On October 15, a free 90-minute webinar hosted by SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect (SADC) will ask how education, energy and artificial intelligence can open doors for Sierra Leone's youth. Titled "Education & Digitalization: The Engine of Personal Growth and National Transformation," the session centers on the story of Aminata, a composite of thousands of young Africans. Aminata is seventeen and lives in Falaba District in northern Sierra Leone. She does her homework by the light of a phone charged at a shop down the road. She has heard that young people in Freetown earn money online and wonders whether that future is meant for her.
The webinar matters because it confronts the practical barriers that keep young people like Aminata from participating in the digital economy. Moderator Golda Fania Kamara, who implemented Sierra Leone's first National Health Information Hub, will guide four panelists: accountant and nonprofit leader Bamikole Roberts; international education specialist Sajdah Ali; cybersecurity professional and entrepreneur James Kamara; and clean-energy entrepreneur Mariama Kamara, co-founder of the African-language AI venture SanKam. Topics range from teaching students with intermittent power to the risks of rogue AI agents for a country just beginning to adopt AI. These discussions are critical as Sierra Leone navigates a technology landscape that could either widen inequality or create new pathways for growth.
Golda Kamara framed the stakes clearly: "Technology does not transform societies. People do. Skills, institutions, trust and opportunity do. The goal isn't to build for Sierra Leone. It's to build with Sierra Leoneans." That philosophy underscores why the session is more than a talk. It signals a shift toward diaspora-led, participatory development that prioritizes local capacity over external solutions.
The webinar is the second in SADC's Global Webinar Series, following September 24's "Culture as a Connector." Upcoming sessions include Agriculture, Health & Foodways on November 5; Homecoming with Purpose on November 19; and Investing in Sierra Leone on December 10. The series builds toward SADC's 10-Day Heritage & Legacy Tour, March 7–16, 2027, including Bunce and Tasso Islands, Bo District, Mozza Beach, and a historical immersion in the inaugural Freedom Day commemoration. The tour is limited to 30 travelers at $2,500 per person (double occupancy), including a legacy gift to support the 5,500 people who live on historic Tasso Island. This year, SADC partnered with LifeStraw to provide water purifiers in the five schools located on Tasso Island.
For Sierra Leone, the implications are profound. As the country begins to adopt AI, the webinar highlights the need for robust institutions and ethical safeguards to prevent exploitation by rogue AI agents. At the same time, expanding digital education and reliable energy access could unlock economic opportunities for thousands of young people, reducing unemployment and spurring innovation. The diaspora's involvement, as emphasized by SADC, is key to ensuring that solutions are culturally grounded and sustainable.
Those interested in attending can Register by visiting sierrafricanetwork.com/events, completing the SADC interest form, then finishing registration on Zoom. Both steps are required. The event takes place Thursday, October 15, at 3:00 p.m. EDT (8:00 p.m. BST; 7:00 p.m. GMT). By focusing on people over technology, the webinar aims to chart a path where Aminata—and millions like her—can see a future that includes them.
