On Thursday 16 November 2006, Archbishop and Nobel Prize winner, Desmond Tutu, member of the Advisory Board of Close The Gap was in Brussels to receive the 30.000th computer out of the hands of the CEO of Deloitte Netherlands, Roger Dassen. Deloitte Belgium has been a partner since the start of the organisation, founded in 2003 and run by Olivier Vanden Eynde. To watch the ceremony click here.

Following Deloitte Belgium’s lead, Deloitte Netherlands has recently become a new structural partner and was happy to hand over this computer to the Archbishop. The event got massive press coverage and was broadcasted by all Belgian television channels while all major newspapers published articles and pictures.

A very enthusiastic Tutu spent a large amount of time to address the crowd composed mainly of press and responsibles of partnering companies. He took time to answer questions and to pose with the CEO’s and CSR responsibles of different companies. He thanked also the efforts of Close The Gap and stressed the importance of it’s role in bridging the digital divide.

Roger Dassen, the Dutch CEO made a great speech on the necessity of increasing the access to knowledge for developing countries. Worldwide, Information Technology has become the single most important source for the availability and the transfer of knowledge, which are the main drivers for economical and social progress. While the West is using IT to its full extent, Third World countries like in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia struggle to put their human knowledge and IT training to work.

“Corporate responsibility means for us that we, as market leader, with our core activities want to create a positive social impact. Deloitte wants to stimulate education, entrepreneurship and information transfer towards organizations in the developing countries. The ambition of Close the gap fits perfect onto this. Deloitte supports the activities of Close the Gap by supplying capable en dedicated co-workers and by offering hardware and financial means.” said Roger Dassen.

Deloitte believes in successful partnerships and the partnership with the NGO CLOSE THE GAP is an excellent example of it. A partnership with Close the Gap and a partnership between Deloitte Belgium and Deloitte Netherlands joining forces in supporting this magnificent project together.

On Thursday 16 November 2006, Archbishop and Nobel Prize winner, Desmond Tutu, member of the Advisory Board of Close The Gap was in Brussels to receive the 30.000th computer out of the hands of the CEO of Deloitte Netherlands, Roger Dassen. Deloitte Belgium has been a partner since the start of the organisation, founded in 2003 and run by Olivier Vanden Eynde. To watch the ceremony click here.

Following Deloitte Belgium’s lead, Deloitte Netherlands has recently become a new structural partner and was happy to hand over this computer to the Archbishop. The event got massive press coverage and was broadcasted by all Belgian television channels while all major newspapers published articles and pictures.

A very enthusiastic Tutu spent a large amount of time to address the crowd composed mainly of press and responsibles of partnering companies. He took time to answer questions and to pose with the CEO’s and CSR responsibles of different companies. He thanked also the efforts of Close The Gap and stressed the importance of it’s role in bridging the digital divide.

Roger Dassen, the Dutch CEO made a great speech on the necessity of increasing the access to knowledge for developing countries. Worldwide, Information Technology has become the single most important source for the availability and the transfer of knowledge, which are the main drivers for economical and social progress. While the West is using IT to its full extent, Third World countries like in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia struggle to put their human knowledge and IT training to work.

“Corporate responsibility means for us that we, as market leader, with our core activities want to create a positive social impact. Deloitte wants to stimulate education, entrepreneurship and information transfer towards organizations in the developing countries. The ambition of Close the gap fits perfect onto this. Deloitte supports the activities of Close the Gap by supplying capable en dedicated co-workers and by offering hardware and financial means.” said Roger Dassen.

Deloitte believes in successful partnerships and the partnership with the NGO CLOSE THE GAP is an excellent example of it. A partnership with Close the Gap and a partnership between Deloitte Belgium and Deloitte Netherlands joining forces in supporting this magnificent project together.

The organisation is an international non-profit organisation, which actively helps to bridge the digital divide. This is achieved by lengthening the life-span of Western IT equipment, which is replaced at an ever-increasing rate, even though it is still more than compatible for current use. Since Close the Gap was founded in 2003, thousands of computers have been donated by Western companies. They have been put to work once more in developing countries where they offer a springboard for both individuals and communities to make steady progress as they bridge the digital and economical divide.