MTN Uganda staff kick off the annual ‘21 Days of Yello Care 2014 ’ initiative to support regional
education initiatives.
Release date:6/5/2014Kampala, Uganda-5thth June, 2014
With impetus and overwhelming enthusiasm, MTN Uganda staff have kicked off their annual 21
day long staff volunteerism initiative dubbed 21 Days of Y’ello Care 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.
This year marks the 8th year of this initiative where staff members from all 22 MTN Operations
go out to their different communities to make a positive impact on the lives of the people over a
period of three weeks. This year the theme is ‘Investing in Education for All’ and once again
MTN Uganda staff will travel to the different regions of Uganda to set up Regional ICT Hubs.
The first team has travelled to Kabale to Bishop Kivengere and Hornby High School where
MTN Staff will help to refurbish the internet libraries in both institutions.
On Friday, MTN staff will head northwards to Fort Portal to the Kichwamba Technical Institute
and Kabarole Public Library, both in Kabarole district. Kichwamba Insititute is famous for the
massacre that took place on June 2nd 1998 where close to 100 students perished as a result of the
Allied Democratic Front (ADF) Rebels. MTN staff contributed some computers and internet
connectivity to the Institute.
During the 21 days, the staff will be involved in setting up ICT hubs in the five regions (East,
West, North, Central and South West). This will complement the MTN Internet Bus, a vital
component for the promotion of ICT in rural areas in an effort to bridge the gap between rural
and urban areas.
Last week MTN Uganda launched its fully kitted, state of the art MTN Internet Bus worth UShs.
600 million. The Bus which is the first of its kind in Uganda, will go a long way in driving MTN
Uganda’s vision of enhancing ICT Education across the country. The MTN Internet Bus which is
equipped with sixteen high-end computer working stations as well as access to High speed
Internet Connectivity Service using the world class data infrastructure powered by MTN 3G and
4G LTE Technology with Wi-Fi coverage. The Internet Bus is the first to be introduced in
Uganda by MTN the Leader in the delivery of Bold Digital services.
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 Mazen Mroué said 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 impact on the education sector regionally.
“The issue of education is a key priority for most countries, and as we head towards the deadline
for the achievement of the Millennium Development goals, this is taking on even more urgency.
Many governments will not have achieved their targets for education by 2015, and it is therefore
necessary for private businesses to do what they can to assist in achieving quality education for
all,” he stated.
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%.
“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," Mroué
added.
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.
-EndsAbout MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering
Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service
Provisioning. As of 31 March 2014, MTN Uganda recorded 9.5 million subscribers across
Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug and for our football fans www.mtnfootball.com. Customers
can also follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug andwww.twitter.com/mtnugandacare for
assistance.
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting
subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the
JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31 March 2014,
MTN recorded 210.1 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana,
Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia,
Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan,
Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. More info onwww.mtn.com
For more information, please contact:
Justina Ntabgoba on +256 (0) 312 121 064 or ntabgoj@mtn.co.ug
Wendy Angu' Deyo on +256 (0) 312 120 762 or angudew@mtn.co.ug