VimpelCom launches “Make Your Mark”

“VimpelCom Ltd.”, a leading global provider of telecommunications services operating in 14 countries and headquartered in Amsterdam, today announces the launch of its “Make Your Mark” initiative and publishes a report on the role of mobile operators in developing digital entrepreneurism.

“Make Your Mark” is a key element of VimpelCom’s corporate responsibility strategy, with the objective of “Helping young people shape their future”. “Make Your Mark” recognizes the challenges that today’s young people face in relation to issues such as poverty, youth unemployment, inadequate healthcare and education, food security, resource scarcity and climate change – reinforced by a rapidly growing population. “Make Your Mark” aims to provide young people with technology tools, support and mentoring, and in some cases access to basic education, to help them tackle these challenges at an individual, community and national level – to shape their future.

“Young people will face many challenges over the coming years.  Through ‘Make Your Mark’ we can focus our technology, expertise and knowledge to help them to help themselves – to shape their future. I am very proud of what we have already achieved in this area but with this launch we aim to go much further”, commented VimpelCom’s Chief Executive Officer Jo Lunder.

“Make Your Mark” has three main elements:

- Helping young people who have little access to quality education to improve their life chances – helping themselves and their communities by shaping a better future. 

- Supporting young entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life as new digital businesses, leveraging mobile technology – helping themselves, their communities and helping to drive growth in the broader economy.

- Inspiring young people to use their energy, creativity and business ideas to address society’s challenges, creating “services for society” (such as in the areas of healthcare, education, financial services and agriculture) while shaping a more sustainable future for themselves, their communities and society as a whole.

With the “Make Your Mark” initiative, VimpelCom aims to broaden and deepen existing relevant initiatives across its Business Units and Operating Companies to create a critical mass of societal impact, as well as to stimulate innovation and digital entrepreneurism which are in turn positive for the business. The Company will report on progress and highlight case studies on a regular basis.

Further information can be found here.