Ericsson has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Smile Foundation and NASSCOM Foundation to implement its corporate social responsibility initiatives in India.
In collaboration with Smile Foundation, Ericsson will drive two programs – STeP Smile Twin e-learning program and Smile on Wheels. Under the STeP Smile Twin e-learning program, Ericsson will support thirty STeP centers across Gurgaon, Noida, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata for a period of three years. The program aims to provide access to quality education to underprivileged youth through training in basic computer, telecom and retail sales management skills – along with proficiency in spoken and written English. The curriculum also includes sessions on personal development, career counselling and placement support.
As a part of the Smile on Wheels program, Ericsson will support five mobile medical units across five cities – Noida, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru over a period of three years. Through this program, Ericsson aims to promote community health and increase the accessibility of healthcare services to the underprivileged and economically weaker sections of society.
In partnership with NASSCOM Foundation, Ericsson will support the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM). As part of this program, Ericsson will adopt and support fifty existing NDLM centers across India and train approximately fifty thousand people on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) over a period of eighteen months. With the purpose of creating employment opportunities for underprivileged youth, the program will also offer job oriented skills.