Revolutionizing Innovation: University Students Participate in Two-Day Digital Public Goods 3D Printing Hackathon in Kenema, Sierra Leone

by Bob Dumbuya

March 13, 2023

The Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), in collaboration with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sierra Leone, recently organised a three-day digital public goods 3D printing hackathon for university students at the Eastern Technical University in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone. The event was aimed at promoting innovation and creativity among the students while also encouraging the development of digital public goods that can be used to tackle real-world challenges.

Digital public goods are defined as open-source software, open data, open educational resources, open standards, and open content that are designed to provide public benefits. These goods are essential for addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change, and are freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute.

The hackathon, which was attended by over 150 students, provided a platform for the participants to work collaboratively, exposed participants to foundational knowledge on 3D printing and develop innovative solutions that address some of the challenges faced in Sierra Leone. Participants were divided into teams and given access to 3D printing technology and other resources to help them bring their ideas to life.

One of the student participants, John Kamara, expressed his excitement about the event, saying, “This is an excellent opportunity for us to learn new skills and work collaboratively with other students to develop innovative solutions that can have a real impact on our society. I am excited about the possibilities that this hackathon presents, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve.”

According to Babasile Daniel, UNICEF’s DPG Consultant, “The digital public goods 3D printing hackathon is an excellent initiative that will help to promote innovation and creativity among the students. It is an opportunity for them to learn new skills and work collaboratively with other students to develop innovative solutions that can have a real impact on society.”

Dr. Babasile Daniel, UNICEF’s DPG Consultant

The hackathon is expected to have a lasting impact on the participants, who have been equipped with new skills and knowledge that they can apply in their future endeavours. Additionally, the event is expected to contribute to the development of digital public goods that can be used to tackle real-world challenges in Sierra Leone and beyond.

Delivering her closing remarks, DPG Project Coordinator at DSTI, Bineta Diop expressed that the hackathon was not just a learning experience for the participants, but also an opportunity to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone.

By leveraging technology to develop solutions to achieve the 17 SDG’s, young people can create new opportunities for themselves and their communities, and contribute to the economic and social development of the country.

As Ms. Diop put it, “Sierra Leone is full of talented young people who have the potential to create amazing things. By organising events like this hackathon, we can help them realise their potential and make a real difference in their communities and the world.”

In conclusion, the digital public goods 3D printing hackathon organised by the DSTI in partnership with UNICEF Sierra Leone was a resounding success.

The event provided a platform for university students in Sierra Leone to learn new skills, work collaboratively, and develop innovative solutions that can have a real impact on society. As the world continues to face global challenges, events like this will be crucial in promoting innovation and creativity among the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers.

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DSTI & UNICEF hold the first official meeting of the Sierra Leone Digital Public Goods Steering Committee.

by Bob Dumbuya

February 3, 2023

The Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), officially held the first meeting of the Digital Public Goods Sierra Leone technical working group on Friday, 3rd February, 2023.

(DSTI’s Director & Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Michala Mackay making the opening statement)

The gathering’s inaugural session, which included top specialists in the digital field from across the professional spectrum, was widely attended. Government Ministers, development partners, civil society activists, business executives, non-governmental organisation representatives, journalists, and many more made up the audience.

Digital public goods are public goods in the form of open-source software, data sets, AI models, or digital content. These tools contribute to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable development goals (SDGs), and must meet a range of international standards found here.

As the proud home of Africa’s first representative on the Digital Public Goods Alliance Governance Board, Sierra Leone has established itself as a steadfast supporter of incorporating open-source technology into many development areas, including health, agriculture, and disaster response. This has also given some colleges the chance to adjust their curricula to meet the rising demand for fundamental digital skills.

(Presidential Adviser, Dr. Emmanuel Gaima, Delivering The Keynote Address On Behalf Of The Chief Minister)

UNICEF’s’s Country Representative, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, believes that “the launch of this DPG Initiative comes as a welcomed sequel to DPG Hackathon which brought together young people from different backgrounds to collaborate and build sustainable digital solutions to problems in their communities.

