Mascom 3-for-3 Initiative Steadfast On Improving Kweneng Education System

Mascom 3-for3 Initiative Steadfast on Improving Kweneng Education System

By Bakang Thuso

Leading telecommunications giant in Botswana, Mascom Wireless, introduced its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) flagship campaign dubbed Mascom 3-for-3 last year. The project encourages Mascom Employees to apportion 3 hours of their time every year during June to initiatives that serve their community. The aim is for its employees to volunteer for causes they choose to give back to, and leave a positive and sustainable impact on the selected communities. The name of the campaign was deliberately chosen in adulation of the Three Chiefs, namely Khama III of the Bangwato, Sebele I of the Bakwena, and Bathoen I of the Bangwaketse; who through their resilient leadership, helped secure Botswana's independence and ultimately its future freedoms.

Gratitude, Service, Community, and Movement, are the main pillars that guide Mascom 3-for-3 to inspire the patriotism of the country to dedicate some time and efforts to create a lasting impact on society.

Last year, Mascom and global cell phone company Huawei collaborated to establish the campaign's first project. Mascom employees selected Dutlwe Primary School, which is in the Kweneng region, to be a recipient of ICT equipment to help uphold the company's commitment to bridging the digital gap in the public education system.

Speaking on the initiative, Mascom CEO Dzene Makhwade-Seboni said, "Now more than ever, the need to exist beyond ourselves is more prevalent and necessary as we grapple with the effects of the Covid pandemic on our societies. Mascom saw it fit to establish an initiative championed by its staff across the nation to help and do their part in trying to fill gaps that exist in society."

The upbeat CEO highlighted that the initiative would drive development for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to enhance better lives for the students as they enter a stage of their lives.

In the words of a famous school teacher who transformed the education system in her country through technology, April Chamberlain said, "there is a need to embrace technology to make learning more engaging because when students are interested, that's where learning takes place." It is a belief that Mascom wireless also stands by. "In 2021, Mascom got an opportunity to engage with the young girls at Kgari Sechele Secondary School to embed and focus on quality education. It was in line with the Kweneng Education Region Operation Maduo, which is an intervention to improve overall academic performance. The strategy for 2022 is to become even more intentional about focusing on quality education for Kweneng, and it is why we will be focusing most of our CSR and sustainability initiatives in the region. And so more schools in the Kweneng region are more likely to benefit," explained Makhwade-Seboni.

Mascom believes that scholars in rural areas are not exposed to nor have access to opportunities, but the 3-for-3 campaign aims to change that. The goal is to recognise and encourage the good performance of the schools and its students despite the circumstances they are faced with, as in the case with Dutlwe Primary School.

QUALITY EDUCATION FOR KWENENG Kweneng is one of the most poverty-afflicted areas in the country, and the region grapples with significant challenges. The Kweneng region is very rural but is also home to many of the country's public boarding schools, yet the conditions of those schools are undesirable. Mascom has committed to partnering with Kweneng to improve lives and educational structures. They intend to create systems that will use education as a tool for sustainable future generations.

Last month, Mascom presented 20 internet modems, a computer, and a printer to 20 teachers at Mahupu Unified Secondary School in Takatokwane because they performed exceptionally well. The purpose of the donation was to encourage the teachers to keep doing the stellar job they do.

VALUABLE CSR PARTNERSHIPS Huawei Botswana has been a partner of Mascom for years and helps grow its network, increase coverage, and improve the quality of service across the country to serve

the telecommunications company's customers. "Huawei shares our view that education is fast transitioning from traditional to digital with the incorporation of ICTs at every level. Their contribution towards accessibility of ICT solutions, to facilitate the adoption of schools to provide their learners with the much-needed skills to thrive in the digital global society cannot be over-emphasized," highlighted Makhwade-Seboni on the Huawei partnership.

She further added that since 2020 when COVID-19 struck globally, things drastically changed for the company as they had to adopt a new approach to doing things, a new normal for their CSR portfolio. They were challenged with keeping the Mascom pillars of ICT development, being Vulnerable Groups, the Arts, Sports, the Environment, Education, and Mobile Health relevant. "We have, through these pillars, supported multiple organisations and communities and continue to do so. During the past two years, and specifically in the education sector, we provided zero-rated access, that is free access to all Mascom subscribers (mainly students) of both the public and private education system's e-learning platforms. From the Ministry of Education and many other e-learning platforms, including the Botswana Open University. We zero-rated these to allow free internet access for educational content for students," she proudly boasted.

COVID-19 IMPACT Since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, Mascom has not had many opportunities to have community engagements and donations happening in person and this manner. It has only recently gone back to doing the physical interactions and expressed how happy they are to be able to be with Batswana in this manner.

Makhwade-Seboni added that she is proud to be leading a team of dynamic and progressive professionals who have come up with new and innovative ways of doing business to ensure that they continue serving customers and giving back to communities.