Building ties...In Society
We strongly believe that when it comes to Corporate Responsibility, a company should give back to society nothing but its very best.
Over the years, OTE has associated its presence with contribution to society. Our company is committed to expanding and reinforcing its social role through actions and initiatives that contribute to keeping and safeguarding social cohesion. Our top priorities focus on supporting vulnerable social groups, as well as volunteerism, facilitating access to new technologies and promoting cultural heritage with emphasis on the periphery.
“116000”, European Telephone Number for Missing Children
Implementing our Corporate Responsibility programme, we continue our 10-year cooperation with the “Child's Smile” society. In this context, we undertook the installation and operation (within the OTE network) of “116000”, the European Telephone Number for Missing Children. It is a child helpline providing reports on missing children.
Greece is the second country-member of the E.U., after Hungary, where “116000” has been set up under the “Child's Smile” society, implementing the relative European Commission's Decision. Its goal is the coordinated combat of child abductions or life threatening disappearances of children not only at a national, but at a European level as well.
“Together for children”
The last 6 years, we have been actively supporting the work of the society, “Together for the Child”, by donating part of our revenues gathered through the various OTE cause-related marketing activities, at Christmas time.
Reinforcing this collaboration, we helped set up the 11525 child helpline, by providing the necessary technical and financial support.
The helpline commenced in January 2008, with the aim to provide consultation and guidance to children, teenagers and parents. It can be reached from Monday to Friday (9:00-17:00), where specially trained personnel, such as social workers and psychologists, help callers by providing them with the appropriate advice and information.
We "transfuse" our...consideration
Pioneers in Employee Blood Donation
Since 1976, OTE has organized Voluntary Blood Donors' Employee Groups, in order for the company and its people to contribute to this vital "matter of life". The response of the company employees was immediate, with the number of OTE blood donors now reaching 3000 people.
Employee group blood donations take place twice a year, in autumn and spring, at OTE buildings around Athens.
Besides Athens, OTE voluntary blood donations take place in about fifty areas nationwide, in collaboration with large regional hospitals, sending a message of compassion and solidarity from OTE employees to all local communities.
For 2008, throughout the country, the OTE Group employees gathered 2,875 units of blood, 1,995 of which were donated in Attica. 1,045 units were given to cover the needs of OTE Group employees, while 1,830 units of blood remained at the disposal of the Hospitals.
For its substantial contribution to society, OTE has many times been awarded with state distinctions.
Our immediate response to people hit by disaster
Building hope
We undertook the construction of a day nursery, which we donated to the Municipality of Agia Varvara, Egaleo (Athens). This action was part of our overall decision to support the Attica Municipalities hit by the disastrous 1999 earthquake, in Athens. We did the same for the Municipality of Kamatero, in 2004.
We provided Telematics/Tele-medicine Services in Shri-Lanca
OTE offered videophones and other necessary equipment for a period of two months, covering at the same time the cost for a 2-hour/day-satellite connection, to the ARGONAUT Emergency Operations Team, which provided medical assistance to the people hit by the tsunami disaster in Shri-Lanca.
We offered our financial support to the tsunami victims of Southeast Asia
The OTE Group donated the amount of 100.000 euros during the Telethon organized by NET (New Hellenic Television), a fundraising event, to alleviate the suffering of those affected. It also offered the required telecommunications infrastructure to facilitate the television auction organized by ERT (Hellenic Television).
Furthermore, the 17,000 OTE employees rose to the occasion and immediately responded to the initiative of their Union, OME-OTE, by offering 3 euros, each, from their payroll, for the same purpose.
Opening up the road to Broadband
Realizing the urgency of our country to enter the digital era, OTE made it its top priority to familiarize all the people with new technologies, especially focusing on rural areas.
To this end, we have embarked on a range of programmes including:
• Creating a large-scale Broadband Roadshow, to travel around Greece
• Donating company computers and other equipment to not-for-profit organizations and schools, throughout Greece, for the 3rd year running
• Providing all top academic achievers with totally free fast internet access, for the fourth consecutive year through the DIODOS action, as a reward for their educational success.
Our contribution to Education with New Technologies
E-learning Programme for remote schools (DIAS)
We participated in the DIAS programme (Greek acronym for Remote School Satellite Web), via the OTE satellite digital platform. The programme commenced in December 2003, was completed in May 2005 and funded by the General Secretariat for Research & Technology. Its purpose was the provision of open, remote education to teachers of 10 remote schools nationwide, through satellite communications.
Programmes for students' specific learning needs
From 1999 up until 2001, 40,000 students from 350 schools, 20 of which were schools for disabled children, were informed on protection against earthquakes, through the use of videophones.