The launch of this initiative promises to make open-source software and tools accessible to emerging technocrats and tech enthusiasts whilst addressing the existing challenge of skills gaps for young people within the workforce by providing more digital learning opportunities.”

(Unicef’s Country Representative, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh Making A Statement)

“The roll-out of this initiative is set to optimise and redefine existing notions about DPGs meaningfully. Furthermore, the initiative aligns with the broader objective of advancing President Julius Maada Bio’s Human Capital Development Agenda for the people of Sierra Leone” – Dr. Francis Kaikai, Minister of Planning & Economic Development.

(Dr. Francis Kaikai, Minister of Planning & Economic Development, making a statement)

Delivering his closing remarks, DSTI Consultant, Kahil Ali, emphasised the great deal of promise he sees in this initiative.

( DSTI Consultant, Kahil Ali, Delivering His Closing Remarks)

`We can only meet the demands of the 21st century workforce if we acquire the capacity and skills required locally. DPG’s have the potential to provide a wide range of benefits and even more opportunities to our young people. In addition to driving the job market through potential job creation, the money saved by using DPG’s can be used to benefit many of the citizens across Sierra Leone.’ – DSTI Consultant, Kahil Ali.

Want to know more about the DPGs or how to get involved? Learn More Here

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10 Things to learn from DSTI and UNICEF’s Hackathon

by dsti

November 29, 2022

Over the past decade, companies across industries have digitised their operations and processes. Even now, businesses are employing artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline workflows and supply chains.

As a result, today’s job seekers require specialised skills to help them stand out from the crowd. While some colleges, universities and training providers have modified or expanded their curriculum to meet the growing demand for digital know-how, many educators struggle to provide the essential skills students need.

In an effort to prepare young tech enthusiasts for tomorrow’s fast-paced digital job market; DSTI and UNICEF have staged a Digital Public Goods Hackathon to bring together young people from different backgrounds to collaborate and build digital solutions in relation to improving online public services.

Here Are 10 Key Takeaways From The DPG Hackathon;

Increase awareness of the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s (4IR) career options for students.

Contribute to human capital development by targeting 700+ students.

Improve critical thinking skills for young people venturing into the tech space.

Fostering experiential learning among tech enthusiasts.

Expanding the student’s worldview through extended discussions and Q&A sessions.

Conducting Practical training for students with an introduction to 4AIR skills (data science, software development artificial intelligence, communications in tech, etc.)

Foster a stronger bond between student DPG champions and DSTI by increasing the awareness of open-sourced environments in Sierra Leone.

Collect data that helps DSTI understand aspects of local culture that stereotype gender roles and prevent young girls from embarking on a career in STEM.

Encourage students to practicalize theories and engage in brainstorming sessions.

Help students develop a critical intellect for creative problem-solving.

Digital transformation is already gradually coming into all spheres of life. Every day we feel the importance of remotely accessible and community-friendly public services, which are critical to providing seamless, convenient and transparent services to people, especially for the most vulnerable groups of population.” – David Manley, Lead Project Coordinator, DSTI.

What Are DPG’s?

Digital public goods are public goods in the form of open-source software, data sets, AI models, standards or content that are generally free and contribute to sustainable national and international digital development to tackle real-world challenges.

Learn More Here

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Sierra Leone’s Team Lorem emerge as 1 of 20 country teams to win Generation Unlimited ImaGen Ventures Global Youth Challenge

by dsti

November 14, 2022

The Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sierra Leone, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MoYA) is pleased to officially celebrate the young innovators who represented Sierra Leone at the Generation Unlimited imaGen Ventures Global Youth Challenge. Team Lorem competed against 10,000 global submissions from 37 countries and won 15,000 USD in seed money and mentorship for their e-Learning intervention.

The team of three (L-R Abdul Rahim Jalloh, Emmanuel Kamanda & Lovetta Bangura) comprising of 3rd Year students from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, pitched the intervention of the “EASY S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) SERVER’‘.

