By Staff Writer
It is that time of the year when MTN employees across the country will be exchanging their tools of the trade for picks and shovels when they roll up their sleeves and embark on community upliftment programmes as part of 21 Days of Y’ello Care, MTN’s employee volunteerism programme.
MTN SA Foundation has injected an R8 million into the 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign to capitalise on the partnership with the MTNers in the 2015 investments in education. As part of MTN’s employees’ volunteerism project, the campaign will be implemented between 1 and 21 June this year.
21 Days of Y’ello Care is MTN’s annual flagship programme in which active participation in projects where thousands of MTN employees across its operations volunteer their time and skills to make a positive difference in the communities MTN operates in.
The theme for the 2015 edition of 21 Days of Y’ello Care is: ‘Investing in education for all’. As in previous years, the programme will benefit communities that are disadvantaged and where MTN operates by focusing on sustainable ICT initiatives through the provision of relevant educational equipment and skills mentoring.
Launched by the MTN Group in 2007, the campaign has been successful in its developmental and social impact, as it allows both employees and beneficiaries to make a difference in their communities. In the 2015 Campaign MTN has rallied more than 10 other industry players and Corporates increasing participation to drive the investment in Education.
Employees have the opportunity to personally select the projects within their communities and ensure that their participation lives beyond the campaign.
“Investing in ICT for Education epitomizes and is aligned to the organisation’s core values. We are looking forward to engaging with all the MTN Staff, our chosen projects and communities. The cherry on top though is seeing the difference that we can make in a short period of time in our communities,” says Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi: GM of MTN SA Foundation.
The ultimate project we are raising funds for in the 2015 campaign is the handover of a mobile computer lab which will be handed over to the Department of Education in Gauteng to service the farming areas in the Vaal and South Gauteng.
This Mobile computer lab will boost 10 working stations, 1 administrator work station and a 42 inch TV screen and a server. The funding for this lab will mostly be from the proceeds of the MTN 21km half marathon that is on the 13th June 2015The other projects in the various provinces will include handing over Computer laboratories, improving school playgrounds and providing school shoes and bicycles for students.
The 21 Days of Y’ello Care programme seeks to ensure growth and sustainability in education which is largely focused in three broad areas: empowering or equipping teachers, digital content for education and empowering learners.
“We take pride in empowering our communities as we focus our energy and resources to helping them meet some of the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives. Every interaction and intervention should count for something in uplifting our communities and possibly drive a better life for all South Africans,” said Mtunzi-Hairwadzi.