CSR News

Grameenphone to launch ‘Information Boat'

Grameenphone Ltd. has signed an agreement with CARE Bangladesh to launch a project titled ‘Tathyo Tari' (Information Boat) that is designed to provide necessary livelihood information to the riverine communities of Bangladesh.

The main objective of this project is to educate and empower rural communities with necessary and appropriate livelihood information.

The Information Boats will work as information hubs to meet the communication needs of rural communities, especially in the Char and Haor areas, as people of these areas have limited access to up-to-date livelihood and other information due to their remote presence from the mainland.

 These boats will also be equipped with digital contents such as livelihood and agricultural information suited for the specific areas served by the designated boats. At the same time, skilled trainers from CARE Bangladesh will provide training to the local community people on different livelihood options.

Grameenphone will provide support to build four (4) such Information Boats and also provide necessary technological support for providing information. A typical Information Boat will be equipped with computers, Internet and email facilities, photocopiers, fax machines, printers, camera TVs and video machines, scanners and much more depending on the needs of a specific community.

Grameenphone to provide scholarship to underprivileged students

Grameenphone has recently embarked upon a CSR partnership with Grameen Shikhkha, an organization of the Grameen Bank family to provide scholarships to the underprivileged, but bright students at various academic levels.

Grameenphone has been involved in this project since 2003. Currently, 36 scholarships are managed under GP’s fund. The new agreement between Grameenphone and Grameen Shikhka is to further strengthen this partnership and increase the number of scholarships starting from grade VIII up to graduation degree. 60% of these scholarships will be targeted towards female students.

Education is one of the key focus areas of Grameenphone’s social investments. GP aims to work hand in hand with the Government and other relevant development actors in meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 by working in the areas of poverty alleviation, health, education and empowerment.

Grameenphone extends help for the cyclone victims

Grameenphone has been actively involved in the emergency relief efforts for the SIDR-affected people over the last few weeks. The first phase of the relief effort concluded in last week of November. During the first phase, a total of 10,000 family packs were distributed and 7,000 patients were treated in 10 medical camps in different cyclone-affected districts namely, Madaripur, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalokhati, Bagerhat, Gopalganj and Shariatpur.

 In the second phase, which started in the first week of December, a total of 7000 family packs were distributed. Each family pack contained 4 kg rice, 1 kg dal, 1 kg salt, 2 kg wheat/flour, ½ liter oil, 6 candles, 1 tin/carton biscuits, and 1 kg chirra. Keeping in mind the approaching winter, a blanket and a saree/lungi had been also included in the family packs.

Earlier, Grameenphone made a contribution of Tk. 1 crore to the Chief Adviser's Relief Fund. In addition, Telenor, the majority shareholder of Grameenphone, had donated another Tk. 2.3 crore and the GP employees contributed their one-day's salary towards the relief effort. Telenor's wholly-owned subsidiaries Sonofon and Telenor Pakistan donated BDT 1 million each towards Grameenphone's fund for the rehabilitation of the SIDR victims
In addition, makeshift tents made from Grameenphone's old billboard vinyl, were built and handed over to 400 families in Barguna district.

Grameenphone also set up donation boxes in 50 Grameenphone Centers to collect donations from subscribers. The collection continued till December 20, 2007 and the proceedings will be later donated to the Chief Advisor's Relief Fund.
Grameenphone officials, along with members from the Management Team, took part in the relief distribution.
The company also participated in the joint SMS donation campaign, launched in collaboration with the other mobile operators, with each SMS adding Tk, 10 towards the relief effort. The entire amount collected from this collective SMS campaign will be donated to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Rehabilitation Fund.

Reception for Bangladesh Special Olympics Team

Grameenphone Ltd. organized a reception program on December 12, 2007 for the Bangladesh Team who participated in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

This year Bangladesh Special Olympics Team comprised of 47 participants performed exceptionally well and won a total of 71 medals. They participated in seven categories namely, aquatics, athletics, badminton, bocce, football, table tennis and cricket. The team won 32 Gold, 15 Silver and 24 Bronze medals.

