By Abubakarr Harding
As part of its commitment towards the Government’s Free Quality Education agenda, Orange SL, through its Foundation, on Friday 31 March 2023 officially turned the Sod for the construction of the 6th Ultramodern Early Childhood Development Center in Sarguehun Town, Pujehun District, Southern Sierra Leone, under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and other senior Government officials.
The event was well attended by senior Government officials, Directors and senior staff of Orange SL, leaders and stakeholders of the community and neighboring villages.
President Julius Maada Bio, in his capacity as Chief Patron heaped praises on Orange SL for what he described as a leading company in championing the education sector in the country.
He stated that the early foundation provided by Orange SL will continue to strengthen the education pillars in the country and called on Parents and pupils to make good use of the facility.
President Bio expressed complimentary commendations for the actions of Orange SL in the education sector underscoring that the company’s interventions have not been limited to communication, but also in championing the area of quality education and the health sector.
“As a champion of the United Nations Secretary General’s foundational learning, education is what I am using to showcase our country’s commitment to the world,” the President intimated the audience a statement that was greeted with a deafening applause.
Chief Executive Officer of Orange SL, Amadu Sekou Bah, stated that in August 2018, Orange SL pledged 1.5 Million USD as a package to support the Government’s Free Quality Education Agenda over a 5 years’ period.
“With support from our implementing partner, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Orange SL made commitment to build Early Learning Development Centres in various parts of the country, as part of its contribution towards supporting the Government’s FQE initiative,” he disclosed.
The CEO continued that today the Orange ECD schools enroll children between ages of 2-4 years, and hold high numbers of pupils within the facilities, adding that the main objective is to build educational learning capacity and lay the foundation of education for future generations.
According to the CEO, Orange SL, through its Foundation, is proud to have built four ECD schools within the last two years, namely: in Kambia, Pujehun, Port Loko and Moyamba representatively, furthering that “5th ECD has already been built in Tihun, Bonthe, District, and will be commissioned in May this year”, adding that the turning of the sod marked the 6th ECD school for the community of Sarguehun town.
He continued that Orange’s contributions towards the Government FQE initiative is a demonstration that the company is taking its CRS very important and is ambitions to becomes a reliable partner in development.
The CEO revealed that in 2022 the CSR contribution amounted to NLe 12 Million, which, he said, they are very much proud of as a positive social impact Orange is making in the communities in which the company operates.
Amadu Sekou Bah stated that the company provides numerous philanthropic supports nation-wide ranging from the
establishment of a Digital Center dedicated to provide free access to technologic trainings geared towards empowering young people to pursue their knowledge in digital entrepreneurship disclosing that in just one year they have trained more than 1600 young people through the Orange Digital Center.
The CEO also pointed out that last year, out of 17 countries, the International Orange Social Venture price was won by a Sierra Leonean, Joseph Koroma, for his innovative life blood device adding that it was launched and is currently benefitting Sierra Leoneans going further to also reveal how Orange SL had built women digital centers in Freetown, Makeni, and Bo to promote digital access.
“We have renovated hospitals, health centers, supported disable and vulnerable people in society,” the CEO stated greeted with a loud applause.
He promised that, through the Orange Foundation, the company will build an Orange Village in either of the three districts: Port Loko, Kenema or Moyamba, that will be providing free access to education, clean water supply and better health care.
“The Orange Village will have structures comprising a health center, a school, a water facility and local markets to serve residents and others from neighboring villages,” he ended.
The highpoint of the event was the turning of the sod which was followed by jubilation for the gesture extended by the telecommunications service provider.
The four classroom building, when completed, will be well furnished and beautifully designed to meet the admiration of infant children and it is estimated that it will host about 84 pupils ranging from ages 2- 4 years.
