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, aims to explore how digital skills and educational access can reshape opportunities for young Africans and contribute to national development.
The webinar is anchored by the story of Aminata, a composite of thousands of young Africans, who at seventeen 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, and she wonders whether the online earning opportunities she hears about in Freetown are meant for her. Her question frames the discussion, which will address practical challenges such as teaching students with intermittent power and the risks of rogue AI agents for a country just beginning to adopt AI.
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. Their diverse expertise reflects the multifaceted nature of the digital transformation challenge.
Golda Kamara emphasized that technology alone is not the answer. "Technology does not transform societies. People do. Skills, institutions, trust and opportunity do," she said. "The goal isn't to build for Sierra Leone. It's to build with Sierra Leoneans." This people-centered approach underscores the importance of local ownership and capacity-building in any development effort.
Those interested in attending must complete two steps: first, visit the SADC interest form and Register, then finish registering on Zoom. Both steps are required to secure a spot.
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. These sessions build toward SADC's 10-Day Heritage & Legacy Tour, scheduled for March 7–16, 2027. The tour will visit Bunce and Tasso Islands, Bo District, Mozza Beach, and include a historical immersion in the inaugural Freedom Day commemoration.
The tour is limited to 30 travelers at $2,500 per person (double occupancy), and includes 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, demonstrating the organization's commitment to tangible community impact.
The webinar matters because it directly addresses the intersection of education and digitalization—two forces that could either bridge or widen the gap for young Africans like Aminata. By bringing together experts and focusing on practical solutions, SADC highlights the need for skills, institutions, trust, and opportunity to ensure that digital transformation benefits all Sierra Leoneans. The discussion also raises awareness about the risks of AI and the importance of building with, not for, local communities. As Sierra Leone navigates its digital future, such conversations are critical to shaping inclusive policies and programs that empower youth and drive sustainable development.
