At the Vodafone Americas Foundation, we bring people together from all sectors to address some of the world’s most pressing social issues. We also know that sometimes the biggest change starts right at home, with our own workforce. As times change, so too do the opportunities for employee engagement. Just a few years ago, employee engagement might refer to volunteering at a local food pantry, or an after-hours mentoring agency. Increasingly, however, the workforce is becoming more diverse, more technologically connected, and more interested in helping their communities in novel and creative ways. More
Author Archives: June Sugiyama
Supporting Diversity in the Tech Industry with Code/Interactive’s Diversity in Tech Awards
It’s no secret that tech has a diversity problem. Minority groups have historically been underrepresented in the industry, and it’s often a pipeline problem that begins with early education. That’s where Code/Interactive, a non-profit organization focused on inspiring the next generation of diverse tech leaders, comes in. More
Deadline Reminder – Wireless Innovation Project Applications Close Monday, March 13
Have you finished and submitted your application for this year’s Wireless Innovation Project (WIP)? If not, do so soon as the deadline is now Monday, March 13! We’re getting excited to review all of the submission’s this year and we want your project to be a part of it. More
Fueling Innovation Through Competition
Innovation is a word used so frequently that perhaps it has become almost trivial. Globally, we use innovation to describe many things, from new technologies, to new processes, to disruptive ideas, but the action of innovation itself becomes harder to define, and harder still to execute. Countless ideas are abandoned because entrepreneurs could not find the proper funding or mentorship to build their idea from a mere thought to a reality.
Vodafone Employees Leverage Technology for Good with Kiva
The Vodafone Americas Foundation is excited to announce the launch of a new program with Kiva, a non-profit organization that allows people to lend money through an online platform to low-income entrepreneurs and students in over 80 countries. With this new program, the Foundation is providing a grant to Kiva to give Vodafone employees the opportunity to direct a loan to an entrepreneur or project of their choice through the Kiva platform.
Calling all Innovators! Deadline Approaching – Wireless Innovation Project Applications Close Feb. 27th
2016 is well underway and we’re getting closer to finding our winners for this year’s Wireless Innovation Project (WIP). Since launching in 2009, the Wireless Innovation Project has awarded $4.2 million to unique solutions made to help address critical issues around the world with a focus on helping people in the most vulnerable areas. This year will be no different! With the deadline quickly approaching on February 27th, we wanted to send a reminder to all who wish to enter and also highlight a few past WIP winners.
Organizations such as US universities, NGOs and entrepreneurs with nonprofit partners can enter for the Vodafone Americas Foundation Wireless Innovation Project competition 2016. Entries must be submitted by February 27th, 2016. For more details visit the Wireless Innovation Project (WIP)
Crossing the Bridge Between Commercial and Development
It’s been a few months since the mHealth Summit in December, giving me a little time to contemplate and write down my thoughts regarding the last event.
I must say, I had a strange feeling this time when I attended. At first I couldn’t really put my finger on what was different or missing. Eventually, I realized that I reserved myself for a whole week to attend an event that was divided in half. The first part of the week mainly targeted commercial entities, businesses that were there to demonstrate their latest products and sell. Their exhibits are grandiose; they have lots of products on display and sales people. This is where partnerships are made, deals are started and deals are closed, not to mention big parties.
The latter half of the week was left for the development sector: NGOs, nonprofits and social entrepreneurs, the folks working on the ground, deploying pertinent services to developing countries. They are more group discussion-based, strategic, and rallying to work together and speak best practices, but partnerships and deals are made here too. More