The Orange Foundation Sierra Leone has donated digital learning equipment to Rural Education Community Primary School in York, Western Area Rural District, in a move aimed at expanding access to digital education and equipping pupils with the technological skills needed for the future.
The presentation ceremony brought together education stakeholders, community leaders, teachers and pupils, highlighting the Foundation’s continued commitment to promoting digital inclusion and improving learning opportunities for children across Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the event, Director of Orange Foundation Sierra Leone, Annie Wonnie Katta, said the donation reflects the Foundation’s vision of ensuring that every child, irrespective of location, has access to quality digital education.
She explained that the initiative is intended to provide pupils with opportunities to explore technology, enhance their digital literacy and prepare for the demands of an increasingly technology-driven world.
According to Annie Wonnie Katta, the Foundation remains committed to equipping schools with modern digital learning resources that will broaden educational opportunities and empower children to achieve their full potential.
Welcoming the delegation, Head Teacher of Rural Education Community Primary School, Madam Christiana Macarthy, expressed appreciation to Orange Foundation Sierra Leone for selecting the school as a beneficiary.
She described the donation as a significant contribution to improving teaching and learning, noting that the digital equipment will enhance classroom instruction and provide pupils with valuable learning experiences.
York Headman, Mr. Julrick Pratt, also commended Orange Sierra Leone for its continued support to the community, observing that the company’s interventions extend beyond education to the health sector.
“It is very, very timely, this particular donation Orange has brought to our children,” he said.
He assured the Foundation that both teachers and pupils would take proper care of the equipment while making the best use of the learning resources provided.
Chairman of the Community Teachers Association (CTA), Mr. Samuel Frewy, thanked Orange Sierra Leone for choosing the school to benefit from the initiative, describing the donation as one that will significantly improve the quality of education available to the pupils.
Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Madam Aicha Toure, described education as one of the most valuable investments any nation can make, stressing that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, innovate and realise their dreams.
She disclosed that Orange Digital School kits are currently benefiting more than 30,000 pupils across six districts in Sierra Leone, while over 500,000 pupils worldwide are using similar digital learning kits in countries where Orange operates.
Madam Aicha Toure commended teachers for their dedication to nurturing future generations and expressed confidence that the donated equipment would strengthen classroom teaching and prepare pupils for the digital age.
“Investing in education means investing in the future of the country,” she said.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education said he has travelled extensively across Sierra Leone since assuming office to engage communities and better understand the challenges confronting the education sector.
He noted that although York is located within the Western Area, it remains one of the district’s least developed communities, making interventions such as Orange Foundation’s digital education initiative particularly significant.
The Minister praised Orange Sierra Leone for its sustained investment in the community, noting that the company has consistently supported development initiatives in the area.
“We believe that our kids must be educated and be educated properly,” he said.
Addressing the pupils, the Minister encouraged them to embrace digital technology and maximise the opportunities created by the donated equipment, reminding them that they are growing up in an era where technology has become central to education and future employment.
The donation forms part of Orange Foundation Sierra Leone’s broader programme to expand digital inclusion and improve access to quality education, particularly in underserved communities, as it continues to invest in initiatives that equip young learners with the skills required for success in the digital economy.
