Orange Jordan launches large-scale CSR strategy for 2010-2012

As a translation of the royal vision that seeks to achieve sustainable development in the Kingdom with substantial private sector contribution in this regard, and in their longstanding commitment to the local community, Orange Jordan recently unveiled its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy for the coming two years with a total budget of JD3.5m.

The strategy was announced during a ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel last Monday under the patronage of the Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Marwan Juma. The ceremony was also attended by the delegate of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Education Mohammad Majali; the Chairman of Jordan Telecom Group Shabib Ammari; Orange Jordan’s CEO Nayla Khawam; the President of the Jordanian Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Fadi Kawar; the Chief Commercial Officer Wassila Zitoune; Madrasati’s Director Dana Dajani; the CEO of Shabakat Al Urdon Rami Al Karmi; General Manager of the Jordan River Foundation Valentina Qseisieh, in addition to a number of media representatives and the company managers.

In his keynote speech during the event, Dr. Shabib Ammari said that the launch of this strategy stems from the Group’s commitment to supporting local communities by helping them achieve sustainable development and increase Internet awareness.

Khawam explained that the company has taken the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II as a framework in developing the company’s new CSR strategy, adding that she is optimistic about its success as it is “the culmination of a comprehensive study of public needs done in cooperation with various official entities with the objective of creating sustainable development projects affiliated with the telecom sector.”

Khawam added that “Orange Jordan is the only company capable of spreading Internet culture on a long-term basis due to the rich infrastructure the company enjoys.”

The strategy comprises of two projects: Orange Villages and the Orange Internet Fund, both of which come as a continuation of the company’s previous accomplishments in the field of CSR which were achieved in partnership with several civil society organizations and initiatives, such as the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) and the Madrasati initiative.

The Orange Internet Fund comprises of three main clusters geared towards helping citizens of the Kingdom’s governorates gain access to the internet regardless of service provider, in addition to building the capacities of schools when it comes to internet use. The fund will also launch a large-scale awareness campaign in the governorates on the importance of the Internet in life and work.

The initiative will also furnish 500 schools with 512 Mbps ADSL connections from Orange, including all the needed infrastructure and equipment. Orange will begin with 100 schools that are under the umbrella of the Madrasati initiative and will later move on to other schools operating under the Ministry of Education, at which point the schools will have the opportunity to apply for connections under a mechanism outlined by Orange. The project also entails the renovation of the computer labs in schools in addition to providing teachers of computer sciences with laptops and free internet subscribers. The teachers will be trained on the modern methods of utilizing computers and the internet towards developing the educational process.

The Orange Internet Fund falls in line with Orange Jordan’s plans and its longstanding commitment to bettering the quality of its services – an objective the company achieved with the launch of its revolutionary 3G+ network for the first time in Jordan and the deal it had signed to establish the first terrestrial fibre optic cable connecting several countries in the region.

The Orange Villages project comes to crown the great success the company achieved in the Rassoun Village in Ajloun. The company has decided to implement similar development schemes in the villages of Rajm Al Shami in Mowaqqar to serve as yet another shining example to be implemented in the other villages that will be targeted by the project. The project has adopted two schools that house approximately a thousand students, in which the company will establish football stadiums to be used by students and their families during and after official school hours – an initiative done in partnership with Hikmat Road Safety. The project will also establish two libraries in both schools.

A seamstery workshop will also be established to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for the women of the village, sidelining another initiative that will launch a 4-acre thyme plantation that to rejuvenate the agricultural and commercial fronts of the village. On the technological front, a computer lab will be established with a free internet connection for the benefit of the village’s students, to be utilized for educational purposes and for university registrations. Training courses will be provided for minimal costs that will be delivered by volunteers and specialists from the village’s residents.

The project will also tackle the village’s health sector in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. A sonogram, cardiogram and other basic medical equipment will be procured to be used at the village’s Health Center, which will save residents the burden of distant hospital visits.

On the environmental preservation side, decorative and evergreen trees will be planted in the village’s desolate areas. Recycling bins will also be provided at schools and various locations in the village.

Orange Jordan has a longstanding track record in supporting the local community on various educational, health and environmental levels. The company also participates in various national occasions and celebrations as a gesture of appreciation to those who embrace its products. The company believes in the importance of contributing to all efforts geared towards expediting the process of sustainable development in these communities.