Telecom giant, Airtel Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC) to carry out a Digital Youth Empowerment Programme and training in ten universities in Uganda.
AIESEC, an international platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential, is the world’s largest student-run organization that focuses on developing students on a global scale into responsible and entrepreneurial leaders. It was started in Uganda in 1996 at Makerere University and currently has close to 300 members in seven universities.
Mr. Tom Gutjahr, the Managing Director Airtel Uganda expressed his excitement towards this partnership, adding that he believes AIESEC is for focused individuals who are open to working in other cultures, getting exposure and using it to develop their own countries.
“Airtel Uganda has and will always welcome ideas that focus on empowerment of the youth, not only by providing them with better telecommunications solutions, but also by giving them opportunities to better their loves through the kind of exposure that AIESEC provides,” he added.
“In the core of our leadership development that we provide to young people, we are collaborating with Airtel to bring about this perspective of Digital Youth Empowerment which is such a needed thing for young leaders today,” commented Ms. Marie Kvendset, the President of AIESEC in Uganda during the signing ceremony, adding that last year alone, AIESEC brought approximately 300 people to Uganda under their exchange program.
As part of the MoU, Airtel Uganda will be offering 3G capable devices – Wingles (Wifi Dongles) and Smart Watches to some students at the various universities during the programme. These unique products will demonstrate Airtel Uganda’s leadership and innovation in the mobile data space as it tailors telecommunications solutions to the students.
Below is a schedule of the confirmed dates and venues for the activations;
9th Sept: Ndejje University – Kampala Campus
10th Sept : UMU – Cardinal Wamala Auditorium
11th Sept : MUST – Main conference hall
14th Sept : MUBS – Walusansa Hall
15th Sept : KYU – Dining Hall West End
16th Sept : UCU – Library
17th Sept: Cavendish & IUEA – Basement Room 1
18th Sept: MUK – CEDAT Conference Hall