MTN Heroes of Change has come to stay not only because it is backed by the strongest telecoms brand in the country, but also because of the powerful and lasting impact of the deeds that are adjudged, showcased and rewarded as heroic.
In this third season of the TV reality show, ten of such heroic deeds are being showcased, rewarded and encouraged to make even greater impact on society.
The 10 were selected after months of screening over 2,400 entries received for Season III of MTN Heroes of Change, and they have been airing weekly since Saturday 4th March, and will run for 13 weeks.
They are airing on GTV every Saturday at 5:30pm; Multi TV on Sundays at 5:00pm;TV3 on Sundays at 6:30pm; and GhOne on Sundays at 7:00pm.
The shortlisted projects cut across the three focus areas of MTN Foundation namely Health, Education and Economic Empowerment.
The final 10 nominees are Joseph Asakibeem, Dr. Michael Edusei-Nsowah, Genevieve Basigha, Ibrahim Bafara Alhassan, Nana Prof. Osei Darkwa III, Joana Deegbe, John Amankrah Essel. The others are Rev. Fr. Moses Asaah, Rev. Monsignor Alex Bobby Benson and Jack Dawson.
Heroes
Episode one saw Joseph Asakibeem, based in Sirigu in the Upper East region, and he provides medical aid to children born with varying deformities.
He also educates the community against the false belief that children born with deformities are “spirit children” and must be killed. His project is supported by Afrikids UK through Afrikids Ghana.
Through persistent education, Joseph has succeeded to preventing the needless murder of many innocent children born with deformity.
The second episode saw the catholic priest who has chosen to care for marginalized persons living with HIV and AiDS.
Rev. Monsignor Alex Bobby Benson runs a house called “Matthew 25” where he provides spiritual, emotional, material and financial support for persons affected by HIV and AIDS, with funding from the Catholic Church, friends and other individuals.
In episode three, Dr. Michael Edusei-Nsowah who runs a self-funded rural eye health project, is showcased as an MTN hero of change because he has helped numerous people with varying eye problems.
Dr Edusei-Nsowah travels to health facilities in Asonomaso in the Ashanti Region to give medical help to people who require eye treatment. Beneficiaries pay a token of just GHC5 for consultation services.
Rev. Father Moses Asaah was the MTN hero of change for the fourth episode of the show. Through his NGO, Regentropfen Education Foundation, Rev. Asaah takes care of orphans and other needy children within Namoo in the Upper East by providing shelter and food.
He has set up a scholarship fund, which helps brilliant but needy children through school; he has built a library and built a university in the village of Namoo with a hostel facility near completion.
Rev. Father Asaah funds the project through donations from individuals in Germany and Stiftung Regentropfen.
Genevieve Bashinga is deaf and dumb, but in spite of all the odds, she has set up a school in Obuasi in the Ashanti region, which caters to deaf and dump children.
What make Genvieve an MTN Hero of Change is that she sustains the project largely from her own pocket, plus just GHC70 fees parents of those children pay per term.
Ibrahim Bafara Alhassan operates from Wa in the Upper West Region, where he is credited with helping to eradicate poverty through his self-funded poultry project called Vision Farms.
Ibrahim distributes birds to interested individuals who rear and resell them. He started with just 10 birds, but now the project is a movement spreading across 11 districts in the region.
Nana Prof. Osei Kofi Adarkwa III is the Chief of Patriensa, and President of the Ghana Technology University College. He has established a 5 year developmental program to transform his community.
Nana has helped construct a road that has significantly cut the time farmers take to commute from their farms to the market. This has helped them avoid long dangerous treks from farm to market and also significantly reduced the incidence of produce going bad.
His project is partially self-funded and is also supported by Nana’s friends.
Joana Mansah Deegbe, a lawyer and educationist made the MTN HOC list because she mobilized donations from family, friends and her church to set up a community library in Shiashie in Accra, to enable children improve their reading and literacy skills.
John Amankrah Essel has taken it upon himself to set up schools in very remove communities within Breman Asikuma to give the children in its environs the required education.
Over 300 children have benefited from his project, which is funded through his personal income as well as a small token paid by the parents of the students.
Graphic Designer and Social Worker Jack James Dawson has set up and runs the APPLE Foundation at Atitekpo in the Volta Region. APPLE stands for Association of People for Practical Life Education, and the Foundation rescues children from trafficking.
Jack uses his personal income and donations to run his project, and that is what makes him an MTN HOC this season.
Prizes
At the end of the 13 week TV series, an awards event will be organised during which the ultimate winner will be announced. The ultimate Hero of Change will receive GH¢100,000 to support his/her community project.
Selected winners for the various categories will all be recognized with financial prizes. The remaining six finalists will also receive consolation prizes.
Commenting on Heroes of Change Season III, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Mrs Cynthia Lumor said “we launched the Heroes of Change project to celebrate ordinary people impacting society in an extra ordinary manner. We are looking forward to projecting their stories and to reward them for their selfless services.”