We provide Employment opportunities
Student recruitment
Every year, OTE recruits students on a three-hour, eight-month basis, to cover the needs of the OTE Call Centres in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra and Heraklio. The purpose is to help young people through their studies. In 2008 about 2,500 students were employed on an eight-month three-hour basis.
Moreover, we gave the opportunity to 431 students to complete their training by offering internships in a modern work environment, collaborating with the university community and public bodies (for example state employment organisations).
Our Social sponsorships are long-lived
We support "To Hamogelo tou pediou" Society the ("Child's Smile" NGO)
OTE undertook the installation and operation of the SOS "1056" ChildLine. Support to the above NGO began in 1997. The ChildLine can be reached 24 hours a day and has been included in the European Helpline Network. In 2008, 142.858 calls were received.
"Together with the Child" 11525 Emergency Line
We expanded our cooperation with the European Union by sponsoring the 11525 helpline, which aims at providing relevant advice and directions to children, teenagers and parents.
OTE embraces "Cerebral Palsy (CP) Society"
OTE, constantly supports the CP Society's significant work and huge efforts. We covered the operating costs of the ‘Adult Club’ which in 2008, employed 62 adults with cerebral paralysis in creative programmes, such as: art programmes, theatre group ‘Thiasos tis Tritis,’ music workshop, literature programme, motion and expression programme.
We stand by MDA HELLAS Society (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
Since 2003, we have donated an amount for the completion of the first Neuromuscular Diseases Special Unit in Greece, at the "Agia Sophia" children's hospital.
OTE has also undertaken the two-year contract concerning the employment of a special Molecular Biologist to cover the needs of the second Neuromuscular Diseases Unite in Greece.
Moreover, we donated approximately 18.000 euros from our Christmas Campaign for the purposes of MDA.
In 2008, we supported the effort for the creation of the ‘Youth Centre,’ which gives patients the opportunity to watch training and entertainment programmes, as well as the appropriate relief aid.
Embracing children
For six consecutive years, a substantial part of the revenues derived from OTE’s Christmas campaign has been donated to charitable organisations. In 2008, the amount of 250,000 euro, which was gathered from calls made during Christmas, New Year’s Day and Epiphany Day, was given to support the objectives of Charitable Organisations, namely ‘TOGETHER FOR THE CHILD’ Association, the Association for people with Neuromuscular Diseases MDA HELLAS, and the 'CHILD’S SMILE’ NGO.
We extended our "Olympic" hospitality to children (August 2004)
In the context of our Olympic Sponsorship and Hospitality Programmes,we offered 450 tickets for the Olympic Games to Societies for the Child. The children watched the Games from the OTE Stadium Suite. We did the same for the Paralympic Games too.
We help the Food Bank-Foundation fighting against Hunger
OTE financially supports the important work carried out by the Foundation, which aims at fighting hunger and limiting waste. To this end, for the third consecutive year, our aid benefited 2,735 poverty stricken people.
We find ways to support the significant work of charity associations in the Greek Periphery as well
We make Christmas a happy time for everyone
Showing our concern for society, not only in words but in deeds, at Christmas, we often financially support societies and charity associations in the broader Greek periphery, which are not in the limelight of the capital.
The Hellenic Society for Disabled Children (ELEPAP)
OTE contributed and made it possible for the Society to hold its Christmas celebration titled "Christmas time in the land of the Goblins.
The Patra Spastic Children's Unit
We provided and installed a state-of-the-art telephone exchange to cover the needs of the Spastic Children's Unit in Patra.
The Thessaloniki Association for Anaemia Sufferers and Parents with Children Suffering from Anaemia
OTE sponsored the singer, Yiannis Kotsiras charity concert organized at the Dasos Theatre, for the purpose of supporting the work and activities of the Association in question.
We foster Culture and highlight the History of Telecommunications
We created our very own Museum
The OTE Museum of Telecommunications was established in 1990. It is housed in a 1000m2 privately-owned OTE building, where one can find the permanent exhibition hall, a projection room, a lecture hall, a library and a laboratory.
The purpose of the Museum is the research, study and documentation, as well as the collection, preservation and display of exhibits, pertaining to the evolution of telecommunications technology, from ancient times to the present day.
OTE, sponsor of the Symi Festival
In support of remote areas of our country, we sponsored the Symi island Festival. In 2005, the festival commemorated the Greek-Turkish friendship and peaceful co-existence between our two peoples. The events lasted for three months and included classical, modern and traditional music, theatre, cinema, letters and arts. All events took place at the traditional Symi buildings, promoting thus the architectural legacy of the Dodecanese island.
