School dropouts gain from Yello care event

MTN has a social responsibility of supporting the community in developmental activities

KIGALI, Rwanda - Under privileged pupils who dropped out of school due to of inadequate school fees breathed a sigh of relief recently. MTN Rwanda employees recently raised $30.000 during the “21 Days of Y’ello Care” event.

“We have been able to again support 20 schools during the 21 days where our employees led efforts to equip rural schools with desks, books and playground equipment for childhood development, ”Yvonne Mubiligi, Manager of MTN Rwanda Foundation said.

The 21 days of community work is a period in which the company volunteers time, human resource and other scholastic items to make a difference in communities across the MTN footprint.

Mubiligi said over 500 pupils, students and 200 teachers benefited from ICT training that was offered by the MTN staff in collaboration with the Rwanda Education Board (REB).

21 days is an annual company staff volunteer programme and this year’s theme was dubbed “Investing in Education for All”, focusing mainly on digitisation of teaching and learning.

“MTN staff conducted training in cloud computing and virtualisation with university students across the country,” Mubiligi said.

The Corporate Social Responsibility Project cuts across other African countries where MTN operates. For instance in Zambia MTN staff donated over 10 computers and conducted computer literacy lessons with learners at primary schools in Lusaka’s Matero constituency according to a statement.

“Over the years, we have participated in several projects, including the construction of infrastructure, renovations, the fight against malaria, skills development, and ICT capacity building in schools,” Mwenzi Mulenga, General Manager for Corporate Services at MTN Zambia said.

MTN Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan plus many more all volunteered in helping the different schools in the country which is part of the company’s annual activities of the year.

MTN staffs continue to supervise the projects even after the 21 days. For instance 91 women with disabilities in Khartoum in Sudan received ICT training and there progress is continually monitored. The aim is see over 800 women benefit from such training.

This has been yet another successful Y’ello Care programme hoping for a far better one next year,” MTN Group General Manager for Corporate Affairs Xolisa Vapi said.

He said MTN needed such time which helps them reach out to the less privileged people in the communities.

MTN group was launched in 1994 and works in over 22 countries in Africa, Asia, and Middle East.

Since March, 31, 2014 the company has recorded over 210.1 million subscribers from all the 22 countries it operates from.

By Agnes Bateta, Sunday, June 29th, 2014


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