Orange Belgium responds to European Commission’s initiative “Laptops for Ukraine” with donation of devices and extra support via the Orange Belgium Fund

Orange Belgium is donating 700 laptops to Ukraine’s civil society and €50.000 to digital inclusion NGOs in Belgium via its Orange Belgium Fund. This contribution is a response to the Laptops for Ukraine donation campaign launched by the European Commission at the beginning of this month, but it is also a concrete materialization of the operator’s commitment to more digital inclusion.

The European Commission states that no less than 70,000 teachers from 5,000 schools in war zones are requesting digital support to continue education, amongst the many sectors in urgent need.

Xavier Pichon, Chief Executive Officer at Orange Belgium: “We recently signed 2 Charters: one for Digital Inclusion (DigitALL) and one for Sustainable IT in Belgium, reconfirming these topics as part of our strategic priorities. When we heard about the initiative launched by the European Commission and the organization DIGITALEUROPE, we decided our commitment needed to extend beyond our borders. We sincerely believe that helping in Ukraine can have a positive impact on society as a whole.”

Orange Belgium also still helps Ukrainians to stay connected to their friends and family at home. Since February 2022, residential and business customers with an Orange postpaid subscription will be able to call Ukraine fixed and mobile numbers for free.

In addition to the laptop donation effort, Orange Belgium is also providing financial support to two important organizations in Belgium via the Orange Belgium Fund in order to foster the digital inclusion of all refugees

• €25.000 for Blenders for the Digidak project. Based in Turnhout, the organization provides classes and individual digital support for the most vulnerable citizens, including refugees and seniors,
• €25.000 for the Citizen Platform of Support to Refugees, active in Brussels and Wallonia. The donation will finance computer equipment to facilitate the staff’s work, as well as help refugees with their administrative procedures and WiFi connections to allow them to stay in touch with their families abroad.

“Not a one-shot action, but a structured approach”

Rather than a one-off action, Orange Belgium’s donation is aligned with the company’s CSR programme, with a particular focus on the environment and digital inclusion around two structures: the Orange Digital Centre, that offers free digital and entrepreneurial training courses, and the Orange Belgium Fund, that sponsors digital inclusion projects on the ground.

Isabelle Vanden Eede, Chief Brand, Communication & CSR Officer at Orange Belgium, comments: “Our contribution to “Laptops for Ukraine” is not a one-shot action but part of our structured societal approach, to contribute to a better and more inclusive society. The creation of the Orange Digital Center as well as the Orange Belgium Fund centralizes our long-time commitment towards society. It has been created to provide concrete assistance to associations on the ground that are active in digital inclusion. We really want to make a priority commitment to people currently excluded from digital, especially young persons in precarious situations and women. Given the current geopolitical situation we also added to our program associations that support Belgian citizens who are helping refugees acquire digital skills and equipment.”

The Orange Digital Centre: https://orangedigitalcenter.be

The Orange Belgium Fund: https://corporate.orange.be/en/foundation