Joy Doreen Biira

12/11/2025

2 minutes before speaking to 13 year old Nimatu, in Sierra Leone, I could see how nervous and tense she was - sweaty palms, her little cute shoes were humming the floor… it was the cameras … we had gotten into her space, in her classroom, at her desk…

So, we flipped the script…

“What did you have for breakfast this morning?” I asked. Her eyes lit up with just a little shy side smile when she was explaining to me (Don’t recall what she said, I was focused on having her feel at ease).

“Who are your friends in class?” (Again I don’t recall what she said)

Then a 3rd random question, “what’s your favorite subject in class?” Her eyes lit up, only this time, more confidently as she replied, “Mathematics because I’m able to use technology…”, she went on excitedly.

She was ready for the interview 😍.
How did she do? 🥰

Full conversation on EdTech Mondays Africa November edition now on the Mastercard Foundation YouTube channel https://youtu.be/s58ZUkCfW-Y?si=su7EhwXq4JwZUnm-

04/11/2025

Watu wa uso kitabu… yani Facebook …how are you doing? Anyway this is how humble one can look when visiting a school’s premise that has the no trespassing sign every where 😁

📸: Augustine Kargbo

03/11/2025

03/11/2025

Greetings from Sierra Leone… Follow the conversation across all platforms including YouTube…https://youtu.be/s58ZUkCfW-Y?si=FmbHMrinCcbeaXy-

03/11/2025

Ministers generally have immensely time consuming and highly demanding schedules. Sierra Leone’s education leaders made time for us - Hon. , Minister of Basic & Senior Secondary Education and Hon. Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical & Higher Education in an exclusive interview share about the country’s education policies and investment in resilient technology-enabled learning.

We spoke extensively about how Sierra Leone has taken lessons from a turbulent past riddled with two pandemics (Ebola and COVID-19) and climatic catastrophes that affected learning in the country - how they have taken these challenges and turned them into tangible lessons, informing investment in resilient, young people centered, and inclusive education systems for its learning population.

The country’s experience mirrors a continental truth: Africa’s strength lies in its ability to learn, adapt, and co-create. When governments, innovators, and youth work together, education becomes inclusive and transformative.

PS: The school we had this conversation was about an hours drive from their next scheduled cabinet meeting. They made time.

Follow the conversation on Africa

📅: Monday, November 3, 2025
🕛: 12pm GMT | 1pm WAT | 2pm SAST | 3pm EAT
🤳🏽: Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works page
📺: CNBC Africa (DStv 410)

03/11/2025

What a beautiful country! We got here and after listening to all the tales of a country determined to rebuild its economy by investing in educating its young people, we thought…, why not get some filming done here while at it 😇

The only country with dozens of billboards with the President and First Lady running a campaign “say no to child marriage”, the only country that has got “education for gender empowerment” printed on every denomination of its currency.

Catch what we filmed on a television and streaming link near you.

26/10/2025

Dear universe, keep my nieces and all female kind away from humans with this level of “(un) common sense”…And keep our sons away from friends with this indescribable level of thought degradation.

25/10/2025

To green grass… God & the universe 🥂

21/10/2025

To trust yourself to test your limits, that is the courage to succeed.

18/10/2025

He was more than a political figure. He was a multi-sectoral thought leader.

The last conversation had with Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga was in 2022 at COP27 in Egypt.

It was about the clean energy transition for Africa.

Long live the crown.

12/10/2025

Ashley dropped out of school at 16. That didn’t mean she didn’t deserve another chance to rejoin school. At 19 she’s back to school and despite being two classes behind her peers, she’s glad someone recognized her need to return to school and have her second chance.

11/10/2025

Happy International … To the young girl, young lady, woman still trying to find yourself, please know this,
“the world is your oyster and you’re the pearl.”

I’d like you to know that you belong, you matter and so does your voice, your opinion, your career choice, or whatever other choice … it all matters. You matter.

In it all, may your integrity shine through.

We are because those that came before us paved the way for us. May we light this torch for those coming after us.

^JDB