Q&A: CABLE & WIRELESS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Ruchi Kaushal
General Counsel
What is the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation, and why was it created? Ruchi: We launched the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation (CWCF) in 2017 as part of our commitment to doing business in a responsible and sustainable way. Today, it’s a powerful platform, helping to enable progress and build more resilient communities across the Caribbean and Latin America region. Since its launch, the Foundation has donated millions of dollars to help local, regional, and international agencies deliver relief and recovery projects across our region. We created the CWCF due to the crisis we faced as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, as well as the threat of other seasonal hurricanes. As a large telecommunications provider across the Caribbean and Latin America, we have an important community responsibility, and the 14 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Noelle Smikle Director of Foundation
hurricanes made it necessary for us to rethink the way we respond to humanitarian emergencies. We launched the CWCF with initial funding from our Company of US$500K to provide hurricane and eventually other relief. The Foundation raised funds from partners, customers, and employees to provide support to local, regional, and international agencies as they execute relief and recovery projects across the region. Most recently, we have been providing direct relief to communities in need. We respond with urgency and sensitivity in times of disaster. While over the medium-term, we help build more resilient communities by providing funding, technology, and upskilling to enable progress and build local economies. The result is that people are better able to cope with future adversity.
