MALKERNS – MTN Eswatini launched its 2025 “21 Days of Y’ello Care” campaign on Tuesday with a bold commitment of E1.3 million towards community-centred digital and infrastructure projects across the country.
Speaking during the launch at Malkerns Country Club, MTN Eswatini CEO Wandile Mtshali said the campaign, now in its 18th year, is driven by the theme “Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities Through Digital Tools.” The initiative brings together multiple partners from government, education, private sector and civic organisations to improve access to digital resources and essential services in underserved areas.
A representative of the Minister of ICT, Principal Secretary Phesheya Dube, officially opened the campaign, which will see grassroots projects rolled out over the next three weeks.
This year’s programme includes the launch of the “Government in Your Hand” app, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT. The app aims to streamline access to public services for over 700,000 smartphone users in Eswatini by centralising information and improving digital literacy.
At Mbukwane and Mkhuzweni Primary Schools, solar-powered boreholes will be installed in partnership with Standard Bank. The project is expected to benefit more than 1,200 pupils and surrounding communities by providing reliable access to clean water.
Over 500 entrepreneurs will undergo e-commerce training with support from A Peculiar People and the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA), helping small businesses tap into digital markets and broaden their economic participation.
Farmers are also set to benefit. More than 300 will receive training on accessing digital market platforms, allowing them to interact directly with buyers and receive real-time pricing information. The training is being rolled out in collaboration with NAMBOARD and EIPA.
In the education sector, MTN is working with the UNESWA AI Academy, Nandos, and the Ministry of Education to train over 200 rural school teachers in AI-based teaching methods. These tools are expected to improve learning outcomes in under-resourced schools.
Road access to schools in remote areas will also be improved. Partnering with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, MTN aims to reduce dropout rates by making it safer and easier for more than 1,500 learners to reach classrooms.
A community podcast initiative with Oracle Group Eswatini will offer free on-demand content, including training and public dialogues, ensuring widespread access to useful information across various sectors.
Mtshali commended MTN staff and the wide network of campaign partners for their contribution to what he described as a national movement. “This is our moment to build, to uplift, and to empower,” he told attendees. “The real impact lies in the lives that are transformed.”
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