Earlier this year Grameenphone embarked upon a partnership with Special Olympics Bangladesh to sponsor the Bangladesh team's participation in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Special Olympics Bangladesh is a non-profit organization, accredited by Special Olympics International, and created to help people with intellectual disabilities to develop self-confidence, social skills and a sense of personal accomplishment through sports training and competition.

As an extension of its support, Grameenphone also plans to assist in developing the capacity of Special Olympics Bangladesh, as well as its athletes by organizing regional and national competitions to search for new talents and train them for future Special Olympics Games. One of the core values of the company is to be inspiring and Grameenphone is committed to champion it by empowering these athletes.

 AIDS Awareness Campaign

In response to the worldwide movement against HIV and AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals set by the Bangladesh Government, Grameenphone is working as a catalyst to unite leaders behind this cause.

UNAIDS Bangladesh and Grameenphone are working together to build an AIDS-free Bangladesh through the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum (APLF). APLF is part of the 'World AIDS Campaign with Leaders', which aims to create an enabling environment in support of policy action on HIV and AIDS.

 Five eminent leaders working in different fields such as, Government, Media, Development Sector, Fashion, Culture and Business in Bangladesh have joined the APLF. They are, Maj. Gen. Dr. A S M Matiur Rahman (retd), Honourable Health & Family Welfare Advisor; Ms. Runa Laila and Mr. Alamgir, renowned cultural personalities; Mr. Shykh Seraj, Director News of Channel I and agriculture development expert; and Ms. Bibi Russell, fashion icon and development activist. Mr. Kafil H.S. Muyeed, Director of New Business Division of Grameenphone, is also a member of the Forum.

Grameenphone started a mass media campaign that continued from mid-November to World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007. The mass media campaign included television commercials, press advertisements, radio announcements and billboards. The campaign highlighted messages from the six APLF members with an objective to raise awareness and encourage an open and candid social dialogue on this crucial issue.

Grameenphone also sponsored the screening of a telefilm titled UTSHO (The Source) produced to raise awareness on the issue.  The film highlights transmission of HIV through unsafe blood transfusion and focuses on the need for support and care for HIV positive individuals.

 6th Free Eye Camp

Grameenphone organized the 6th Free Eye Camp in Balaganj, Sylhet. The VARD Eye Hospital, a local NGO, was the implementing partner of this eye camp along with Sight Savers International. More than 1,100 patients were given free eye treatment, among which 175 patients were referred for and administered Intra Ocular Lens (IOL) or cataract surgeries.

Visual impairment creates social and economic dependency. One person goes blind every 5 seconds; one child goes blind every 1 minute in the world. Bangladesh has the highest number of blind people in comparison to its population and there are about 750,000 adults and 40,000 blind children.

Grameenphone previously arranged 5 (five) eye camps in different areas of the country namely, Cox’s Bazar, Bagerhat, Natore, Dhaka and Kurigram. Till date, over 8,000 patients have been given eye treatment and over 1,000 patients have been given free Intra Ocular lens or cataract surgery.

 Employment opportunity for Acid victims

Grameenphone extended its support to the Acid Survivors' Foundation (ASF) in its effort to rehabilitate the acid victims by providing employment opportunities.

Grameenphone has already taken six individuals who have been supported by the Acid Survivors' Foundation and provided them with employment within the company. These individuals will also be provided with necessary skills training required to help them take on their new responsibilities in the company.

Bangladesh has one of the highest numbers of incidents related to acid violence and acid burns. These incidents constitute 9% of total burn injuries in Bangladesh. The majority of the victims of acid violence are women (47%), while men and children account for 26% and 27% respectively.

Grameenphone will also provide necessary support to ASF in raising awareness against acid violence.