By Millicent Senava Mannah
With the objective of providing support to women to gain access to different skills within the educational sector, Orange Foundation, the philanthropic unit of Orange Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the National Youth Commission launched a Women’s Digital Centre and held a certification ceremony for the first batch of grandaunts at the NAYCOM Head office, National Swimming Pool in Freetown.
The Centre is the first ever women’s digital centre established to cater for young women and girls in Sierra Leone by Orange Foundation under the distinguished leadership of the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Aminata Kane to empower women become potential media influencers, digital entrepreneurs and many more.
In performing her last function, the outgoing CEO, Aminata Kane congratulated the 126 grandaunts and highlighted the significance of the knowledge acquired from the digital training.
She revealed that the Women’s Digital Centre is an initiative in partnership with the National Youth Commission, established to empower economically vulnerable women by providing them with training in digital technology and use of software, confidence and morale boosting sessions and entrepreneurship.
Madam Aminata continued that Orange Foundation was set up in order to establish and solidify the philanthropic aspects of Orange SL and render support to projects in education, health and culture including youth and women in Sierra Leone.
Thomas Ngolo Katta, Commissioner of the National Youth Commission expressed his gratitude to Orange Foundation for the Centre which he said will increase the financial status of women in the country by empowering them to generate income through the skills acquired from the centre.
The keynote speaker, who happened to be the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Madam Manty Tarawalli, stated that it is a great honour for her to grace the launching ceremony and certification of the 126 grandaunts that were trained in digital skills, life and entrepreneurship.
She commended Orange Foundation and NAYCOM for opening the first ever Women’s Digital Centre in the country saying she considers such as a great development for young women and girls to be empowered in digital skills.
Madam Manty requested that Orange Foundation should not stop there as more centres and colleges are needed for women and girls in the country.
Jestina Betts, CEO of Orange Foundation stated how they have once again proven Orange’s unfailing commitment to not only improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans through wonderful digital experiences, but empowering women with tools they need to succeed.
She continued that through the Centre, women will consolidate basic knowledge, discover the use of a computer or a tablet, others will improve their CVs and cover letters to help them in their search for employment.
Cassandra Bangura, one of the benefactors, speak on behalf of her colleagues maintaining that they are grateful to Orange Foundation for the digital training, stating that they were ignorant about operating a computer, but said through the training they have not only being computer literate but they have learnt other skills as well.
This historic event was climaxed by the launch of the Centre by the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, and the issuance of certificates to the grandaunts by various distinguished guests.
