The Orange Foundation and Orange Niger open a health clinic powered by excess solar electricity produced by a mobile relay station
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Paris, July 08, 2010 
On 7 July 2010, the Orange Foundation and Orange Niger opened a health clinic – a community medical centre – in Karazomé, near Maradi in southern Niger.
This health clinic is powered by solar energy provided by Orange Niger's technical facilities located nearby.
This pilot project is an exemplary success combining the Group’s technical expertise, its Corporate Social Responsibility policy, and its patronage actions.
In order to provide telephone access for people in rural Africa who lack electricity, Orange is deploying solar generators to power its mobile phone stations.
Its Africa-Middle East-Africa region (AMEA) today has 900 solar plants. Each solar plant saves up to 13,000 litres of fuel a year which would otherwise be needed to power generators. Given that a solar plant produces surplus energy on a regular basis, Orange is launching a pilot project to use this surplus energy to power the Karazomé health clinic.
This pilot project could be extended, as needed, to electrify schools, health centres, or public lighting depending on how close they are to the solar power plant.
This is an exemplary project that combines Orange’s technology, Corporate Social Responsibility policy, and patronage to improve the living conditions of surrounding populations.
This technical programme was initially designed to meet two major challenges for the Group: make communication services accessible for the greatest number of people and preserve the environment. But today it also incorporates an additional societal dimension: For each plant producing an average 25% surplus energy, Orange will evaluate case by case with local actors how to best use this energy to meet local villagers' needs.
As part of their patronage actions, the Orange Foundation and Orange Niger have funded electrification for the Karazomé health clinic, installed a water supply and equipped and fitted it out with medical equipment. These measures allow drugs to be stored and improves the conditions for the health staff working there.
Other patronage projects in health and education that the Foundation is running in Niger:
In solidarity with the people of Niger, the Orange Foundation and Orange Niger last June sent public authorities 500 tonnes of cereals worth €150,00 for distribution to people hit by the food crisis.
In the village of Zinder in eastern Niger, Orange funded the construction of two classes for the General Technical College of Kagna.
In the Dogondoutchi and Filingué provinces, in the south and northwest of the country, a major project is underway. The first part of it is to build and equip the Second Chance training centres for 240 children between the ages of 8 and 14, 50% of whom are girl school leavers. The second part of it is financial support to provide teaching facilities and toilets for 50 schools, benefitting 7,000 children of whom 4,200 are girls. This project is run in partnership with the NGO International Aid and Action and takes over from the “Girls in school" programme which had previously benefitted 15 communities around Balleyara.
Orange Foundation projects in Africa
The Orange Foundation has been running patronage projects in Africa since 2005. The Group’s patronage activities on the continent are focused on three broad areas: health/disability, education and culture.
The Orange Foundation currently coordinates and develops patronage projects in all 15 countries in which the Group operates: Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, Senegal, and soon Tunisia.
The Orange Foundation takes action to make the world more accessible
Since its creation in 1987, the Orange Foundation has been running a major patronage program as an extension of its corporate mission: helping everyone communicate better. By combating sensory isolation, promoting greater independence in daily and working life, and encouraging broader cultural and social life, the Orange Foundation is taking action to make the world more accessible. The Foundation’s patronage is dispersed in three areas: health/disability, education and culture.
A major component of the Group's patronage is employee involvement through volunteer work, project sponsorship and collective staff support.
In addition to its work in France, the Orange Foundation unites and coordinates all the Group’s patronage projects around the world, supporting projects in 30 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
About Orange Niger
Orange Niger is a subsidiary of the France Telecom Orange Group, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. The company launched commercial operations on June 30, 2008. Orange currently serves over 650,000 active customers with its mobile business and is the internet service provider of choice in Niger. Orange is committed to providing access to modern land line, mobile phone, and internet communications to the people of Niger. The network now covers more than 42% of the country (some 6,300,000 people) and will be extended to cover 75% by 2011.
On 7 July 2010, the Orange Foundation and Orange Niger opened a health clinic – a community medical centre – in Karazomé, near Maradi in southern Niger. This health clinic is powered by solar energy provided by Orange Niger's technical facilities located nearby.This pilot project is an exemplary success combining the Group’s technical expertise, its Corporate Social Responsibility policy, and its patronage actions.In order to provide telephone access for people in rural Africa who lack electricity, Orange is deploying solar generators to power its mobile phone stations.
