MTN Uganda resumes 21 Days of Y’ello Care Campaign to drive economic recovery

MTN Uganda has launched its staff volunteerism campaign dubbed 21 Days of Y’ello care following the MTN Group’s announcement of the resumption of its employee volunteering program after two years of Covid-19.

The annual event aims to secure high participation levels of MTN staff in high-impact social projects to uplift and empower the local communities in which the company operates.

The campaign that is always executed within the first 21 days of June, will this year run under the theme: “Empowering Communities to Drive Economic Recovery”.

The aim is to inspire MTN staff to upskill local communities in order to drive economic activity and participation through focusing on digital skills training and digital job creation.

This is linked to MTN’s strategic priority to build digital skills for digital jobs aligned to the company’s Ambition 2025 Strategy.

While launching the MTN Uganda 2022 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign at the Kiira Road Police grounds in Kampala, The MTN Chief Executive Officer Wim Vanhelleputte said that it was heart-warming for the staff of MTN Uganda to once again dedicate their time, financial resources, and skills, with the communities in a bid to uplift them socio-economically, especially now, following the drastic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Focusing on empowering communities to drive economic recovery after Covid-19 through training, upskilling, and knowledge sharing will create lasting and sustainable change in our communities”, Vanhelleputte said.

This year, MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello care program will focus on upskilling and supporting women, youth, and disadvantaged population groups across the country.

10 groups have been selected in; Lira, Jinja, Masaka, Fort Portal and Mbarara as well as the 5 divisions of Kampala i.e. Nakawa, Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye and Central Division.

Two MTN Uganda staff teams interfaced with the Kamwokya Women tailoring group in the Kampala central division as well as the Tesobar deaf carpentry group in Lira.

The two groups underwent digital upskilling training sessions delivered by MTN staff, to help them harness the power of digital usage to bolster their economic activities through various digital channels that resonate with the current digital era.

The MTN team also engaged in community cleaning sessions before handing over assorted items to support the groups in their economic activities.

The Kamwokya Women’s Tailoring group received a recovery package comprising of tailoring equipment as well as soap-making machinery while the Tesobar deaf carpentry group received a package comprising carpentry tools and timber to support them recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Lillian Cheptoek, the Kamwokya women’s team leader thanked MTN for reaching out to their group.

“Our group was badly affected during the pandemic. We are happy that MTN has reached out to support us. We have learnt how to manage our business better and how to market our products on social media. We shall use the things they have given us to empower more women in our community,” Cheptoek said.

Other groups that shall be supported include; the Masaka Diocese Youth, the Jinja based Tabulera Kawuma deaf carpentry, the disabled association of Fortportal, the Bunusya abarema twetungure association in Mbarara, the Glorious widows of Makindye, Focus for Life Development Link in Kawempe, Missionaries of the poor in Rubaga and the Nakawa Market Vendors association.

All the above groups will undergo a digital upskilling training and receive recovery packages specific to their business needs, from MTN Uganda staff, who will also engage in a cleaning activity in their areas of operation.

Launched in 2007, 21 Days of Y’ello care is a global award-winning staff initiative that has seen MTN staff step out of their offices every year, to make a difference in the lives of the communities within which they work.

Some of the past initiatives in Uganda include a successful two-day career expo, various training programs aimed at tackling youth unemployment, and entrepreneurship training among many mentorship programs aimed at positively impacting communities across the country.

This year, MTN is committed to adding economic value by contributing to society through its programs focused on digital education, digital skills and digital skills training.

The company believes that reducing the digital skills gap will help address issues of digital and social inequalities while at the same time ensuring the sustainability of the business.

MTN is striving to ensure that it continues to strengthen and uplift all community members in their pursual of economic development within each community since everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life.

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