SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect (SADC) will host a free 90-minute webinar, "Education & Digitalization: The Engine of Personal Growth and National Transformation," on Thursday, October 15, at 3:00 p.m. EDT (8:00 p.m. BST; 7:00 p.m. GMT). The event, part of SADC's Global Webinar Series, will examine how education, energy access, and artificial intelligence can create opportunities for Sierra Leone's youth, using the composite story of Aminata, a 17-year-old student from Falaba District who studies by phone light and wonders if online work is within her reach.
Moderator Golda Fania Kamara, who implemented Sierra Leone's first National Health Information Hub, will lead a panel of four experts: 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 will range from teaching students with intermittent power to the risks of rogue AI agents for a country just beginning to adopt AI.
The webinar's importance lies in its focus on practical solutions for a nation where many students lack reliable electricity and internet access. As Sierra Leone navigates digital transformation, the panel's insights could inform policies and initiatives that bridge the gap between rural and urban youth, potentially unlocking economic opportunities and fostering national development. Golda Kamara emphasized, "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."
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 session follows SADC's September 24 webinar, "Culture as a Connector," and precedes upcoming events on November 5 (Agriculture, Health & Foodways), November 19 (Homecoming with Purpose), and December 10 (Investing in Sierra Leone). The series builds toward SADC's 10-Day Heritage & Legacy Tour, scheduled for March 7–16, 2027, which includes visits to 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 residents of historic Tasso Island.
In a related effort, SADC partnered with LifeStraw this year to provide water purifiers in the five schools on Tasso Island, addressing a critical need for clean water and improving health outcomes for students.
The implications of this webinar extend beyond Sierra Leone. As AI and digital tools reshape economies worldwide, discussions like this highlight the need for inclusive strategies that empower marginalized communities. For the diaspora, it offers a chance to contribute skills and resources; for Sierra Leone, it underscores the urgency of investing in education and infrastructure to harness the potential of its youth. By connecting global expertise with local challenges, SADC aims to turn Aminata's question into a roadmap for action.
