By Lamin Bangura
Orange Sierra Leone has stepped up efforts to promote responsible digital behaviour among young people, engaging pupils at Prince of Wales School as part of its “For Good Connections” campaign.
The awareness session, held on Friday, targeted Junior Secondary School pupils and focused on cyberbullying, its forms, effects and prevention, as well as the risks associated with excessive screen time.
Margaret Sia Mondeh of the Orange Foundation Sierra Leone said the initiative aims to encourage a healthier relationship between young people and mobile technology.
“As you know, Orange is a mobile and telecommunication company and since we deal with mobile devices and people, we decided there should be a proper and good connection between people and their devices,” she told journalists.
She said the campaign specifically targets pupils transitioning into secondary school, a stage where many begin to misuse mobile phones, leading to excessive screen time and, in some cases, online misconduct.
“Sometimes they use those devices excessively and also engage in some forms of cyberbullying. They think they can say anything online because they see themselves as matured. That’s why we’re creating the awareness,” she said.
The programme is currently being implemented in eight schools across Freetown, with plans to expand nationwide following an assessment of its impact.
Mondeh said feedback from pupils has been encouraging, noting that while many already understand cyberbullying, some continue to engage in it despite knowing the risks.
The campaign will culminate on June 6 with a football and drama competition involving participating schools, with prizes to be awarded to winners.
Pupils who attended the session said it had changed their perspectives on digital behaviour, with some highlighting the importance of balancing screen time with academic work and other activities, while others pledged to promote responsible social media use among their peers.
The session ended with a musical performance by Leonus Di Genius, providing a lively close to the event.
