My blog focuses on nonprofits and their social media usage, but this post will look at Apple’s Corporate Social Responsibility. Are they hitting the mark?
In January 2018, Apple announced a partnership between them and the Malala Fund, becoming the Malala Fund’s first Laureate partner. (Laureate means someone who is honored with an award for outstanding creative or intellectual achievement.) The Malala Fund is founded by Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girls’ education advocate. She was shot on the way to school in 2012, which capitulated her and her cause onto a worldwide stage. This partnership significantly expands Malala’s effort to support girls’ education and equality. Malala’s Fund campaigns for every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, and equal education. Apple’s support of her cause makes it possible to double the number of grants from its Gulmakai Network and expand funding programs to Latin America and India with the initial goal of providing secondary education to more than 100,000 girls. Apple will also assist by providing technology, curriculum, and research into policy changes to affect girls’ education worldwide. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, joins the Malala Fund’s leadership council.
In July 2018, Apple launched a new collaboration with its 10 Apple Developer Academies in Brazil and the Malala Fund to continue to advance girls’ education opportunities. Together, they will implement projects across Brazil designed to empower girls, teachers, and policymakers through skill development, school enrollment efforts, and education advocacy.
In March 2021, Apple TV+ announced a programming partnership with Malala. They reported that the partnership is based on Apple’s partnership with the Malala Fund. Her original programming will span dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation, and children’s series, drawing on her ability to inspire people worldwide.
Apple has put the building blocks of a great partnership, but is it causing an impact?
When I looked at Malala Fund and Apple’s Instagrams, I saw nothing of this partnership. This left a hole where real change could be promoted and documented. It feels like a missed opportunity to spark inspiration and talk.
A quick 30-second clip of a classroom in Brazil, with girls learning how to code, could encourage girls in other countries-even, more developed ones-to do the same. Malala inspired multiple generations with her perseverance and dedication to education, and I can see her fund doing the same as it furthers her cause. So would a couple of posts stating facts and figures, documenting the change made after this partnership.
I was left wondering a couple of things:
- How long will this partnership go on?
- What is next for this partnership?
- Are they going to expand to more countries?
- Is Apple going to invest more money?
I didn’t know this partnership existed until I searched for a topic for this assignment. I imagine that others would want to know, too.
Apple can pour millions into this venture and still have plenty left for the following Apple products. Time for them to lead the change that needs to happen in our capitalist society and focus on projects that positively impact future generations.
If I were to support the cause fully, I would want more answers than a couple of articles throughout the years. It’s a good start, but more is needed. Nonprofits can take this and learn how to address their audience better and inspire more people.
