While rural connectivity remains a challenge, digital exclusion also affects urban populations, older individuals, vulnerable customers and those experiencing financial hardship. VodafoneThree’ s approach builds on lessons learned from its earlier programmes. Initially, the company measured success through numerical targets, such as connecting millions of people via SIM cards; however, this approach proved too simplistic.“ Connectivity is the starting point,” she says. Providing a SIM card alone does not guarantee meaningful digital participation.
Instead, VodafoneThree’ s Made for Everyone pillar focuses on three connected areas of work:
• Inclusive access
• Confident users
• Resilient communities
Through partnerships with organisations such as Trussell, a UK charity tackling food poverty, and the Good Things Foundation, which promotes digital inclusion, the company helps remove practical barriers to participation, build people’ s skills and confidence, and strengthen the local support networks
6 vodafonethree. com