Millicom Ghana Limited, operators of Tigo mobile network, has announced an initiative that will allow young girls to overcome their fears through skateboarding and rap music, eco-friendly toys and an iPhone application that teaches math.
A statement copied by the company to the Ghana News Agency on Monday said the initiatives were just some of the results after a year of “Playing for Change,” the Kinnevik Group's investment in social entrepreneurs, who make the world better, for children and youth.
“Playing for Change now moves forward, searching for new social entrepreneurs - in Ghana,” it said indicating that Millicom Ghana’s move formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
The statement quoted Sara Damber, CEO of Playing for Change, saying “Our Swedish social entrepreneurs have begun to show what can be achieved if you combine passionate commitment to children and young adults with fresh ideas and - inspired by the world of business - focus on getting results.
“We want to find and spread this power of initiative in other parts of the world, and we are starting in Ghana”.
During February and March this year, the statement said, Playing for Change would find four social entrepreneurs in Ghana, who wish to contribute to a better world for children and youth by promoting the right to play.
It explained further that the entrepreneurs would receive salary funding and support to build their own businesses in an Incubator model developed in Sweden.
Playing for Change was launched in Sweden in January 2010, when the Kinnevik Group started searching for social entrepreneurs who use innovative ways to improve the world for children and young people. It is a joint venture between Kinnevik, Millicom Ghana Limited, Korsnäs, Metro, Viasat 1, Tele2, Transcom, and the Hugo Stenbeck's Foundation.
The partners of Playing for Change contribute with funds, business expertise, media exposure and marketing, while the entrepreneurs contribute with their power of initiative and an idea that can change the world.