The project Participate! for people with autism is Mobistar’s most important social project. Since 2006, it has brought together specialists in the field of autism along with parents and Mobistar for the attainment of one general objective: to improve the quality of life of those with autism and their friends and families.

Achievements in 2012

• The interactive Participate! website provides highquality and accessible information to parents whose children have recently been diagnosed with autism. The site contains three main sections. The first section contains theoretical information as well as videos that illustrate the theory by presenting concrete cases. The second section provides tips on education and everyday life. The third section is a practical guide which was completed in 2012. Three psychologists produced the contents under the supervision of a scientific committee made up of specialists and parents. This section also contains ‘De Wegwijzer’ (‘The signpost)’, a handy tool that parents can use to share information about their child with those around them.
• Throughout 2012, Participate! stepped up its campaign to raise awareness about autism. Various training courses on using the website were also held.

Mobistar encourages its employees to be engaged with society. It has been noted that the interest in doing voluntary work has increased.

Achievements in 2012

• At Mobistar, June was the month of ‘Mobicents’, an initiative in which colleagues were able to get rid of their euro cent coins for a good cause. The result was 80 kilos of copper, worth about 1080 euros. The money was used by a group of Mobistar volunteers for ‘Operation Thermos’ in which 600 free hot meals were distributed to the homeless at Brussels Central Station.

Mobistar’s commitment to society is not limited to just a few people, but is widely supported by various departments. And this has had great results.

Mobistar has been involved in several solidarity initiatives for many years—and 2012 was no exception.

Achievements in 2012

• Along with other Belgian operators, Mobistar has run various fundraising initiatives by text message. No charges are made for messages sent as part of such initiatives. The cost of sending the text is passed on in full to a charitable cause. To qualify for this, the initiatives should be linked to a natural disaster, or a national or regional action. Last year, Mobistar participated as usual in Cap 48, the solidarity campaign run by RT BF and various campaigns run by VRT and Q-Music. Mobistar also participated in the campaign ‘Een Sms voor een Dakloze’ (‘A text message for a homeless person’) run by the Brusselsbased organisation Samu Social.
• Since 2004, Mobistar has donated used IT equipment to the non-profit organisation, Close the Gap. This organisation recycles the devices and uses them for educational projects in developing countries. In 2012, Mobistar donated 733 devices, including fax machines, laptops, PCs and printers.
• As in other years, Mobistar ran two blood drives in 2012, in cooperation with the Red Cross. A total of 171 employees donated blood.