By Sia Lucy Kannah
Three schools have each won €2,500 in the Wiki Challenge for African Schools, a pan-African digital writing competition designed to boost creativity and knowledge-sharing among children. The awards were presented by Orange Foundation Sierra Leone at a ceremony held at the Orange Digital Centre in Freetown.
The competition encourages pupils aged 8–15 to publish articles on Vikidia, a child-friendly version of Wikipedia, highlighting local history, culture, and innovation.
Finnah Mariama Steven, head of coding at Orange Foundation, explained that this marks the second edition of the competition. She recalled that in 2024, Sierra Leone became the first English-speaking country to participate at the international level, earning recognition for its strong showing. “This year, seven schools took part,” she said, noting that eligibility requires schools to first receive Orange’s digital school kits.
Sekou Amadou Bah, CEO of Orange Sierra Leone, said the initiative empowers children to “tell their own stories” while building digital skills. Since its launch, the Foundation has distributed digital kits to over 39,000 beneficiaries, Bah stated.
Education Minister Conrade Sackey praised the winners, calling them “the embodiment of Sierra Leone’s bright future” and applauded Orange for raising the bar in corporate social responsibility.
Dele Preparatory School, the 2024 international winner, expressed appreciation for the initiative. Philicia J. Samu said the experience has been inspiring. “Winning this competition has motivated us to do more. We intend to use the prize money to purchase a school bus,” she added.
The event ended with certificates, prize cheques, and celebration photos — a symbolic reminder of how technology is opening new opportunities for Sierra Leone’s young learners.