Rwamagana-Rwanda’s leading telecoms firm MTN, Monday, donated a 10,000 litre water tank to Sovu Secondary School, in Kigabiro to facilitate rain water harvesting.

The donation was part of the firm’s social responsibility campaign dubbed MTN’s "21 Days of Y’ello Care” whose theme was "making a positive difference to the environment”.

Patrick Uwizeye, MTN General Manager in charge of Business Risk Management, said that through such activities, the company gives back to the community in which it operates.

He noted that preservation of the environment and provision of water through the installation of a water tank at the beneficiary school is an environmental concern.

"We hope that the school will save the over Rwf200,000 that was being spent on buying water. Besides, this water, when well collected and stored will protect the school against soil erosion,” he said.

Protais Niyonteze, the school’s headmaster said the water tank will help to promote sanitation among the increasing number of students and staff.

"Pupils will no longer need to travel long distances for water that is very essential for a variety of basic needs. Water is essential to cater for a young community like this one,” he said.

Rwamagana Mayor, Neheme Uwimana, told The New Times that MTN’s donation was convenient since all schools in the district have instructions to allocate money for setting up such tanks to tap rain water.

"MTN’s donation is very timely. It means that the beneficiary school does not have to budget for such an expense,” he said.

Every year, MTN sets aside 21 Days to encourage its staff to individually and voluntarily do something that would impact positively on the community in which the company operates.

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