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 addresses the challenges and opportunities facing young Sierra Leoneans like Aminata, a composite 17-year-old from Falaba District who does her homework by the light of a phone charged at a shop down the road and wonders whether the online economy in Freetown is meant for her.
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 will range from teaching students with intermittent power to the risks of rogue AI agents for a country just beginning to adopt AI.
Golda Kamara said, "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." Her statement underscores the webinar's core premise: that human capacity, not hardware, drives lasting change. For a nation where many students study under unreliable electricity, the discussion is timely. The panel's focus on AI and cybersecurity is also significant as Sierra Leone enters an early adoption phase, where safeguards and local expertise will determine whether the technology benefits or harms.
The session is the second in SADC's Global Webinar Series, following September 24's "Culture as a Connector." Upcoming webinars include Agriculture, Health & Foodways on November 5; Homecoming with Purpose on November 19; and Investing in Sierra Leone on December 10. Those interested can Register by visiting sierrafricanetwork.com/events, completing the SADC interest form, then finishing registration on Zoom. Both steps are required.
The series builds toward SADC's 10-Day Heritage & Legacy Tour, scheduled for 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.
The webinar's emphasis on education, energy and AI reflects broader stakes for Sierra Leone's development. If young people like Aminata gain access to digital skills and reliable power, they could participate in the global online economy, boosting local innovation and reducing emigration pressures. Conversely, without such opportunities, the country risks leaving a generation behind. SADC positions itself as a bridge between Sierra Leone and the global African diaspora, aiming to strengthen ties through heritage, community development, cultural exchange, tourism, and investment.
For readers in the diaspora or those interested in West Africa's tech and education sectors, the webinar offers a window into practical solutions and a chance to engage with experts. The outcomes could influence how NGOs, investors and policymakers approach digital inclusion and energy access in the region. As Golda Kamara noted, the goal is to build with Sierra Leoneans—a principle that may shape future collaborations and investments.