The easy stem server is a database server which gives college students access to massive S.T.E.M learning content offline. The intervention received high commendation for its unique business model which laid premium on affordability, reliability, and personalised content curation as its enduring hallmarks.

The announcement which took place at the COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt on the 10th November 2022 was live-streamed at a well-attended event in Freetown. The star-studded audience featured Government Ministers, Students, Civil Society Activists, Private Sector Executives, Representatives from Non- Governmental Organisations, Journalists and many more.

Speaking on this amazing feat, Mohamed Orman Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs, commended the participants for making the nation proud on the world stage. He also pledged the government’s commitment to building youth capacity and cementing hard-won gains in youth affairs. He continued by saying that this win is a testament to the fact that the government’s youth-centred agenda is bearing fruits.

“It is a joy to see young people embracing the wave of opportunity, growth, and progress that technology offers. Interventions of this nature set the tone for a more extensive and robust youth agenda. Congratulations to Team LOREM. We are proud of you.” – Dr. Sulaiman Braimoh, UNICEF Representative In Sierra Leone.

“DSTI is grateful for the continued collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Youth Affairs. The Generation Unlimited project aligns with the Government’s flagship Human Capital Development agenda. The success of these young people shows our relenting commitment to transmit the message of hope and development through education for every child in Sierra Leone” – Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Innovation Officer, DSTI & Minister of Basic Education.

After an exciting event, Team Captain, Abdul Rahim Jalloh, was overjoyed;

“I am thrilled to have been part of this transformative experience, especially at a time when Africa longs and thirsts for a generation of creatives. I am very proud of our team, and all we have been able to achieve thus far. Big Thanks To DSTI, UNICEF, GenU, and MoYA. We are very excited for our next chapter.” – said Abdul Rahim Jalloh, Team Lead, LOREM.

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Sierra Leone Launches Three (3) Digital Learning Hubs (DLH) to Boost Digital Skills Acquisition.

by dsti

November 7, 2022

The Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sierra Leone, has launched and officially announced the opening of 3 Digital Learning Hub locations; at Fourah Bay College (FBC), Freetown, Ernest Bai Koroma University, Makeni, and the Eastern Polytechnic in Kenema. The opening of the hubs comes as a sequel to the opening of the first hub at Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) in November 2021.

The establishment of the hubs aims to address existing challenges of skills gap for young people within the workforce by providing more digital learning opportunities. It also aims to boost the acquisition and retention of in-demand skills for young people intending to enter the job market and cultivate improved learning outcomes for the current workforce.

The Learning Hub will provide a conducive workspace with free access to computers and reliable internet connection. The hub’s registered users will also have access to a wide range of digital learning content via the Learning Passport platform to help learners fully capitalise on available opportunities.

The Hub will function on a day-to-day management procedure, and operations will be facilitated by Big Bang World, an organisation with experience in the establishment, management and operation of digital learning centers.

The roll-out of these hubs is set to optimise and redefine existing notions about digital education in Sierra Leone meaningfully. The course content of this initiative is tailored to reflect a viable alternative to traditional learning methods and aligns with the broader objective of advancing the Human Capital Development Agenda of the Government of Sierra Leone and its partners.

The hub at FBC will initially have the eUPSHIFT course available, but will later feature content from HP Life and other organisations.

UNICEF Sierra Leone’s Innovation officer, Janice Williams highlighted the progress made on Digital Innovation.

“With the launch of these Digital Learning Hubs, we are making progress to deliver on UNICEF’s ReImagine Education agenda. Making digital platforms, like the Learning Passport, and digital content, such as the eUPSHIFT, available in Sierra Leone, we are taking a step towards making digital learning as one of the essential services for every child and young person.”

Echoing the promise of the hub in transforming skills acquisition and overall professional development of citizens is Vice Chancellor of USL, Professor Foday Sahr,

“We salute the efforts of DSTI and Unicef for breathing life into the aspirations of increased workforce development designed to foster job market competitiveness and reduce skills deficit. We are thrilled to host the digital learning hub and we are certain that its use will be maximised to its fullest potential” – Professor Foday Sahr.

