MTN Rwandacell Plc launched a three-week digital literacy programme in Rubavu District as part of its annual 'Y'ello Care' corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

The 'Y'ello Care' campaign runs from June 1 to June 21 across all MTN operating countries, encouraging its employees to "volunteer their time, skills, and resources to give back to the communities where they operate.”

According to the largest telecommunication company, over 100 beneficiaries in Rubavu District, including farmers and women's cooperatives, will receive structured digital training.

Speaking at the launch on Monday, June 2, Ali Monzer, MTN Rwanda's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) emphasised the telecommunication’s commitment to supporting customers and the Rwandan community to embrace digital skills for daily life and livelihoods.

"Our aim is to create facilities and capabilities where we empower youth, where talents can be built, dreams can be achieved, and try to address digital literacy,” stated Monzer. "We’re providing this community with an additional lab, and spending three days here on how to use basic digital skills like using machines and mobile money, as well as training them on e-commerce.”

Monzer highlighted the importance of e-commerce, especially in Rubavu where dependency on agriculture is high.

"Use of e-commerce is a must,” he said. "We’re teaching them how they can sell their produce and products even beyond the country’s boundary to other markets across the world, and collect their money via Mobile Money [MOMO].”

Under the theme ‘Connecting at the Roots’, MTN Rwanda also donated 10 new desktops to Hanga Hub Rubavu, which Mayor Prosper Mulindwa believes will significantly support innovation and digital skill development for the increasing number of people accessing the hub.

"Equipping the hub with these 10 desktops from MTN Rwanda is crucial, for they will be used by an increased number of people accessing the facility," noted Mulindwa. "This will contribute significantly to digital and financial skills. Some people didn't have access to machines back at school, so with this hub, they upgrade their digital literacy."

The ‘Y’ello Care’ campaign will run in Rubavu, Rutsiro, Kirehe and Gatsibo districts for 21 days, reflecting MTN Rwanda’s commitment to starting transformation at the grassroots level — where digital gaps are often the widest — by focusing on access, literacy, and inclusion. This year marks the 18th edition of the campaign.

Beneficiaries like David Iranzi, 20, a Gisenyi resident and owner of Bashions Ltd, a wooden-products manufacturer, commended MTN's commitment to supporting the hub and the provision of digital skills.

"MTN Rwanda has really supported us as we consider this hub as a workshop,” said Iranzi. "I need to be more digital considering my work. We need such digital equipment on a daily basis.”