MTN employees commit 67 minutes in honour of Mandela

Employees of the Mobile telecommunications giant, MTN partnered with the South African High Commission on July 18, 2010 to devote 67 minutes of service to a community school in Ashale Botwe, a suburb of Accra as a tribute to Nelson Madiba Mandela.

As part of their contributions to celebrating the 92nd birthday of the African hero, MTN staff refurbished the Baba Yara Basic School at Ashale Botwe together with the South African High Commission.

The United Nations last year agreed to commemorate the day every year in recognition of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's contribution to resolving conflicts and promoting race relations, human rights and reconciliation.

As part of activities marking the day, Nelson Madiba Mandela has personally appealed to all who would like to celebrate the day with him to devote 67 minutes of their time to serve their communities. According to him, an unconditional 67 minutes of service to humanity on this day is worthwhile.

Mandela Day is an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and a global call to action for people to recognize their individual ability to make an imprint and change the world around them.

The day has been created to inspire people from every corner of the world to embrace the values that have embodied Nelson Mandela's life – democracy; equality; reconciliation; diversity; responsibility; respect and freedom – for these are the values of Nelson Mandela and they are his legacy to the world.

In recognition of this great day, the Employees Volunteer Association (EVA) of MTN in partnership with the South African High Commission brought smiles on the faces of the over 1060 pupils of the Baba Yara Basic School located in Ashaley Botwe, Accra. Management and pupils of the school could not believe the speed at which MTN and its partners changed the entire outlook of the school within that short span of time.

Within 67 minutes, MTN and its partners breathed a whole new life into the 10 Classroom block building by plastering and painting the school building. They also dined and danced with staff and pupils of the school, not leaving out the staff of the South African High Commission.

Jeanette T. Ndhlovu, the South African High Commissioner expressed her appreciation to MTN for the partnership. She stated that Nelson Mandela believes in the education of all children since this is the surest way of helping to create a better life for the future generation. She stated that all efforts must be employed in ensuring that children are given a better education.

The principal of the school Mr. Kingsley Adzraku thanked the management and staff of MTN and other partners for the wonderful gesture shown them. He pledged to name one of the newly refurbished blocks 'Nelson Mandela Block'.

What is fascinating about this man is his refusal to choose bitter and retaliatory approach in his leadership as many would have thought. Rather, 'he chose to sing a new song… a song of love, unity and hope for a better Africa', he added.

Employees of MTN have opted to execute the project because of their belief that the Mandela day is a day everybody can join in and show that they can all make an impact to humanity.

Myjoyonline.com/Ghana