By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Orange Foundation Sierra Leone has officially launched the 2025 edition of its Next Generation Camp at the Orange Digital Centre (ODC) on Hill Station in Freetown. The initiative, which kicked off on Monday 4th August, 2025 targets young learners aged 7 to 15 and aims to equip them with essential digital skills in a fun and safe environment.
During the camp, participants will explore areas such as coding, web development and 3D printing. The free month-long program is fully sponsored by the Orange Foundation and is designed to foster creativity and technological curiosity among the next generation of innovators.
The launch featured an orientation session led by Orange Foundation Director, Annie Wonnie-Katta, alongside the ODC team, after which participants were grouped and began hands-on learning activities. The camp is expected to run throughout August from Monday – Thursday.
Delivering the welcome address at the launch, the Director of the Orange Foundation, Annie Wonnie-Katta, expressed excitement over the initiative, emphasizing its goal to nurture innovation among Sierra Leone’s next generation of digital leaders.
“We are absolutely thrilled to kick off the ODC Next Generation Camp 2025 right here at our new ODC building,” she said.
She noted that the camp offers a unique, free opportunity for children to explore creative digital skills including Scratch programming, Web Development and 3D Printing. “You won’t just learn new skills; you’ll learn to think creatively and solve problems like never before,” she added.
The camp, which is fully sponsored by the Orange Foundation, will run throughout the month of August. It aims to equip young participants with basic digital literacy and tech skills in a secure and stimulating environment.
“Our dedicated team is here to ensure that each child not only learns but enjoys every moment of the camp,” Annie Wonnie-Katta assured parents and guardians.
With a blend of learning and play, the Next Generation Camp 2025 promises to spark creativity, build confidence and inspire the innovators of tomorrow.
Destin Turay, 3D Printing Trainer, underscored the importance of 3D printing, describing it as a vital tool for addressing social issues in Sierra Leone. He noted that in previous years, students developed a plastic waste management project where they repurposed plastic waste into 3D printing filament to create useful objects aimed at tackling environmental challenges.
He explained that during the month-long camp, participants will be equipped with hands-on knowledge in 3D printing and encouraged to develop innovative ideas that could later be applied to solving national problems or pursued as personal projects. “3D printing offers countless possibilities. You can design and create almost anything,” he said.
Destin Turay urged participants to make the most of the opportunity provided by the Orange Foundation. “I encourage you to stay focused throughout the camp and explore new ideas. The potential of 3D printing is limitless,” he concluded.
Samuel B. Koroma, Trainer at the Coding School, also emphasized the significance of the camp for the pupils. He stated that the coding sessions will equip participants with foundational computer skills, including how to navigate basic systems, followed by lessons in web development.
He explained that by the end of the training, participants will have the opportunity to create their own websites to showcase some of their personal projects and achievements. “During this camp, we aim to ignite their creativity. From my observations, these pupils are very creative all they need is guidance and the right steps to bring their ideas to life,” he concluded.
Several parents who accompanied their children to the opening day of the Orange Digital Center Next Generation Camp expressed deep appreciation for the initiative. Fatmata Kamara, a mother of two participants, described the camp as a timely intervention that exposes children to relevant digital skills at an early age.
“This is the kind of program we need for our children in today’s world. I’m happy my kids are learning something meaningful over the holidays instead of just staying home,” she said.