By Ibrahim Sesay
Orange Foundation Sierra Leone is rolling out a major Back-To-School donation programme aimed at easing the burden on struggling families and strengthening access to education for vulnerable children in Freetown. The initiative, which targets 2,000 pupils in selected schools across the capital, is designed to ensure that poverty does not become a barrier to learning at a time when the cost of school essentials remains a challenge for many households.
The programme officially began on Friday, 16 January 2026, at the Police Primary School in Kingtom, where 150 disadvantaged pupils received complete learning kits to support their preparations for the academic term. Each child was presented with an Orange Foundation-branded school bag stocked with exercise books, mathematical sets, pens, and pencils; materials described by organizers as essential tools for effective classroom participation and stronger learning outcomes.
Launching the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Madam Aicha Toure, said the intervention was meant to motivate children, promote regular school attendance and encourage pupils to stay focused on their studies regardless of their background. She stressed that the Foundation’s commitment goes beyond the distribution of items, emphasizing that education remains one of the strongest foundations for social progress, national development and long-term transformation.
Madam Aicha Toure described the Back-To-School campaign as a lasting promise to children and communities, noting that every child deserves the opportunity to learn without being limited by economic hardship. She encouraged the pupils to value and make good use of the materials provided, describing them as future leaders whose success will shape the direction of Sierra Leone. She also commended parents, teachers and community stakeholders for their continued efforts in safeguarding education, reminding them that every investment in a child’s education is an investment in the nation’s future.
In her remarks, the Director of Orange Foundation Sierra Leone, Madam Annie Wonnie Katta, said the programme reflects the Foundation’s unwavering dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable children through meaningful and sustainable support. She explained that the initiative aligns with the Government of Sierra Leone’s Human Capital Development Agenda, which prioritizes improved education outcomes and expanded opportunities for every child.
Madam Annie Wonnie Katta noted that education remains a key pillar of Orange Foundation’s work, alongside health and culture. She said the organisation continues to widen its support for pupils through donations, digital learning kits and other targeted educational projects that have reached thousands of children nationwide. She disclosed that Orange Foundation’s educational interventions have supported over 30,000 pupils across Sierra Leone, while similar initiatives implemented in 16 African countries have benefited more than 35,000 children.
According to Madam Annie Wonnie Katta, the current campaign will ensure that 2,000 children in Sierra Leone receive school materials this year, including the 150 pupils reached at the Police Primary School in Kingtom. She described the learning kits as “tools of hope” that will reduce pressure on families and help children concentrate fully on their education. She also reaffirmed the Foundation’s readiness to work with partners and institutions to ensure that no child is left behind because of financial hardship.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, praised Orange Foundation Sierra Leone for supporting the education sector and described the intervention as timely, practical and impactful. He said Sierra Leone is at a critical moment where every child must be guided back into the classroom to avoid exclusion and long-term disadvantage.
Conrad Sackey stressed that keeping children in school is not the responsibility of Government alone but a shared national duty that must involve the private sector, families, communities and development partners. He noted that in many homes the lack of basic learning materials becomes the thin line between education and dropout adding that support such as the Back-To-School drive is essential in sustaining school attendance and restoring hope to families facing hardship.
“Beyond these supplies, I see the future of Sierra Leone in these children,” Conrad Sackey said, as he reaffirmed his Ministry’s commitment to promoting access, equity and equality in education. He commended Orange Sierra Leone and Orange Foundation Sierra Leone for reinforcing the principle that quality education must remain a right for every child, regardless of their circumstances.
The Back-To-School donation programme is expected to continue across other identified schools in Freetown as Orange Foundation Sierra Leone works towards meeting its target of supporting 2,000 vulnerable pupils in the capital this year.
