The MTN Foundation has today handed over scholastic materials including books, pens and bags and launched a one-year feeding program for Summit View Army Primary School, Kololo.
The school has a population of 500, with pupils coming from the slum areas of Kamwokya, Makerere, Bwaise. A majority of the pupils are children of the UPDF soldiers.
The MTN Foundation made the decision to support Summit View Primary School from a list of schools that were in need provided by KCCA.
The donation was pledged at the MTN Global Leadership Gathering (GLG), a summit of over 200 top executives from across 24 countries where MTN operates.
“The objective of the GLG donation is to empower the pupils and teachers of Summit View Primary School through the provision of materials that will aid and enable access to quality education,” said Wim Vanhelleputte, the CEO MTN Uganda at the handover of the items.
The handover of the items was made at the MTN Nyonyi Gardens offices in the presence of KCCA officials and the UPDF Chief of Defense Forces.
“Through our engagement with KCCA, they showed us the need assessment of Summit View Primary School and we considered that the situation needed to be improved for the pupils that are already in need,” Vanhelleputte added.
The school had several needs including poor quality classroom infrastructure, the absence of a proper feeding program and the fact that most pupils attending the school are from the impoverished areas near Kololo.
MTN Foundation is donating items like 300 solar school bags from the MTN Group and scholastic materials including exercise books, pens, and textbooks.
Additionally, for the next one-year, Summit View Primary School will have a steady supply food, courtesy of the MTN Foundation.
“Each child will also receive a school uniform and we also providing sanitary pads. We believe that this donation will go a long way in ensuring that the pupils focus on their school work and not worry about the next meal or where they will get the next a book to use,” said H.E Major General (Rtd) Lekoa Solly Mollo, the South African High Commissioner, who is also a trustee of the MTN Foundation.
Adding, “Improving education and health service delivery continue to be the largest social investments for the MTN Foundation. There is an impact that can be created in the two sectors. We pledge further support.”
Donated items include:
- 300 solar school bags from MTN Group
- School feeding program for 1 year (8,400 kilograms of maize flour & 3,150kgs of bean.
- 3,600 exercise books, 1,800 pens, 1,800 pencils & 300 mathematical sets
- 200 text books for teachers & pupils
- School uniforms for all pupils
- 300 Sanitary kits for girls
The Deputy Executive Director at KCCA, Mr. Samuel Serunkuuma, acknowledged MTN Foundation’s continuous support of the education sector. Recalling the donation of proceeds from the MTN Kampala Marathon 2016 and 2017 towards the construction of biogas toilets at 10 KCCA schools and removal of asbestos roofing and support of maternal health respectively, Mr. Serunkuuma pledged to ensure value for money is achieved for all the projects.
The Guest of Honour, UPDF Chief of Defence Forces, Maj. Gen David Muhoozi was represented by the Commander Special Forces Command, Brigadier Don William Nabaasa who appreciated MTN Foundations good gesture. He encouraged the company to consider the school’s existing infrastructural challenges with an aim of offering further support.
The UPDF Chief for Education, Sports and Culture, Brigadier Phinehas Katirima echoed his sentiments saying, “UPDF provides education in 32 Primary schools, 11 secondary schools and 2 polytechnics that offer vocational education to Ugandans and are open for MTN’s partnership. Besides ensuring the security of our nation, we aim to bridge the existing literacy gaps in the country. We thank MTN Uganda for this gesture.”
In attendance were staff from Special Forces Command, Uganda People’s Defence Forces, KCCA and MTN leadership and staff. Pupils of Summit View Primary School spent the day at MTN, touring MTN offices and enjoying the play area set up at the premises.