Want to know more about the Learning Hub or how to be a member? Go to [https://www.dsti.gov.sl/portfolio/dlh/)

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Project Giga; Redefining Digital Education for every school in Sierra Leone.

by dsti

October 24, 2022

It’s a hot Friday afternoon, and lunch break at the Dr. S M Broderick Municipal school is set to begin. Within seconds, after the bell tolls, the air is buzzing with throngs of excited school children rushing to annex the most coveted spots on the playground.

Children At Play During Lunch Break

Whether this excitement is in anticipation of the thrills of life at home on weekends or whether they were just happy to be out in the open enjoying their favorite pastimes is anyone’s guess.

Our team, however, comprising UNICEF and DSTI staff, had a different reason for being excited. The project to connect 11,000+ schools to the internet across Sierra Leone had begun, and here we were finding out how this intervention is amplifying EdTech and improving learning outcomes in the first three connected schools; Dr. S. M Broderick Junior Secondary School at Ferguson Street, Saint John’s Primary School at Savage Street, and Mabella Municipal Primary School at Sani Abacha Street.

Children In Class 3 At The Dr. S. M Broderick Junior Secondary School

Project Giga is a global initiative launched in 2019 by UNICEF and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to connect every school worldwide to the Internet by 2030. With 2.9 billion people still offline and 96% of these people living in developing countries, such an intervention comes as welcomed news, noting that the lack of connectivity could significantly diminish learning opportunities for children in underprivileged communities and limit the ability to fulfill their potential in the coming years.

Children In Class At The Dr. S. M Broderick Junior Secondary School

The Government of Sierra Leone, as part of its Medium Term National Development Plan (2019-2023), seeks to not only address traditional challenges in the education sector but equip young learners with the skills and tools needed to be productive in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). This objective perfectly dovetails with the larger agenda of achieving its Human Capital Development aspirations, especially in skills acquisition and enhancing the overall quality of education in the country.

Computer Lab At Saint John’s Primary School Provided By Bridge The Digital Divide Also Known As ST Foundation

“Connecting schools allows children to develop digital skills and enhance access to online learning content. In the process, schools can also become anchor points for surrounding communities: if you can connect the school, you can also connect local businesses and essential services. This creates opportunities for service providers to generate revenue from paying users, making connectivity more sustainable and enriching the local digital economy” – Norman Muhwezi, Innovation Specialist, UNICEF.

A Child In Class At Saint John’s Primary School

Speaking to the children at Saint John’s school, one recurring theme is that the internet represents more than screens and keyboards; for these children, the internet literally translates to information, choice, opportunity and most importantly hope for a brighter future. When asked what they’ll do now that they are connected to the internet, one kid excitedly exclaimed “EVERYTHING”.

Mrs. Florence Collier in charge of Class Three (3) Red at the Dr. S. M Broderick Nursery, Preparatory, and Junior Secondary School stated:

“As one of the first beneficiaries, I am deeply moved and strongly in support of this initiative to provide free internet to every school across the country. This will bridge the digital divide with access to teaching and learning materials, particularly for teachers to keep up with contemporary techniques. For instance, young children learn better in fun and exciting settings, so with the installation of this internet, I can download nursery rhymes and play them in class for the children. This initiative will spark creativity in young children for years to come”.

Mrs. Florence Collier, Class 3 teacher, S.M. Broderick

Following the successful connection of these three initial schools, Project Lead for Giga at DSTI, Hafsatu Rakie Sesay, indicated that the project’s next phase would involve connecting 39 schools, particularly in the provinces.

“DSTI prioritizes human capital development as one of the key pathways for achieving the goal of transforming Sierra Leone into an innovation and entrepreneurial hub. Our approach to digital education is based on the core principles of Universal Access, Radical Inclusion, Accelerated Service Delivery, and Quality Learning. Our entire team feels incredibly passionate about this, and there’s much enthusiasm, energy, and hard work currently being invested in making sure the project makes the desired impact”, she concluded.

