In actualization of a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, Orange Sierra Leone (OSL) doled out as Iftar, assorted food items during the Holy Month of Ramadan to thousands of Muslims at selected Mosques across the country.
The Iftar (donated items) that were worth millions of Leones was aimed at helping the less privileged and the needy so as to ease on them the burden of fasting and the difficulties of eking daily bread during such a difficult period. The Orange Sierra Leone gifts came during the last ten days of Ramadan during which Muslims all over the world including Sierra Leone, observe the Tahajud Prayer (Extended Prayer) in Mosques all in the bid to be lucky to collide with the “Night of Power” which the Holy Quran clearly states is beneficial to Muslims more than one thousand nights of prayers.
The Orange Sierra Leone gifts was also to ease the burden of utilizing the meager resources raised by those Mosques to buy food items and other related condiments including soft drinks, water, etc., for the hundreds of Muslims who go to those Mosques for that special night of prayer.
Such a gesture according to Islamic scholars, constitute a huge form of worship which results into great blessing to the donor. Several mosques in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown and in the provinces benefited from the Orange Sierra Leone Iftar largesse.
Masjid Ilmo Zikri, Hill Station, Masjid Nuru Haqq at Goderich, Masjid Musa Khalamulah at Lower Allen Town, Masjid Makfira at Wellington, Masjid Yasin Bo city, Koidu Town Central Mosque, the Central Masjid in Yele Town, among others were the beneficiaries of this year’s Sierra Leone’s leading Telecommunications Company Iftar donation.
Receiving the donated items, the Chief Imam at Ilmo Zikr Mosque at Hill Station, Sheik Chernor Mohamed Jalloh commended Orange Sierra Leone Company for the Iftar which, he said, the company has been doing over the years during Ramadan.
The Ilmo Zikr Mosque at Hill Station is located within the company’s area of operation and has never been left out for any year, a gesture the Chief Imam never lost sight of.
“I thank you for extending such good gestures to the Masjid for the past years since it hosts the company,” he appreciated the gifts adding that they had come at the right time.
“The donation of the items is timely especially when worshippers are observing the last ten days of the month which requires long-night of prayers,” he showed another stream of appreciation.
While lecturing on the virtues of giving to the needy, Sheik Jalloh invoked supplications from the Holy Quran for the company to thrive in the business world and do more offers to the vulnerable.
The Masjid, accord to the Chief Imam, has always had a cordial relationship with the company since it began operation here in Sierra Leone referring to it as a trail-blazer in extending gifts to the Islamic community as compared to other GSM operators in the country.
Speaking during the donation of the items, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Officer, Mohamed Santos Bangura said it is a norm for OSL to offer “goodwill gestures” to Mosques and Churches during their annual Holy Months of Ramadan and Lent.
The selection of the mosques, he went on, was open and fair, but cautioned that this year’s beneficiaries might not get such offers next year as the company targets other mosques in coming years.
“The company wants to impact as many beneficiaries as possible,” Bangura emphasized.
Throughout its years of operation, OSL has seen it as part of its culture to help Muslims and Christians with food items to ease their financial burden. Such donations come from the company’s core values of love, care, respect and responsibility. Although OSL has been offering gifts during Ramadan, this year appears to be a big difference since the Islamic month of Ramadan and the Christian Lent season are simultaneously observed across the country.
As caring as it is, the company digs deep into its resources to help the two religious communities observe their holy months with ease.
OSL’s presence is not felt in Sierra Leone only during the two holy months, but during normal times and in different areas of national development. Rolling out the goodies of its CSR policy, OSL has immensely contributed to Sierra Leone’s economy, education and health among others.
The company has trained thousands of less privileged women and girls in digital and Orange Money skills which they have been using over the years to benefit themselves and their communities.
In education, OSL was the first to give out NLe1.5m or Le1.5bn (one billion, five hundred million Leone’s) to boost government’s Free Quality Education project geared towards improving human capital development. It has also built and maintained five ECD (Early Child Development) learning centers in Sierra Leone’s five districts: PortLoko, Kambia, Moyamba, Pujehun and Bonthe.
The company also pays equal attention to the health sector by supporting the country’s Free Health Care policy which caters for under-fives, pregnant women and lactating mothers to cut down on the once rolling statistics of infant and maternal deaths.
In spite of the huge contribution to Sierra Leone’s growth and development, they still maintain an unwavering commitment to improving the people’s lives here.