Accra 21st May, 2010 – The 21 Days of Y’ello Care ended with staff of MTN launching the “Happy Minds Reading Club”.

The launch of the Happy Minds Reading Clubs is also being held concurrently across five different communities in the country. Some of the beneficiary schools include the Nima cluster of schools, All Saints JHS & Bonsu JHS in Takoradi, Apemanim community in Kumasi and other areas.

MTN identifies reading as one of the greatest gifts any person can teach a child. From iPods to electronic readers children are bombarded with electrical images and stimulations in our modern age. However, with all the advances in electronics and gadgetry, reading to children and having them read is still one of the most important skills to give a child.

MTN staff realizing the need to inculcate reading habits in children at their tender age have donated books worth thousands of Ghana cedis to be presented to deprived schools to set up libraries. Staff also visited the beneficiary schools to facilitate reading among the children.

George Andah, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN stated during the launch at Nima that reading promotes a child’s cerebral and emotional development and while positive interaction between parent and child is helpful, reading is always a sure way to gain a positive foothold into a child’s life. Indeed, “Books open doors to new ideas, cultures and concepts”, he added.

Studies have shown that children's familiarity with books is influenced by the parent / teacher’s inculcation at a tender age and MTN is happy to be making this contribution. Mr. Andah added that even though the internet is a great learning resource for children as well as adults, it is identified that a good reading ability should come first and foremost. Without a strong reading capability a child is unable to use the internet to its full potential.

Present at the launch in the Nima Cluster of Schools were the Director for Pre-Tertiary Education for Ayawaso West, Mrs. Maria Quaye, the area’s Circuit Supervisor for Education, Madam Abokpa and Mrs. Nabilla Williams, MTN Ghana Foundation Board Member.

This year’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care has been very successful just like previous years. For the past three weeks, staff have visited various communities across the country to execute community-based projects and programmes all aimed at improving the lives of people in communities where MTN operates. This year’s challenge was centered on Education, Health and Sports. The official closing ceremony is planned to take place in a few weeks time.