At Technological Responsibility we strive to educate existing and future technology professionals about the impact that corporate social responsibility has on society and the industry as a whole. In order to accomplish this goal, today’s blog will look at the impact that Microsoft and Digital Data Divide’s CSR campaign had on the community of Nairobi Kenya. We believe that understanding the effects of this campaign is important because according to a report by Neilson, “CSR speaks to who the company is, what it believes in and how it is doing business. Companies that are able to get recognition for the softer sides of their business are on the right path to building a sustainable business for the future” (Forbes). Microsoft was recently ranked number one in the world for their corporate social responsibility efforts and the work they are doing to improve their community has helped them grow their business as well.
At the end of 2011 Microsoft provided Digital Data Divide with a $250,000 software grant in order for them to start operations. Digital Data Divide is a Kenya based social enterprise that trains and employs underprivileged high school graduates with hopes of training them to move out of poverty into higher paying technology jobs. Microsoft provided them with this grant in order to give back to the community and help create a new group of technology minded students within Africa. The graph below show the impact that Microsoft’s software grant had on the local community in Kenya.
Their efforts helped to eliminate 13% of the youth unemployment in the area because they were able to train Kenyan high school students and provide them with technology jobs. Additionally the funding that was provided by Microsoft allowed an additional 11% of the youth population to receive scholarships to attend secondary schools. Ultimately Microsoft was able to make a significant impact in the daily lives of Kenyan Youth with a relatively small software grant. To learn more about the grant and how it impacted Kenya read the study here.
This was just one example of how Microsoft is making an impact through CSR around the world. If you would like to read more about their efforts and how CSR could benefit your business read Microsoft’s annual Citizenship Report.
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