By Mohamed J. Kargbo
Sierra Musical Heritage, a Sierra Leonean youth development organization that uses arts and entertainment to inspire and educate young people, has officially launched its first Inter-Secondary School Performing Arts and Quiz Competition.
The announcement was made during a press conference held on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the CCSL Hall on Kingharman Road in Freetown.
The competition aims to address challenges faced by schools while using performing arts to keep students engaged in education and raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the event, Project Coordinator Tutie Haffner revealed that the competition will run from May 8 to May 9, 2025, at the Police Field in Kingtom.
He disclosed that 15 secondary schools, including Prince of Wales, Government Model, Muslim Brotherhood, and Albert Academy, will participate in the event.
The grand prize includes NLe 50,000, a laptop, and three smartphones. Haffner emphasized that the cash prize will go directly to the winning school to help address pressing challenges and improve the learning environment.
“We want to ensure that students remain in school, stay away from drugs, and use performing arts as a means of education and empowerment,” he said.
Haffner assured that credible judges will oversee the competition, and training sessions will be provided for schools that require additional support. He also emphasized that the initiative is non-profit and focused on raising awareness about critical issues affecting students.
Willy Pratt, a member of the organizing team, reiterated the mission of Sierra Musical Heritage and highlighted the vision of its founder, Abubakarr Saccoh. “His passion for arts and entertainment is immense, and he wants to bring this initiative to schools to inspire young talents,” Pratt said.
He added that for now, Saccoh is the sole sponsor of the event. To ensure a safe and smooth competition, the organizers have secured the support of the military and police to prevent any disruptions.
Pratt concluded by expressing hopes for future editions. “Once this first edition is successful, we will organize more competitions to ensure this initiative continues to impact students positively.”
