MTN sets up ICT Resource Center at Shimoni Teacher’s College via ‘21 Days of Yello Care’

MTN Uganda staff today kick-started their annual 21-day-long staff volunteerism initiative in which employees across MTN’s international footprint take time off to physically get involved in activities that uplift communities around them through financial, physical and emotional contributions of staff and MTN as a corporate citizen.

Commissioned in 2007, 21 Days of Y’ello Care has grown to become one of the key highlights on the MTN calendar, with all staff participating across all countries where MTN operates. The three operations with the best plans and executions win a trophy and cash to re-invest in education projects in their respective countries.

In 2014, MTN Uganda was the overall winner across the 22 operations under the MTN Group and won a trophy and $100,000 that will be re-invested in community towards fostering education especially that around digital empowerment this year.

The 2015 programme was launched at Shimoni Core Primary Teachers College in Kiira Town Council, Wakiso District. Employees of MTN Uganda set up an ICT Resource Center and donated 15 computers and free internet connectivity for an initial period of 3 months.

For the next 21 days MTN staff will be traversing the whole country from Central, to Western region in Kasese district; Northern region in Lira district, South Western region in Masaka and Kisoro; and finally in Eastern region in the districts of Mbale and Bududa. Throughout the 21 days, similar ICT Hubs will be set up by Staff of MTN.

Commenting on the initiative, MTN Uganda’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mapula Bodibe said, “At MTN we are passionate about Corporate Social Responsibility. Education happens to be at the forefront of our CSR agenda which is evidenced through the work of the MTN Foundation”.

“We chose to launch this year’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care at Shimoni Core Primary Teachers College because we see investment in the teaching sector as a worthwhile intervention. As we all know teachers are the foundation of the education sector,” Bodibe added.

One wise man said ‘A good teacher is like a candle- it consumes itself to light the way for others’.

The launch also featured the state of the art MTN Internet Bus which aided training, mentorship and career guidance for learners and teachers.

The MTN Internet Bus, a vital component for the promotion of ICT, is targeting to have 2500 people as beneficiaries of the training by the end of the 21-day programme.

In line with MTN’s vision “To lead the delivery of a bold, new Digital World to our customers”, several operations will again engage in activities that seek to introduce learners and teachers to the digital world.

Education is one of the most important investments a country can make to its people and its future and it is critical to reducing poverty and inequality and MTN Uganda realizes and understands the need for investment in the education sector.

MTN Chief Executive Officer Brian Gouldie said the MTN Uganda staff activity will this year continue with the theme of “Investing in Education for all” adding that MTNs operations will engage in projects that have a positive and sustainable impact on the education sector regionally.

“At MTN, we have refocused our interventions towards empowerment of the communities in various areas. Education is one such area which is very close to our hearts because of the direct link between improved literacy and the socio-economic status of any community,” he said.

“Our commitment to ICT as the driver of all our initiatives will undoubtedly give our education efforts the much needed edge to deliver our children into the new world,” Gouldie added.

According to United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), each additional year of schooling can increase a person’s income by up to 10%, and raises average annual GDP by 0.37%.

Funding of the project is solely dependent on contributions from MTN Staff who also physically get involved in the campaign activities. Leveraging on MTN’s regional presence across the country, the planned activities will allow a cross section of staff to participate in this worthy Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.