Team Vodafone raises over £100,000 for refugee education

This summer, over 1,000 employees took part in a global challenge to raise funds for refugee education. Thanks to their efforts, Vodafone Foundation and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are one step closer to reaching 500,000 students via Instant Network Schools.

Over eight weeks, Vodafone employees from 25+ countries joined the Vodafone Foundation challenge. Together, they logged 26,000+ hours of activity across 54 different sports, from running to horse riding, skating and martial arts.

One highlight was the UK challenge, where 300 people took on a 10km, half-marathon or full marathon route around the rolling hills and Thames path at Mapledurham Country Park.

Staff from Vodafone Group’s Paddington HQ and VodafoneThree’s Newbury campus were joined by runners from as far afield as Ireland, Belgium and Germany. Several ran or walked full marathons, with many attempting the feat for the first time.

It wasn’t just for fun. Employees were fundraising for Instant Network Schools - a portable ‘classroom in a box’ with tablets for the students and a laptop, projector and speaker for the teacher. The kit includes internet connectivity, is powered by solar, and tablets are pre-loaded with a curriculum that is tailored to different languages and cultures.

A classroom isn’t complete without a teacher. Through Instant Network Schools, teachers are trained to plan and deliver digital classes and are fully supported by a local coach who maintains all the kit in the classroom.

There are currently 131 Instant Network Schools across six countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Tanzania. Since 2013, Instant Network Schools have directly benefitted 382,451 students and 6,882 teachers.

Lisa Felton, Vodafone Foundation Managing Director, said:

“Across the world, millions of innocent children are caught up in conflicts that have a devastating impact on their lives and their education. But no matter where you are, education is not only a human right. It is also a pathway to a better future.

“That’s why hundreds of Vodafone employees volunteered when we asked them to run or walk to help refugee children get the chance of an education.

“Everyone had their own reason for taking part. One colleague couldn’t run 1km at the start of this year, and he took on a half-marathon. Others have families that have experienced becoming a refugee, and so the fundraising is close to their hearts.”

Vodafone Senior PA Kate Harris, walked the entire 26-mile marathon course. She said:

“Having trained for three weeks, I was the first to set off and last across the line. It’s been six years since my last attempt to walk a marathon, so it wasn’t easy. But I know how much of a difference this will make to refugee children, and I wanted to do my best to give them a better education.”