Diversity & Digital Inclusion: The Orange Way!

7 July 2023

June 21, 2023, a date that's etched into the memory of every Orange employee. This day marked the first anniversary of the Orange Digital Center (ODC) and the Orange Belgium Fund, two initiatives launched with a clear purpose: bridging the digital divide. Discover how we celebrated this anniversary together. 

Straight from the beating heart of Belgium, BeCentral in Brussels, we set up a memorable live event, inviting all Orange employees to join us in celebrating this milestone. For an engaging two hours, we took charge of the airwaves with our Orange Radio live stream. 

We provided a vibrant mix of engaging activities and fascinating testimonials. It was a chance to reflect on our achievements this past year and, more importantly, to firmly set our sights on the future.  

A year after the launch of the Orange Digital Center and the Orange Belgium Fund, we can be proud of our accomplishments: 150 training courses, 22,000 training hours, 1,410 trainees, and 41% female participants. And this is just the beginning! 

A year has passed but our journey has just begun. We're moving full steam ahead with several powerful new initiatives: the launch of the Tech Academy with the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and a new exciting partnership with Girleek! 

That's right: we're teaming up with ULB! Our collaboration has led to the creation of a brand-new Chair, specifically to support telecommunications education within the civil engineering curriculum. 

Frédéric Robert, Dean of the Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, shared his excitement: "We at the Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles are thrilled about our new exclusive collaboration with Orange Belgium. Thanks to this multi-year agreement, we can offer our future civil engineers at the ULB a learning environment that's always up-to-date with the latest technologies.

This collaboration doesn’t only impact their standard courses but also includes their final projects and internships. Meanwhile, Orange's experts benefit from the vast research capabilities and educational experience our school's teams have to offer. " 

Because, honestly… What better way to shape the future of technology than to inspire the engineers of tomorrow, today? 

In collaboration with Girleek, we're rolling out the red carpet and opening the doors of our brand-new 'Digital House'. Specifically designed to empower women with limited digital skills, the Digital House is a place of powerful transformation. You'll find them in both Antwerp and Brussels. 

Our goal? To unlock the world of technology for women, regardless of their current digital skills. Our ambitious overall target is to educate and empower over 1,540 women in twelve months’ time, helping them to thrive in the digital world. 

Girleek CEO Julie Foulon is enthusiastic about this collaboration: "Girleek offers practical, flexible, and customised training for all women, regardless of their level and/or skills. My goal is to empower women and introduce them to a world of opportunities where they can work and flourish. Thanks to this partnership with Orange Belgium, we can kick it up a notch!" 

More than ever we are determined to bridge the gap and leave no one behind in the digital wilderness. Technology? We make it accessible and understandable, for everyone. Regardless of who you are, where you're from or what situation you're in, we are committed to promoting digital inclusion and diversity. That's the Orange spirit. We're #ProudToBeOrange. 

Brace yourself for even more thrilling adventures in the digital world with Orange! Follow us on our website and our social media channels to see how we continue to make a positive impact together! Because the best is yet to come. 

P.S. Click to learn more about our Orange Digital Center