Pepsi & Jordan Ice & Aerated Water Company (Pepsi Jordan) to Donate 50 Tablets to Local Ilearn Initiative to Support Distance Learning for Rural Children

In line with their ongoing commitment to provide aid and support to the local community, Pepsi and Jordan Ice & Aerated Water Company (A Joint Venture between Pepsico Inc. & AlQahtani Holding), are donating 50 brand new tablet devices to “ILEARN.” “ILEARN” is a local initiative that launched the “Teach Them Yourself” campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and UNICEF to help children in Jordan’s rural areas continue their education through distance learning tools with support from the platform’s volunteer team.

Recently, several consumers in less fortunate areas of Jordan have highlighted how Pepsi’s “Summer Under the Cap” campaign has helped their children continue their learning on digital platforms by allowing them access to internet via free data bundles. The Jordan Ice and Aerated Water Company, in collaboration with “ILEARN” is keen to build on this success by securing more devices for students in need to create meaningful opportunities for disadvantaged communities as they navigate this challenging time.

Speaking on the initiative, Motassem Salameh, HR and PR Director at Jordan Ice & Aerated Water Company (Pepsi Jordan) said, “Several reports have indicated how difficult distance learning can be for families with limited income living in rural areas. However, they are grateful for the positive impact of our efforts so far, and we want to continue to provide the support they need to navigate the difficult circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. At JICE, one of our biggest priorities is our responsibility to serve and help our communities. We believe all children should have access to the resources they need to continue their education, which is why legitimate private initiatives such as ILEARN, are so incredibly important. We are proud to contribute to this organization in support of their mission to help underprivileged families in rural communities with the donations they are gathering, and through their wonderful team of volunteers.”

From the outset of the pandemic, PepsiCo’s focus has been firmly placed on helping people deal with the effects of the crisis. It has worked closely with bottlers in various markets, and closely with government entities and NGOs to respond to challenges as they develop and support local communities and customers. To date, PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation jointly with its local bottling partners have donated $5 million to support relief efforts across the MENA region, including extending support to Tikiyet Um Ali to expand its capacity and distribute 1.7 million nutritional meals.

Echoing this, Mustafa Shamseldin, Senior VP & Chief Marketing Officer – Africa, Middle East & South Asia at PepsiCo, said, “We recognize our role in leading by example and are privileged to support the ILEARN initiative in Jordan. Being community stewards is enshrined in our guiding principles and we feel strongly about using our brands, resources, scale, and influence to grow and prosper collectively, leaving no one behind in the journey. Helping students continue their education demonstrates our commitment to ‘Winning with Purpose’ and strengthens our efforts to complement PepsiCo’s global response to the pandemic by supporting those in need locally via local initiatives. Our support to JICE (Pepsi Jordan) is yet another step in bringing the full strength of PepsiCo to communities around the world.”

Pepsi & JICE are partnering with Telecom provider, Orange Jordan, to offer free internet to students in need, and “ILEARN” to extend their learning mission to more children from underprivileged families, giving them access to the education they need and deserve, regardless of circumstances.