MTN Uganda yesterday announced a partnership and made a donation worth over Ugx 330 million to SOS Children’s Villages Uganda, a childcare organisation that supports vulnerable children and families in Uganda.
Under this new partnership that will target over 20 schools over the next three years, MTN Uganda will ensure that disadvantaged children are retained and are able to complete school. The 20 beneficiary schools SOS Hermann Gmeiner educational institutions and other community schools in the four locations where SOS Uganda operates – Gulu, Kakiri, Entebbe and Fort Portal. The benefiting students will receive school meals, scholastic materials, girls’ sanitary kits, school uniforms and text books in their respective resource centres among others.
Speaking at the official announcement of this partnership, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Ms. Justina Ntabgoba said MTN Uganda was proud to make a continued investment in education for all. Ms. Ntabgoba, who led the team from MTN Uganda, spoke as a representative of the MTN Uganda CEO, Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte. “Some months ago, we received a handwritten letter from an SOS child. That handwritten letter is the reason we are here today,” Ms. Ntabgoba said, amidst a thunderous applause. She added that children world over learn their most valuable lessons in life from the homes in which they are raised, and praised SOS Mothers for putting smiles on the vulnerable children’s faces. “MTN Uganda and SOS Children’s Villages Uganda share the same values in community service especially towards the less advantaged. We are aware that SOS Children’s Villages is present in 133 countries around the world, and we applaud SOS Uganda for the incredible service they have extended in Uganda for almost 30 years,” Justina remarked.
The event took place at the oldest SOS Uganda Village in Kakiri and was graced by the area political leaders, SOS Board Members, SOS Mothers, staff and children.
During her remarks, the Chief Administrative Officer Wakiso District, Ms. Marion Kasagazi pledged support from the District Community Development Office saying she would ensure that issues to do with psycho-socio matters are addressed in a bid to help retain children in school.
SOS Uganda National Director, Olive Birungi Lumonya commended MTN Uganda for the tremendous support and pledged to grow the partnership beyond three years. She also expressed her gratitude to the communications company for coming to the rescue of disadvantaged children.
