MTL offers ‘dhilu’ to blind students

Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) renewed its airtime annual contract with Hope for the Blind for the fifth year running at a ceremony held at their head office in Blantyre last week.

MTL’s corporate affairs manager Tina Das said education is one of its concentration areas for its corporate social responsibility activities which Hope for the Blind strives to promote for blind students.

She said telecommunications company is pleased to not only renew the contract but also increase the amount of airtime to K240 000 (about $200).

“Considering the low rates offered by MTL, we are optimistic that the airtime of this amount will go a long way in aiding telecommunication for Hope for the Blind in their quest to communicate with potential and existing partners,” said Das.

She said Hope for the Blind would leverage more on the airtime donation through the various promotions that MTL is offering to its customers through the ‘NdiDhilu’ campaign.

“Currently, we are running the “Freedom to talk” promotion which gives customers the liberty to call for free between 20:00 hours and 06:00 hours every day and free all day all night on weekends.

“Hope for the Blind can also participate in this unique promotion and benefit much more from the donation,” Das said.

Executive director for Hope for the Blind Hastings Bwande thanked MTL for the donation which he said has tremendously contributed to the growth of his organisation.

“We initially started helping four students in 2009 and with the airtime that we get, we have managed to increase the number of beneficiaries to 82. These students will help contribute to the growth of the nation’s economy because they will be self-reliant,” he said.

Bwande said the airtime has helped ease communication to various stakeholders through telephone, telefax and Internet both nationally and internationally.

“The power of communication is the growth of any organisation and the nation as a whole cannot be overemphasised. With the donation, we have over the years managed to make solid partnerships with other organisations and we give credit to MTL,” he said.

Hope for the Blind provides education support to blind students in Malawi.