One of Cameroon’s leading telecommunication network MTN has officially launched the 2025 edition of its flagship employee volunteering program, tagged « 21 Days of Y’ello Care ». The launching event took place at the MTN Y’ello House in Douala on Tuesday June 3rd in the presence of the MTN staff, the press, beneficiaries and partners of the company.
The program, themed « Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities through Digital Tools, » seeks to promote digital inclusion and empowerment at grassroot communities across Cameroon. « It is an extension of an initiative that we started way back in 2005 in Cameroon where MTN was the first corporate to set up a cooperation/ social responsibility company. The foundation still exists today whose sole mandate and purpose was to continue giving back a portion of our total revenues generated in Cameroon back to the community. » Wanda Matandela CEO of MTN Cameroon said. He says the initiative is a way of bridging the digital gap that exists in less fortunate communities
Prior to this event a competition was launched in the ten regions of the country for projects which was marked by an unprecedented level of community engagement. MTN Cameroon received 157 project submissions from across all 10 regions of the country. A panel of experts shortlisted 36 projects, three from each region and over 200,000 Cameroonians participated in a public vote to select the final beneficiaries. The results were published at the launching event which saw, Adamawa Collège Shekina in Ngaoundéré, Collège Agricole Bullier, East: Association DADE KAOLE – Lomié, Far North : Complexe Culturel Communautaire de Kolara (C3K) in Maroua, Littoral: Centre Jeunes JVEPI FOMAK in Ngambé, North : APND Environnement in Garoua, North West: BINDECA in Mbinka Nkambe, West: Commune de Babadjou, South: Lycée de Nkoumadjap, South West: Aura Foundation in Buea, Yaoundé: Open Dreams at Obili and in Douala in Collège Emilie Saker Akwa Bonamouti as winner’s of the competition. Two other centers will be created in Douala and Yaounde as headquarters making a total of 12 digital centers.
These modern digital hubs will provide less privileged communities with access to digital tools, training, and connectivity, creating opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
The winners of the Y’ello Digital Centers initiative expressed their excitement about the impact the center will have on their communities. They affirmed that the center will help create jobs and enhance their digital literacy, opening up new opportunities for economic growth and development. According to Rodrigue Clovis Massog Secretary general of Centre Jeune Jevetique Formac Ngambe village in the Littoral region, the center will help students for school, entrepreneurship, enlarge different activities and help a maximum of persons of our their local community.
MTN Cameroon has built over 70 digital infrastructures across the country, demonstrating its long-standing commitment to digital inclusion. The company believes that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life, and the 21 Days of Y’ello Care initiative is a standing testament of that belief. The beneficiaries on their part are looking forward to harnessing the power of digital technology to improve their lives and livelihoods.
Juliette MESAME