MTN employees join hands to give teaching of science shot in the arm
Johannesburg – In keeping with this year’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care focus on education, MTN employees in Johannesburg today joined hands to clear the science laboratory at a school in Soweto, in preparation for renovations of the facility later this month.
Learners at George Khosa High School in Dobsonville, Soweto have been using a dilapidated science laboratory with dysfunctional electricity plugs, gas and water taps for about five years. This has made it difficult for them to carry out experiments necessary for their final examinations.
MTN is sponsoring renovations at the school through its partnership with the Adopt-a-School Foundation.
As part of the on-going 21 Days of Y’ello Care staff volunteerism programme, MTN staff today removed old desks, chairs and other equipment in the laboratory in preparation for the renovations, which will be carried out by the Foundation from 24 June. The renovations will include painting, retiling, installing new desks, cupboards, plug points and water stations in the science laboratory.
“As MTN, we believe that quality education opens doors to opportunities that would otherwise not be accessible to learners from disadvantaged schools. We hope that our contribution during 21 Days of Y’ello Care will go some way towards making the lives of these learners a whole lot brighter,” says Rich Mkhondo, Executive for Group Corporate Affairs at MTN.
The sponsorship also includes the donation of laboratory equipment such as chemicals, measuring tools, burners and other apparatus.
“MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care is such a great initiative and Adopt-a-School is proud to partner with MTN and facilitate volunteer work at George Khosa High School. MTN has adopted this school and has displayed true active citizenship through getting involved in such a hands on manner and making a significant contribution to both learner development and the physical improvement of the school’s facilities,” says Nicola Vogel, Communications Manager at Adopt-a-School Foundation.
Other MTN markets across Africa and the Middle East are also engaged in various activities this week, as part of the operator’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care programme.
MTN South Sudan has donated 10 desktop computers to the University of Juba, and built two toilets. The company also provided solar power to the university library.
In Uganda, MTN is running a secondary school quiz competition, which will culminate in 21 schools winning scholarships. As part of the competition, 50 schools are competing in an online aptitude exam run on MTN’s e-Learning platform. Participating learners from each school have to answer 50 questions correctly within an hour and 15 minutes. The aptitude test will be automatically marked by the e-Learning platform, and results are provided instantly in real time. Winners of the 21 scholarships will be announced on 21 June.
The e-Learning platform enables students from schools across Uganda to access educational material from the recommended national syllabus as well as other relevant materials.
In line with the company’s vision “to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world to our customers”, in Yemen, MTN staff have donated 250 tablets loaded with the national curriculum to teachers from different schools in the country.
In Swaziland, MTN staff handed three computers, a printer and an internet dongle to Emhlangeni Primary School.
MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care programme kicked off on 1 June, and ends on Friday 21 June.
ENDS
-Issued by MTN Group Corporate Affairs
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 30 April 2013, MTN recorded 197.4 million subscribers across 22 countries. Visit us at www.mtn.com , www.mtnbusiness.com , www.mtnmmo.com and for our football fans www.mtnfootball.com
About the Adopt-a-School Foundation
The Adopt-a-School Foundation is a non-profit organisation that supports the creation and enhancement of a conducive learning and teaching environment in disadvantaged schools.
For more information, please contact:
Zinhle Dlamini on +27 83 212 9436 or Zinhle.Dlamini@mtn.com
Nicola Vogel on + 27 82 335 2421 or nvogel@adoptaschool.co.za
