Changing how we learn together - Chez Zoona - for real, thanks!
MTN continues its successful partnership with Edulution Zambia to improve access to education and help young people become economically active.
‘Chez Zoona’ – for real thanks!, was the chorus that rocked the Edulution supported Word of Life Community School in Chibolya, Lusaka, Zambia on Thursday 21 June 2018, as bundles of young energy waited to meet the all in yellow MTN team. True to its #Y'elloCare promise the MTN team lead by the dynamic and enthusiastic General Manager Komba Malukutita and MTN’s Brand and Communications Manager Olivia Matani, delivered a day to remember for the very excited learners and members of the community. Apart from dressing up areas of the
school beautifully with bold ‘ello yello’ banners that drew attention from passers-by and generated great excitement within the school, Komba also joined one of the sessions. He sat down excitedly with the self directed and engaged learners and while working alongside them as they were mastering their exercises, he reflected on the positive differences in learning to when he was at school. The nurturing and supportive environment offered by the Edulution coaches when needed, meant that the focus and concentration of the self motivated learners was scarcely deterred as they pushed ahead at their own pace on their tablets with their Edulution numeracy exercises. Komba expressed delight at seeing the confidence and agility the learners displayed saying that they are, “definitely a tech savvy group!
Watching and recording every move on the day was MTN’s media team who visited the school with a specific task in mind – to meet and capture the vibrancy and energy of the young learners on the Edulution Numeracy program and to acknowledge two very special learners, Paul MIti (Grade 7) and Agatha Chanda (Grade 6). They were selected for their outstanding achievements on the Edulution program and each was presented with a MTN note book and a bag.
Agatha Chanda is in Grade 6 at Word of Life Community School in Chibolya. She is 11 years old. She has greatly improved since joining Edulution in maths, which even her class teacher has confirmed. At her end of term maths test, she scored 80%! She enjoys playing the games and energisers that her coaches lead at her Edulution centre.
Paul Miti is in Grade 7 at CornerStone Community School in Chibolya. He is 15 years old. He joined Edulution when he was in Grade 6. He has tremendously improved in maths since he started Edulution, such that he is the best in his class at school. He is an Alpha graduate! He is looking forward to passing Bravo on his next test attempt.
Agatha and Paul's classmates also received a wonderful new school bag from MTN.
In a statement issued by the MTN Group, it said that improving communities' access to education and helping young people become economically active is a top CSI priority for them. Mr Charles Molapisi, CEO of MTN Zambia also said earlier this year that MTN Zambia, as a corporate citizen, is planting roots in the communities where it operates by investing in community-building initiatives such as health, sanitation and education.
Left: Mr Charles Molapisi, CEO of MTN Zambia
MTN Group have also said that by harnessing their core ICT capabilities, MTN is able to support educational programs that bridge the digital divide and change lives for the better. Edulution as a partner of MTN’s is able to support MTN to deliver on its objectives to provide vulnerable children with access to essential foundational maths and literacy education and enable its activity based coaches to become economically active through its unique performance based human development program.
Edulution’s partnership with MTN allows it to effectively harness MTN’s extensive ICT platform and network coverage to reach disadvantaged communities in urban and rural areas. To this end, MTN has provided Edulution with routers that enable Edulution to deliver educational content in sessions off the grid. Smartphones, data and airtime
provided by MTN keep the 81 Edulution coaches connected and support Edulution to monitor its educational centres located hundreds of kilometres away from its head office in Lusaka. MTN has also provided mobile money and a platform that facilitates cashless payments. Finally, MTN has provided free browsing for learners using Edulution specified sites. For more insights about MTN Zambia visit www.mtnzambia.com.