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MPT “Lighting The Way Forward” For Underprivileged Students

Published 07 Mar 2016

Launches CSR Initiative To Provide Monastic Schools Around Myanmar Solar Lanterns to Help Improve Students’ Learning Experience

(Yangon, Myanmar, 7 March, 2016) – MPT, Myanmar’s first and leading telecommunications operator, launched “Lighting the Way Forward” – its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to distribute solar lanterns to Monastic Education Schools across the country – at a ceremony held at the Sule Shangri-La Hotel here today. The donation of more than 2,000 solar lanterns to provide light and electricity to classrooms nationwide to aid monastic school student education was made possible by the generous contributions of MPT customers who successfully made their bids at the recent MPT Vanity Numbers Auction in December 2015 which raised Ks 292.7 Million in funds for the cause.

In attendance at the ceremony were Mr. Takashi Nagashima, Chief Executive Officer of MPT-KSGM Joint Operation, the Venerable Sayardaw Bhaddanta Nayaka, the Head Monk representing Phaung Daw Oo Monastery and the Mandalay Region Executive for Monastic Education and the Venerable Sayardaw Bhaddanta Kuthala, the Yangon Region Secretary for Monastic Education.

At the ceremony, Mr. Nagashima was enthused for MPT’s national initiative and expressed the company’s hopes to make a positive impact for the underprivileged monastic students. “We remain committed to improve the lives of the Myanmar people and this innovative initiative will bring light and electricity to those who would otherwise not have access. Encouraged by the goodwill of our customers who generously contributed to this charitable outreach and the positive difference it will make in students’ lives, we are pleased to announce that we are collaborating with monastic education groups here to expand this engagement to encompass monastic schools throughout Myanmar,” said Mr. Nagashima.

MPT last month commenced the distribution of 837 solar lanterns to monastic schools that do not have electricity in the Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway before moving forward to its national rollout of the project. The Venerable Sayardaw Bhaddanta Nayaka who was on-hand to witness the donation of solar lanterns that were channeled to these regions through the Phaung Daw Oo Monastic Education School in Mandalay thanked MPT for championing this cause. “The kind support from MPT and its customers has already been felt by the students in these regions who are now able to better concentrate on their studies. It is encouraging to see that MPT is pressing on to provide solar lanterns to more monastic schools in the country. We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for the charitable donation to help improve our students’ learning experience,” said Sayardaw.

Through “Lighting The Way Forward”, MPT has now further committed to provide solar lanterns to schools throughout the other regions of Myanmar this year. The expanded initiative will bring a total of more than 2,000 solar lanterns to help about 58,000 underprivileged students in 632 schools nationwide study in brighter classrooms.

The Venerable Sayardaw Bhaddanta Kuthala who accepted the donation of solar lanterns on behalf of monastic schools in the Yangon region at the ceremony today was appreciative of MPT’s efforts. “Many monastic schools in Myanmar that provide free education for economically and socially disadvantaged students lack amenities or resources such as electricity and this hampers the schools’ efforts to provide a conducive educational environment. With the solar lanterns, these schools now have reliable sources of lighting which will allow our students to study better, especially in low-light conditions when it is cloudy, raining or when it gets dark in the evening. This means a lot for the students and we are thankful for the contributions,” said Sayardaw.

The solar lanterns are products of Panasonic known as “Eneloop Solar Storage” units. Each of these easy-to-use units come equipped with a solar panel and storage battery which are able to collect and store solar energy during the day. The stored energy can then be used to power two light-emitting diodes (LED) lights at night or during low-light conditions such as poor weather. Each unit can function up to 24 hours depending on use on a single six-hour charge. These solar lanterns have lifetime of up to five years and the batteries for the units are replaceable, hence reducing operation costs as well as the need for maintenance. They also have the added capability to charge small mobile devices such as mobile phones via a USB port, allowing these isolated local communities to stay connected.

For more information on MPT’s CSR initiatives to improve the lives of communities around Myanmar, please visit https://www.mpt.com.mm/en/whats-new/csr-activities/ to learn more.

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