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The MTN SA Foundation
MTN, has since its inception in 1994, shown its commitment to Investing in the future of all South Africans, particularly so with the launch of the MTN Foundation in 2002. The MTN Foundation carried out a number of projects, but it was recognised that it could be more effective in helping to build the futures of South Africans, hence The MTN Foundation became a Section 21 company. | | | MTN subscribes to the belief that genuine upliftment can be achieved only if we treat the communities we strive to serve as ecosystems and holistically address all their needs.
In 2008, under the leadership of Eunice Maluleke, MTN adopted an integrated whole-community development strategy, to deliver maximum benefit to selected cluster communities in six provinces. The provinces are: Limpopo, North West Province, Free State, Kwa Zulu Natal , Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape. The cluster approach means that in each community MTN identifies a cluster of communities grouped around 15 to 20 high schools, mainly municipal sub-districts. The schools provide a natural entry point into the communities. Research indicates that community-level corporate social investment interventions work are most effective when they address more than one community need, and that development is most sustained when family stability, good health, dependable infrastructure quality education and entrepreneurial opprtunites are all present together. Thus, Education, Health, Arts and Culture and Entrepreneurship form the cornerstones of MTN’s development strategy.
Investing in the future of South Africa means investing in education. The education portfolio is by far the largest focus area and encompasses the interactive MTN Science centres as well as the MTN Schools Connectivity Programme amongst others.
MTN adopts a three pronged approach to health - disease prevention, treatment and care and support.key projects The entrepreneurship portfolio emphasizes self reliance in communities and includes mentorship in business startups. Projects include: | | | | • | DEDI – Diketso Eseng Dipuo Communty Development trust – formed in October 1999 to address the challenges facing Esarly Childhood development in the community. | | • | ZISHAP- the Zicabangeleni Self-help Association for the Physically Disabled was formed in 1987, by a small group of paraplegics in the Katlehong area, led by Petrus Ngema. | | • | African Dream Trust – provides training, business planning, access to finance and mentorship to potential entrepreneurs. It also builds high quality premises from which these businesses can operate and gets involved in the broader community in the areas of education, environment and service delivery | | | | The MTN Arts and Culture portfio aims to improve arts and culture education, by providing under-resourced teachers with access to teacher training, teaching material and curriculum-based arts resources like MTN’s ArtTalk publication. The MTN Art Collection, which contains approximately 1,450 original works of South African art, forms the centre of the MTN Messages and Meaning exhibition, which travels to communities around the country, providing learners and teachers with the opportunity to see first-hand some of the artworks mentioned in their curriculum.
MTN also from time to time embarks on special and ad hoc projects which in 2008 included | | | | • | 16 days of activism against women and children | | • | Boss of the year | | | Women in Arts | | • | The MTN Employee volunteer programme – 21 Days of Y’ello Care which encourages a culture of volunteerism within MTN. The 21 Days of Y’ello Care programme mobilises employees of the company’s 21 global operations for 21 days’ involvement in community outreach projects. In South Africa, employees submit projects they feel passionate about for consideration, and the outreach initiatives MTN supports are selected from these. As a result, schools, hospices, orphanages, neighbourhoods and senior citizens have all benefited. The programme provides MTN staff with an ideal platform to give hands-on help to others. | | | | The Health portfolio adopts a holistic focus to disease management and incorporates disease prevention, treatment, and care and support for HIV/Aids, TB and a range of other lifestyle diseases. It also taps into community schools, teaching learners life skills that will help them make healthier life choices. A Tele- Medicine technology platform will link rural clinics with specialist doctors based in urban hospitals and thereby facilitate quicker diagnosis, treatment and medicine prescription for rural patients.
Ultimately, in accordance with good governance, the key deliverables for all projects remain measurability and sustainability. |
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