Its Africa-Middle East-Africa region (AMEA) today has 900 solar plants. Each solar plant saves up to 13,000 litres of fuel a year which would otherwise be needed to power generators. Given that a solar plant produces surplus energy on a regular basis, Orange is launching a pilot project to use this surplus energy to power the Karazomé health clinic.
This pilot project could be extended, as needed, to electrify schools, health centres, or public lighting depending on how close they are to the solar power plant.
This is an exemplary project that combines Orange’s technology, Corporate Social Responsibility policy, and patronage to improve the living conditions of surrounding populations.
This technical programme was initially designed to meet two major challenges for the Group: make communication services accessible for the greatest number of people and preserve the environment. But today it also incorporates an additional societal dimension: For each plant producing an average 25% surplus energy, Orange will evaluate case by case with local actors how to best use this energy to meet local villagers' needs.
As part of their patronage actions, the Orange Foundation and Orange Niger have funded electrification for the Karazomé health clinic, installed a water supply and equipped and fitted it out with medical equipment. These measures allow drugs to be stored and improves the conditions for the health staff working there.
Other patronage projects in health and education that the Foundation is running in Niger:
In solidarity with the people of Niger, the Orange Foundation and Orange Niger last June sent public authorities 500 tonnes of cereals worth €150,00 for distribution to people hit by the food crisis. In the village of Zinder in eastern Niger, Orange funded the construction of two classes for the General Technical College of Kagna. In the Dogondoutchi and Filingué provinces, in the south and northwest of the country, a major project is underway. The first part of it is to build and equip the Second Chance training centres for 240 children between the ages of 8 and 14, 50% of whom are girl school leavers. The second part of it is financial support to provide teaching facilities and toilets for 50 schools, benefitting 7,000 children of whom 4,200 are girls. This project is run in partnership with the NGO International Aid and Action and takes over from the “Girls in school" programme which had previously benefitted 15 communities around Balleyara.Orange Foundation projects in Africa
The Orange Foundation has been running patronage projects in Africa since 2005. The Group’s patronage activities on the continent are focused on three broad areas: health/disability, education and culture.
The Orange Foundation currently coordinates and develops patronage projects in all 15 countries in which the Group operates: Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, Senegal, and soon Tunisia.
The Orange Foundation takes action to make the world more accessible
Since its creation in 1987, the Orange Foundation has been running a major patronage program as an extension of its corporate mission: helping everyone communicate better. By combating sensory isolation, promoting greater independence in daily and working life, and encouraging broader cultural and social life, the Orange Foundation is taking action to make the world more accessible. The Foundation’s patronage is dispersed in three areas: health/disability, education and culture.
A major component of the Group's patronage is employee involvement through volunteer work, project sponsorship and collective staff support.
In addition to its work in France, the Orange Foundation unites and coordinates all the Group’s patronage projects around the world, supporting projects in 30 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
About Orange Niger
Orange Niger is a subsidiary of the France Telecom Orange Group, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. The company launched commercial operations on June 30, 2008. Orange currently serves over 650,000 active customers with its mobile business and is the internet service provider of choice in Niger. Orange is committed to providing access to modern land line, mobile phone, and internet communications to the people of Niger. The network now covers more than 42% of the country (some 6,300,000 people) and will be extended to cover 75% by 2011.
press contacts
Erika Gélinard/Khadija Komara
service.presse@orange-ftgroup.com
01 44 44 93 93
Orange Niger
Alhassan Roni – Tel: (+227) 90 23 24 09 - Alhassan.RONI@orange-niger.ne
Nadine Hamadou – Tel: (+227) 90 23 24 06
Orange Foundation
6, place d’Alleray – 75505 Paris Cedex 15 – Tel: 01 44 44 89 63
www.orange.com/fondation
www.orange.com/fondation/blog
service.presse@orange-ftgroup.com
01 44 44 93 93
Orange Niger
Alhassan Roni – Tel: (+227) 90 23 24 09 - Alhassan.RONI@orange-niger.ne
Nadine Hamadou – Tel: (+227) 90 23 24 06
Orange Foundation
6, place d’Alleray – 75505 Paris Cedex 15 – Tel: 01 44 44 89 63
www.orange.com/fondation
www.orange.com/fondation/blog
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