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Eutelsat and MultiChoice Africa Announce Winners of the First DStv Eutelsat Star Awards
More Than 800 Students From Across Africa Respond to the Challenge of Creative Thinking in Science and Technology
JOHANNESBURG and PARIS, September 21, 2011/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Following the meeting in South Africa of a prestigious jury chaired by
Professor George Smoot, Nobel Prize laureate in 2006 and astrophysicist, the
winners have been announced of the first edition of the DStv Eutelsat Star
Awards, initiated by MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat in collaboration with
Mindset Learn.
The DStv Eutelsat Star Awards is an initiative to encourage young
students in 42 African countries to embrace science and technology, and to
encourage creative thinking on applications that can support the development
of the African continent. Students were invited to write an essay or design
a poster on satellite technology and how it can assist further development
of their communities, country or the African continent.
Of over 800 entries from across Africa, the final jury reviewed a
shortlist of essays and posters preselected by national juries. They
included Kidanemarriam Belew from Ethiopia, Vitumbiko Chingwere from Malawi,
Sandile Dube from Swaziland, Chukwuka Ekweani and Oluwaseyi Oloyede from
Nigeria, Shanen Ganapathee from Mauritius, Mary Misumire and Rebecca
Nalwanga from Uganda, Tofunmi Olagoke from South Africa and Michael Yeboah
from Guinea.
The jury commented on the extremely high level of these entries and
awarded the Ugandan student, Mary Misumire first prize in the Best Entry
Award category. Her essay, "Looking to the sky for answers", impressed the
judges with its creativity and innovation. Mary has won a trip for two
people to experience live a rocket launch, and to visit Eutelsat in France.
Runner-up Best Overall Award went to Michael Yeboah from Guinea for his
poster. Michael wins a trip for two people to Eutelsat in France. The jury
assigned a Merit Award to the Mauritian student Shanen Ganapathee for her
essay entry, and to Tofunmi Olagoke from South Africa for his poster entry.
Both Merit Awards win a trip to South Africa to visit MultiChoice Africa and
Mindset Learn's satellite broadcast facilities.
The jury assembled for this first event was chaired by Professor George
Smoot, with Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Director South African Department of
Science and Technology; Lauren Beukes, novelist and winner of the 2011
Arthur C. Clarke Award for her novel 'Zoo City': Nadi Albino, Chief of
Education UNICEF South Africa, and Professor Amadi Ihunwo, Head
Morphological Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the
Witwatersrand.
Impressed by this new initiative, Professor Smoot, whose long-term
interest for African education is witnessed by his Education Foundation, the
Global Teachers Academy (GTA) and his engagement for the African Institute
for Mathematical Science, said: "Young people and education are key to
Africa's future, and science in particular can play a powerful role in
development. I am delighted and honoured to have been involved in this new
initiative which aims at promoting science and technology in schools. As
jury chairman, I was inspired by the quality of the entries. The winning
essay showed passion and demonstrated a good understanding of satellites.
There were accurate details of how satellites can be used, from managing
climate change and natural resources to their uses in urban planning. We
liked Mary's out-of-the-box thinking and creative expression. The second
best essay entry, well-written by Shanen, displayed an excellent and
in-depth knowledge of satellites and their use for Africa. Well done to all
the contestants."
Collins Khumalo, President of MultiChoice Africa, added: "As a business
born and bred in Africa, MultiChoice Africa is keenly aware of the
challenges faced by many countries across the continent - specifically in
terms of access to ICTs and the development of science and technology. With
education as a key focus of our corporate social investment programmes, our
decision to initiate this competition with Eutelsat and Mindset Learn
created a natural synergy which was able to stimulate education and interest
around satellites and their possible applications in Africa. An investment
in the youth is an investment in the future - and we believe that education
in the area of science and technology will make a fundamental difference to
this future."
Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat Communications, added: "At Eutelsat, we
believe that our responsibility as a satellite operator is to deploy
infrastructure that enables information and communication to be available to
as many people as possible. There can be no sustainable development in high
technology environments without increasing the number of engineers,
technicians and teachers to build an inclusive digital environment. The high
level of participation and the quality of the entries in this first edition
is very encouraging and motivates us to pursue initiatives that can
stimulate young African minds to think about new technologies that will
drive economic and social progress."
