Airtel Tanzania is allowing the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to use its cell towers in order to provide rural areas with improved radio communications.
The partners plan to provide education, entertainment and information content to areas of Tanzania that had previously been disconnected, such as the Ngorongoro, Mbeya, Kigoma and Pemba districts.
UNESCO hopes that by providing a source of information, it can address social challenges in these areas, such as the spread of HIV/AIDS and female genital mutilation.
Airtel public relations officer, Jane Matinde said the company recognised how important communication was in improving the access of rural people to political, social and economic news.
“We believe through community radios, education will be provided to Tanzanians and availability of current news on different issues will enable people to improve economic activities at their areas and the country in general,” she said at the launch of the partnership at a local radio station in Ololosokwan, in Arusha region.
NESCO project and communication officer, Yusuph Al Amin, said, “The radio project in Ololosokwan will connect Maasai to the rest of the world as well as advocating their culture and traditions while giving education on how to maintain their culture and development in general.”
He added that UNESCO was also launching a project to establish a multimedia centre to connect local residents to the internet.
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