Rwamagana - As part of MTN’s ‘21 Days of Y’ello Care’ initiative, 20 MTN staff members participated in a tree planting exercise at Cyimbazi Primary School in Rwamagana District yesterday.

At least 600 various varieties of tree species were planted around the environs of the school.

The exercise whose theme is, ‘Making a difference to the environment’, is in line with the United Nation’s 2011 declaration of the International Year of Forests.

John Bosco Sendahangarwa, MTN’s Corporate Communications Manager, said that the 21 Days of Y’ello Care has now become a prominent feature in MTN’s calendar.

He added that the company’s pride is always making a positive contribution to the society.

"MTN staff members of all levels will participate in various activities geared towards environment protection for all the 21 Days. The school environment for instance, needs to be green”.

"The school administration and pupils were educated on caring for the trees, especially, now that we are moving towards the dry spell,” he said.

The school’s Director, Jean Christophe Karumuhinzi, appreciated MTN’s gesture and its concern for the environment.

He said that the school community will ensure that each pupil adopts and waters at least one tree daily, to maintain the planted trees.

"MTN’s efforts will not go to waste…environmental protection is part of our concern as educators. The environment in Mwulire Sector is mostly destroyed by Casseterite miners, but our school environment is protected,” he said.

Robert Rukundo, 14, a pupil at the school said that tree planting has become part of children’s culture.

"We know the scientific importance of trees and its economic use. Days are gone when children used to step on trees,” he said.

Similar activities are taking place across the mobile telephone operator’s vast footprint in Africa and the Middle East.

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