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DSTI, UNICEF and MBSSE Train 84 Education Stakeholders across 4 Districts on the use and Benefits of the Learning Passport

by dsti

September 28, 2022

The Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic & Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) delivered a four (4) day training to 84 senior education stakeholders on the use of the – MBSSE Learning Passport (MBSSE-LP). The training took place across four districts; Port Loko, Makeni, Bo and Kenema from the 26th – 30th of August 2022.

(DSTI’s LP Project Lead, Bani Forster Gives LP Overview Before Live Demo)

This training of education stakeholders promises to enhance examination preparedness amongst school children and improve general learning outcomes nationwide. This is one of those rare occasions where the promise of practical solutions is being shared with those who need it most.

(Training Participants With Staff From UNICEF, DSTI & MBSSE In Port Loko)

From the very start, the training which featured presentations on varied use cases and practical breakout sessions on the use of the platform held the promise of exploring a new frontier in digital education and dispel myths about leveraging tech for public education in Sierra Leone.

(Janice Williams, UNICEF’s LP Coordinator, Aiding Participants With The Mobile LP During Breakout Session In Port Loko)

The Learning Passport (LP) is a UNICEF and Microsoft-supported digital education platform that provides online, offline and mobile access to educational resources via technology devices. Learning Passport (LP) forms part of UNICEF’s ReImagine Education agenda under the flagship program Generation Unlimited.

(UNICEF’s Innovation Officer, Janice Williams, Making The Opening Statement In Port Loko)

“Projects that advance digital learning like the Learning Passport, Digital Learning Hubs (DLH) and Giga provide the unique opportunity for Sierra Leone to adopt a dynamic, fluid and progressive approach towards innovation and digitization’’. – Janice Kaday Williams, Innovation Officer, UNICEF.

In line with the Government’s Free Quality School Education (FQSE) Programme, the MBSSE LP looks to make learning opportunities accessible, equitable and available on a large scale. The platform was launched in February 2022 and has recorded a consistent increase in its use with over 10,000 registered users.

(Training Participants With Staff From UNICEF’s, DSTI & MBSSE In Bo District)

‘‘Building sustainable solutions to address critical skills deficits and prepare young people for a fast-paced digital future remains one of our compelling priorities at DSTI. The MBSSE-Learning Passport seeks to equip learners with digitized learning materials, past questions and most importantly mock exams with automated results.’’ – Jasper Sembie, Head of Operations & Finance, DSTI.

The training brought together personnel from the Teaching Service commission (TSC) and senior education staff from the respective districts for extended discussions on how this platform can be integrated into the learning process and used by school children for improved performance in public examinations. This will particularly provide access to quality learning resources for children in less privileged communities and help parents save money previously used to purchase past exam questions.

(Training Participant From TSC in Makeni Making A Contribution)

Speaking on the outcome of the trainings, Regional Coordinator (North) FSQE, Mr. Allieu Dausy Wurie and Director of Curriculum & Research MBSSE, Mr. Osman Kamara jointly emphasised that the training ‘is testament to the shared will and unsullied commitment between government and its development partners to increase access to quality learning opportunities in Sierra Leone. We will ensure that the knowledge acquired from this training trickles down into communities’’.

(Director of Curriculum & Research at MBSSE, Mr. Osman Kamara, Outlining The Goals of The Training in Port Loko)

NEXT STEPS

When asked “What’s Next ?”, LP & DLH Project Coordinator at DSTI, Bani Forster, confirmed that the wider team is currently holding consultations on the possibility of upscaling the training to include teachers and cover more provincial areas for targeted impact.

He further explained that three (3) new learning hubs are set to be opened and these centres will provide users with access to the internet and computers where the LP can be used with ease and convenience.

“Learning Passport has the latent potential to redefine existing notions about the role of tech in accelerating learning outcomes. Our goal is to provide every child with choice, opportunities and quality education. These training sessions revealed so much excitement, positive energy and avenues for development; digital learning in Sierra Leone can only get better from here onward.” – Bani Forster, LP Project Lead, DSTI.

