Vodafone Foundation announces grant of Rs. 4 million for NGOs with Best Practice ‘Mobile for Good’ initiatives

After the success of last year, the Vodafone Foundation in association with Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) on March 12, 2012, announces its ongoing commitment to support socially empowering mobile initiatives throughout India. Four social enterprises which can demonstrate scalable, innovation mobile solutions currently being deployed and benefitting their users will secure Rs. 1 million each in funding to scale their projects.

In 2011, under the framework of mBillionth Award of DEF, the Vodafone Foundation introduced the concept of Mobile for Good (M4G) in India and committed an aggregate of Rs. 2 million in grants to 2 leading NGOs to help advance their highly impactful mobile initiatives. This year, the Vodafone Foundation will continue its successful partnership with DEF and increase the scope of the ‘Mobile for Good’ programme as part of the overall mBillionth Awards.

“With widespread mobile ownership in India, we believe identifying and supporting socially empowering ideas using the power of mobile can reap significant social benefits,” explains Laura Turkington, Director, Vodafone India Foundation.

The “Mobile for Good” initiative is hoping to generate strong interest amongst NGOs and at least 100 plus nominations are expected to participate in the programme this year across 8 categories. In addition to the financial support available, mentorship will also be provided to the shortlisted candidates. According to Osama Manzar, Founder & Director of Digital Empowerment Foundation, “India is an oral country with mobile proving to be the most effective communication tool enabling access to information to those living in the most rural of environments. We want to grow and diversify the mobile services which can make a positive impact on people’s live and believe this is a way in which we can do so.”

Vodafone Foundation and DEF plan to and felicitate the winners of the M4G programme on July 21 at a glittering function as part of the overall mBillionth Award 2012.

Contact: Chitra Chauhan,

E-mail: chitra@defindia.net

Tel: 011-26532786, Fax: 011-26532787

Vodafone Foundation
The Vodafone Foundation is a charity registered in England with registration number 1089625 and its registered office at Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN, England. The Vodafone Foundation’s constitution permits it to distribute its income towards any objects that are charitable in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, wherever situate in the world. One of the Vodafone Foundation’s key focuses has been the reduction of digital and technological exclusion and bringing the benefits of mobile technology to communities or beneficiary classes throughout the world through the funding and/or execution of charitable projects.

Vodafone India Foundation

At the heart of our foundation is the belief that our mobile communications technologies can address some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and our responsibility is to utilise our innovative mobile technology to improve people’s lives.

The Vodafone India Foundation recognises that education and women empowerment are critical catalysts for positive change. As part of our social investment programme, the Vodafone India Foundation will fund projects which focus on both support and disaster relief. The Vodafone India Foundation also supports the unique World of Difference programme.

The Vodafone India Foundation registered in 2008 as a public charitable trust was set up with an initial grant from the Vodafone Foundation, UK.

Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) is a development agency, registered in New Delhi as a non-profit Society, promoting the cause of sustainable deployment and use of ICT tools and applications to bridge development and governance divides. Founded in 2002, DEF has since transformed itself into a South Asia entity pioneering in key grassroots and outreach programs using ICTs. Over the years, DEF has taken the lead in campaigning towards ‘Digital Content for Development’ and ‘Digital Inclusion for Development’. (For details please visit www.defindia.net).