By John Sheka Tarawalie
Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Prof. Alpha Wurie on Wednesday 8th September, 2021 handed over cheques to the winners of this year’s Orange Social Venture Prize Competition. The auspicious and colourful ceremony which attracted people from all walks of life was held at Orange headquarters, Hill Station, Freetown. Being the biggest and most reliable telecommunications company this the company’s third edition of its Social Venture Prize Competition. One hundred and fifty million Leones in total was dished out to Uman 4 Uman Organization and Eco Mobile Clinic respectively.
Representing the CEO of Orange-SL was Jestina Betts. She informed her audience that they are happy for the third time to host the remarkable OSVP event which showcases their top qualifiers.
She added that Orange-SL being a multi-service provider and a responsible corporate body, places emphasis on corporate social investment, adding that they believe in philanthropy which is why the brand continues to impact directly on the lives of people by giving back and touching lives.
Jestina Betts further said that the Orange Social Venture Prize is part of the company’s Innovative Strategy and its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy which is organized in partnership with Innovation SL- Freetown Pitch Night.
She noted that the competition is open to both male and female contestants from age 21 and above, whose business ideas and proposed technological solutions have positive impact on essential fields such as education, healthcare, agriculture and the like.
She went on to state that since the inception of the OSVP in 2019, the event has become a household name and a reference partner in ICT development and start-ups. She said in 2019, Aminata C.M Kandeh CEO of Agro Fish Farming was the first winner. In 2020, Bayoh Turay of Salone Agric Market emerged the second winner. She maintained that both winners were given technical and financial support resulting to these two young entrepreneurs being able to expand their businesses and provide job opportunities for other unemployed Sierra Leoneans.
Betts further said that for the first time in Sierra Leone, there is a reward for women, which is the International Women’s Award 2021. She said the project seeks to offer technological solutions that will improve the living conditions of women in terms of independence, creating and maintaining jobs, data collection on gender, digital access and or financial inclusion.
This year’s Social Venture prize increased by 400 per cent compared to the past two years. The grants, she added is in support of the government’s human capital development agenda. The OSVP she went on is doing this to invest in the young people of Sierra Leone so they can realize their dreams and entrepreneurial aspirations.
The Orange Social Venture Prize is an initiative that was launched by Orange to promote businesses and give entrepreneurs a shot at success. This support has been crucial to their survival and has given them a good start through a competitive business plan.
This year’s third edition of the Orange-SL Social Venture Prize grand star prize is one hundred million Leones for the OSVP winner and fifty million Leones for the International Women’s prize.
Speaking at a well-attended program, the pitchers using PowerPoint presentation explained how they crafted their ideas into respective business models ranging from sanitary pads, solar light, mobile lab technology to mobile apps for online purchase as well as the creation of production facilities to produce safe drinking water in the country.
The winner for the 2021 third edition for the OSVP is the Uman 4 Uman Organization pitcher, which is an organization operated by a young Sierra Leonean lady, Haja Isatu Bah. Her organization produces sanitary pads for girls and women.
In her presentation, Haja Isatu Bah said 2 out of 5 girls in Sierra Leone miss school when they are in their period. She noted that 93 per cent of girls in schools start menstruation without knowing or understanding what is happening to them and that lack of access to affordable pads and proper disposal of pads is also a problem. She stated that lack of access to menstrual health education is another big problem.
Miss Bah revealed that her pads are affordable and chemical-free, noting that the pads can be used for 6 to 8 hours and come in different sizes and are easy to wash and dry.
She added that the pads are durable and can be used for 2 years. She said they are mainly targeting secondary school girls with Freetown being their initial entry location. She added that they are working to empower girls and women through research, develop their own prototype, and are very coachable, committed, and resourceful with a feminist team.
The International Women’s prize was won by Adama K Thoronka of from Eco Mobile Clinic with a prize of fifty million Leones ( le 50,000,000).
Consolation prizes were given to the other competitors.