The Awards leveraged MultiChoice's Resource Centres which have been
established in over 1000 schools across Sub-Saharan Africa to provide
educational channels such as National Geographic, the History Channel and
Mindset Learn to schools via satellite, and to train teachers to use this
programming to enhance teaching and learning.
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234)
is the holding company of EutelsatS.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27
satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well
as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the
Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators
in terms of revenues. At 30 June 2011, Eutelsat's satellites were
broadcasting more than 3,800 television channels. More than 1,100 channels
broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which
serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East
and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed
and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate
networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for
transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary,
Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed internet services
through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local
communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa,
Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries
employ just over 700 commercial, technical and operational employees from 30
countries.
http://www.eutelsat.com
About MultiChoice Africa
MultiChoice Africa Limited ("MultiChoice Africa") is an African pioneer
of pay TV services in sub-Sahara Africa, having launched the first digital
satellite service in the 1980s. The company is registered in Mauritius, and
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Naspers Group. MultiChoice Africa
provides multi-channel digital pay television services containing channels
from Africa, America, China, India, Asia and Europe. The company has over
twenty years experience as a Pay TV operator in Africa, offering
cutting-edge digital technology and a selection of DStv bouquets containing
premium television channels for subscribers in 47 African countries and the
adjacent Indian Ocean islands.
MultiChoice Africa provides its digital satellite television service -
DStv - to subscribers' homes from two different satellites, namely: the
Intelsat 7 ("IS 7") Ku BAND and Eutelsat W7 ("W7") Ku Band.
MultiChoice Africa provides a dynamic technology platform and assembles
a range of bouquets built around compelling news, as well as premium movies,
documentaries and sports channels for subscribers. Our mission is to
constantly be at the cutting edge of new technology that enables DStv
subscribers to enjoy the very best home television experience.
Source: Eutelsat Communications & MultiChoice Africa
For further information: Press: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-37-91 voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frédérique Gautier Tel. : +33-1-53-98-37-91, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Analysts and Investors: Lisa Finas, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com; Léonard Wapler, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-31-07, investors@eutelsat-communications.com ; Head: Corporate Affairs: Caroline Creasy, Tel: +27-11-289-3081, caroline.creasy@multichoice.co.za
Eutelsat and MultiChoice Africa Announce Winners of the First DStv Eutelsat Star Awards
More Than 800 Students From Across Africa Respond to the Challenge of Creative Thinking in Science and Technology
JOHANNESBURG and PARIS, September 21, 2011/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Following the meeting in South Africa of a prestigious jury chaired by
Professor George Smoot, Nobel Prize laureate in 2006 and astrophysicist, the
winners have been announced of the first edition of the DStv Eutelsat Star
Awards, initiated by MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat in collaboration with
Mindset Learn.
The DStv Eutelsat Star Awards is an initiative to encourage young
students in 42 African countries to embrace science and technology, and to
encourage creative thinking on applications that can support the development
of the African continent. Students were invited to write an essay or design
a poster on satellite technology and how it can assist further development
of their communities, country or the African continent.
Of over 800 entries from across Africa, the final jury reviewed a
shortlist of essays and posters preselected by national juries. They
included Kidanemarriam Belew from Ethiopia, Vitumbiko Chingwere from Malawi,
Sandile Dube from Swaziland, Chukwuka Ekweani and Oluwaseyi Oloyede from
Nigeria, Shanen Ganapathee from Mauritius, Mary Misumire and Rebecca
Nalwanga from Uganda, Tofunmi Olagoke from South Africa and Michael Yeboah
from Guinea.
The jury commented on the extremely high level of these entries and
awarded the Ugandan student, Mary Misumire first prize in the Best Entry
Award category. Her essay, "Looking to the sky for answers", impressed the
judges with its creativity and innovation. Mary has won a trip for two
people to experience live a rocket launch, and to visit Eutelsat in France.
Runner-up Best Overall Award went to Michael Yeboah from Guinea for his
poster. Michael wins a trip for two people to Eutelsat in France. The jury
assigned a Merit Award to the Mauritian student Shanen Ganapathee for her
essay entry, and to Tofunmi Olagoke from South Africa for his poster entry.
Both Merit Awards win a trip to South Africa to visit MultiChoice Africa and
Mindset Learn's satellite broadcast facilities.
