STATE-OWNED telecommunications company, TelOne, on Tuesday launched a Girls Mentorship and Empowerment Programme (GMEP) on Tuesday at Shingirirayi High School in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province.
Apart from mentoring young girls at the school, the telecommunications firm also donated reusable sanitary wear to women and girls who were present at the event.
TelOne head of corporate communication, Melody Harry said 10 students at the school and 200 others from across the country will be adopted under GMEP.
“TelOne spends at least 0,5% of their revenue on community investments. Last year alone, we spent US$350 000,” she said.
“This year we are targeting to spend more or less the same because the idea is that we want to impact education, health and the social space.”
The programme was launched in 2016.
“The whole idea is to give hope to girls, to let them know that they have options, and that the sky is not the limit,” she said.
In an interview with NewsDay, Shingirirayi High School deputy headmaster, Forbes Chingono highlighted the abuse being experienced by young girls in Mazowe.
- Econet tariffs shoot up
- TelOne picks EOS Data for agric platform
- Vandalism disrupts TelOne network
- Gweru debtors’ bill soars to $3bn
Keep Reading
“Our girls are living in an environment where they are exposed to varying elements of abuse and hardships and their potential is hardly taped,” Chingono said, pointing out that the programme would break the cycle of poverty in the area.
“We live in an environment where the only thing that is not scarce is failure. The future is better together and I think our future is starting today,” he added.
