skills and expertise in developing and transforming organisations and communities, which are key beneficiaries of our CSR projects. The WOD underlines the fact that our culture of innovation goes beyond customer service,’’ he said during the launch of the program.
According to Joseph Ogutu, Safaricom Foundation Trustee, organizations that will host the Safaricom staff include; Kenya Red Cross Society, Kenya Diabetes Management & Information Centre, Alive and Kicking Kenya, Green Belt Movement, Kenya Paraplegic Organisation, Nyumbani Children of God Relief Institute, inABLE, Liliane AIDS Disabled Programme, Single Mothers Association Kenya, Goldentop Rehabilitation & Vocational Training Centre, Koins for Kenya, Zabibu Centre, Arrow Web Hospital, Ngare Ndare Forest Trust, Disability Resource & Information Centre (DRIC) and Mathare Community Education & Development Organization (MCEDO).
“Through the World Of Difference program, our staff members are seconded to work with a Foundation project partner, applying their professional and technical skills based on mutually agreed objectives for a period of three months,” said Mr. Ogutu, adding that during the secondment period, Safaricom continues to meet the staff salaries and other costs.
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