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MTN Ghana has successfully ended its 21 Days of Y’ello Care employee volunteer programme, which was held under the theme, “Investing in Education for All.” During the Y’ello Care period, MTN staff volunteers in the Company’s three business districts -- South West, South East and North-- undertook community projects to support and promote education across Ghana.

At the end of the programme, 14 educational institutions and three community libraries received support from MTN staff.  As part of the activities, MTN employees refurbished an existing classroom block for Mampong School for the Deaf. In order to enhance teaching and learning, MTN volunteers also converted two classrooms into an expandable Resource Centre equipped with a laptop with 4G modem, headset and microphone, an overhead projector with projector-screen and inbuilt voice-to-text software and furniture.  

In addition, three community libraries were restocked with books to encourage reading. Volunteers also donated and installed 35 new computers in six institutions, including Keta SHS (Volta Region), Nana Kobina Nketsia School (Western Region), Dachio JHS (Upper East Region), Edwenase Rehabilitation Centre (Ashanti Region), St. Augustine’s RC Basic School (Greater Accra) and Nsawam Prisons (Eastern Region). The team also repaired old computers and took teachers and students through ICT training.

In other parts of the country, MTN staff volunteers in partnership with MultiChoice Ghana and Ghana Education Service, equipped six Senior High Schools with digital satellite television systems, Explora decoders and high quality teaching and learning resources that are part of DSTV’s Educational bouquet. The Education bouquet provides access to lessons in subjects such as English, Science, History, Mathematics, and Geography.

The resource centers will extend scarce teaching resources to a wider and more diverse audience whilst deploying technology in a cost effective manner to improve education. The beneficiary schools are Agogo State SHS (Ashanti Region), Fiaseman SHS (Western Region), Juaben SHS (Eastern Region), Lassi Tuolo SHS (Upper West), Savelugu SHS (Northern Region) and Our Lady of Mercy SHS (Greater Accra).

 
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the closing of the 21 Days of Y’ello Care, MTN’s Corporate Services Executive, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, said, “the theme for this year’s Y’ello Care challenge was, Investing in Education for All, so we believe that these numerous interventions by all levels of MTN staff, in partnership with various stakeholders, will contribute to the enhancement of learning for all the beneficiaries.”

She went on to thank all the companies and media houses that had partnered with MTN to implement various projects as part of the volunteer programme. These included Ghana Education Service, MultiChoice Ghana, EPP Books, Admin Telecom, Innova DDB, GDS Africa Ghana, Aviat Networks, Nanatel Limited, Izone Limited and Hartiffan Company Limited.

Responding on behalf of the partners, Nii Amah Dagadu, MultiChoice Regional Marketing Manager-West & Central Africa, expressed excitement at partnering with MTN to support Communities and indicated that MultiChoice Ghana was happy to support with their flagship Corporate Social Investment project, the MultiChoice Resource Centre (MRC) programme, which plays an important role in providing access to information to several high schools across the country.

The headmaster of Mampong School for the Deaf, Mr. Joseph San, expressed his gratitude to MTN employee volunteers for the great support given to his school. He indicated that, as a result of the support students were learning under better conditions.

MTN Ghana launched the 10th edition of its annual 21 Days of Y’ello Care employee volunteer initiative on 1st June 2016. During the 21-day period, MTN employees devote time and resources to assist communities with development projects.

The 21 Days of Y’ello Care programme also constitutes a competition amongst MTN operations globally, to reward the highest level of staff participation and project impact. The operating company that wins receives prize money of $100,000 to be reinvested in community projects.

MTN Ghana remains the most awarded for volunteerism and projects, picking up the 2008 WECA (West and Central Africa) Regional award and overall Y’ello Care Challenge winners for years 2010 & 2011. Additionally, MTN Ghana won the Y’ello Care ICT Project for 2013, Y’ello Care Innovation Project award for 2014 and Y’ello Care Integrity Award for 2015.