Tablet donation

A global leading network company donated 10 tablets to Edyardini Community Development in Khayelitsha on Monday June 26.

The tablets were dontated as part of the MTN SA’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care employee volunteerism programme, where the tech company’s staff take part in social outreach projects.

Founder of Edyardini Community Development, Iris Busakwe, said she was over the moon and did not have words to express her emotions. She said the tablets would assist the children who attend their programmes.

Ms Busakwe said she started the organisation with the aim of shaping the youth of Makhaya and surrounds. The organisation is dependent on donations to keep their doors open and their programmes running.

She believes that it takes a whole community to raise a child and make a difference in their children lives so that they can make better life choices.

She said the donation with help the children with research for their school work.

“I have no words to express my gratitude to MTN for what they did today. I have faced countless challenges but I kept my head high and above those challenges. I live and breath community development. This is my passion and way of making a difference in my community and it is the legacy that I want to leave behind.

“I thank each and every sponsor that has contributed to the vision and ambitions of this project and if it was not for them, this project would not be where it is today. Each donor touches the lives of these children.

“Many of these children parents cannot afford to buy their children these tablets. It might seem like a small thing from the donors but to us it means a lot,” she said.

When she started the organisation in 2020, she was mainly providing soup or a light meal to people who had lost their jobs due to Covid-19.

But the following year, she felt the need to accommodate young people and provide them with a safe space to explore their talents while providing them with extra-mural activities. She introduced dance, drama, music, and baking classes while also helping them with school work.

The 63-year-old mother of three said the organisation constantly needs help and intervention to keep their doors open and appealed for donors to help.

Regional MTN marketing manager, Lache Woldson-Samuels, said she would love to see these tablets used as learning tools.

She said one of the company’s key focus areas this year is youth entrepreneurship and they hope the tablets will help the young people to become entrepreneurs.

“At MTN, we believe that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life.

“By combining employee volunteerism and strategic partnerships with a focus on empowering entrepreneurs, MTN SA aims to make a positive impact on communities, foster sustainable practices, and contribute to the overall well-being and development of South Africa’s people, economy, and future.

“I hope that they can use these tablets to research about companies that they want to build in the future. I hope they can use this devices as enabling tools for their future.

“We are very proud that we have partnered with this organisation and I hope that it is not the last time that we partner with them,” she said.