The jury assembled for this first event was chaired by Professor George
Smoot, with Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Director South African Department of
Science and Technology; Lauren Beukes, novelist and winner of the 2011
Arthur C. Clarke Award for her novel 'Zoo City': Nadi Albino, Chief of
Education UNICEF South Africa, and Professor Amadi Ihunwo, Head
Morphological Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the
Witwatersrand.
Impressed by this new initiative, Professor Smoot, whose long-term
interest for African education is witnessed by his Education Foundation, the
Global Teachers Academy (GTA) and his engagement for the African Institute
for Mathematical Science, said: "Young people and education are key to
Africa's future, and science in particular can play a powerful role in
development. I am delighted and honoured to have been involved in this new
initiative which aims at promoting science and technology in schools. As
jury chairman, I was inspired by the quality of the entries. The winning
essay showed passion and demonstrated a good understanding of satellites.
There were accurate details of how satellites can be used, from managing
climate change and natural resources to their uses in urban planning. We
liked Mary's out-of-the-box thinking and creative expression. The second
best essay entry, well-written by Shanen, displayed an excellent and
in-depth knowledge of satellites and their use for Africa. Well done to all
the contestants."
Collins Khumalo, President of MultiChoice Africa, added: "As a business
born and bred in Africa, MultiChoice Africa is keenly aware of the
challenges faced by many countries across the continent - specifically in
terms of access to ICTs and the development of science and technology. With
education as a key focus of our corporate social investment programmes, our
decision to initiate this competition with Eutelsat and Mindset Learn
created a natural synergy which was able to stimulate education and interest
around satellites and their possible applications in Africa. An investment
in the youth is an investment in the future - and we believe that education
in the area of science and technology will make a fundamental difference to
this future."
Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat Communications, added: "At Eutelsat, we
believe that our responsibility as a satellite operator is to deploy
infrastructure that enables information and communication to be available to
as many people as possible. There can be no sustainable development in high
technology environments without increasing the number of engineers,
technicians and teachers to build an inclusive digital environment. The high
level of participation and the quality of the entries in this first edition
is very encouraging and motivates us to pursue initiatives that can
stimulate young African minds to think about new technologies that will
drive economic and social progress."
The Awards leveraged MultiChoice's Resource Centres which have been
established in over 1000 schools across Sub-Saharan Africa to provide
educational channels such as National Geographic, the History Channel and
Mindset Learn to schools via satellite, and to train teachers to use this
programming to enhance teaching and learning.
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234)
is the holding company of EutelsatS.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27
satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well
as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the
Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators
in terms of revenues. At 30 June 2011, Eutelsat's satellites were
broadcasting more than 3,800 television channels. More than 1,100 channels
broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which
serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East
and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed
and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate
networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for
transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary,
Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed internet services
through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local
communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa,
Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries
employ just over 700 commercial, technical and operational employees from 30
countries.
http://www.eutelsat.com
About MultiChoice Africa
MultiChoice Africa Limited ("MultiChoice Africa") is an African pioneer
of pay TV services in sub-Sahara Africa, having launched the first digital
satellite service in the 1980s. The company is registered in Mauritius, and
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Naspers Group. MultiChoice Africa
provides multi-channel digital pay television services containing channels
from Africa, America, China, India, Asia and Europe. The company has over
twenty years experience as a Pay TV operator in Africa, offering
cutting-edge digital technology and a selection of DStv bouquets containing
premium television channels for subscribers in 47 African countries and the
adjacent Indian Ocean islands.
MultiChoice Africa provides its digital satellite television service -
DStv - to subscribers' homes from two different satellites, namely: the
Intelsat 7 ("IS 7") Ku BAND and Eutelsat W7 ("W7") Ku Band.
MultiChoice Africa provides a dynamic technology platform and assembles
a range of bouquets built around compelling news, as well as premium movies,
documentaries and sports channels for subscribers. Our mission is to
constantly be at the cutting edge of new technology that enables DStv
subscribers to enjoy the very best home television experience.
Source: Eutelsat Communications & MultiChoice Africa
For further information: Press: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-37-91 voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frédérique Gautier Tel. : +33-1-53-98-37-91, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Analysts and Investors: Lisa Finas, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com; Léonard Wapler, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-31-07, investors@eutelsat-communications.com ; Head: Corporate Affairs: Caroline Creasy, Tel: +27-11-289-3081, caroline.creasy@multichoice.co.za