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Generation Unlimited Sierra Leone; A Blueprint for stumulating creativity and Upscaling Opportunities for young people in Sierra Leone

by dsti

September 1, 2022

Youths across the globe stand on the brink of creating a revolution that will usher in the dawn of a new era. An era marked by resourcefulness, positive change, and sustainable development. Hence, an overarching need exists to create platforms that guarantee exposure, opportunities for creative problem-solving, and skills acquisition for young people.

(Young People at The Exhibition)

Through the Generation Unlimited Sierra Leone (GenU SL) initiative, the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MoYa), in partnership with the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF SL), hosted an exhibition and Bootcamp to showcase the impacts of various projects designed to expand opportunities for career development, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods for young people between the ages of 10 and 24 years.

GENERATION UNLIMITED EXHIBITION

The exhibition, which took place on the 5th of March, 2022, at the Occasions Villa, Lakka, in Freetown, brought together over 150 participants from government agencies, UN Agencies, development partners, the private sector, and young people, who demonstrated some of their on-going projects and how these interventions are poised to positively impact the lives of children and young people in Sierra Leone.

(Young People At The Exhibition)

The quest to be part of this impactful process commenced 5 months earlier for these participants. On October 28^th, 2021, the GenU SL National Partnership Committee put out a nationwide call for applications inviting young innovators across the country to submit solutions in a Youth Challenge that aims to address social challenges and improve the quality of life in their communities.

(Young People At The Exhibition)

15 teams were selected from over 400 team applications. On March 5^th, 2022, an eager crop of young innovators began the week-long journey through workshops and team-building exercises designed to sculpt their ideas into practical products and solutions that can be taken to scale.

(Kids From Saint Joseph’s School For The Hearing Impaired)

“I am thrilled to be part of this transformative experience, especially when Africa longs and thirsts for a generation full of creative and innovative youth who show passion in everything they do. If we choose to develop in the best way possible, investing in our youth is the right course of action.” – Eliza Gloria Wilson, Exhibition & Bootcamp Participant.

The exhibition was a well-attended opening event that brought together leading experts from the professional spectrum. The star-studded audience featured Government Ministers, Civil Society Activists, Private Sector Executives, Representatives from Non- Governmental Organisations such as Plan International, Restless Development, One Family People, Journalists, and many more.

(UNICEF Country Representative Dr. Suleiman Braimoh & Hon. Min of Youth Affairs Mohamed Orman Bangura)

The exhibition’s central theme sought to promote public awareness about existing skills acquisition programs, shared learning, networking, and employment opportunities for young people in the public-private-youth partnership. In addition, young people could interact and engage with stakeholders on models for optimising large-scale investment opportunities, programmes, and innovations that could help young people become productive in life.

Making their respective statements at the exhibition, several speakers notably underscored the importance of young people acting and building the future they deserve.

(Reps From DSTI, UNICEF & MOYA)

“Every old man was once a young man but not every young man will become an old man if they don’t make use of today. As a young person, you will have yourself to blame tomorrow if you do not make the best use of today.” – Mohamed Orman Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs.

“Young people must embrace the wave of opportunity, growth, and progress that technology offers. Initiatives of this nature set the tone for a more extensive discourse on the role and evolution of tomorrow’s leaders.” – Michala Mackay, Chief Operating Officer and Director of DSTI.

“Young people constitute a significant proportion of the population in Sierra Leone and are pivotal to the country’s development. The GenU initiative provides an opportunity for all young people to network, showcase their talents, and harness existing opportunities to realise their potential to the fullest possible extent,” said Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone.

THE GENU IMAGEN VENTURES BOOTCAMP

The buzz and momentum from the exhibition day activities set the stage for the BootCamp. The Bootcamp was designed as a 5-day workshop training that utilised UPSHIFT modular curriculum to instruct young people on developing social innovation skills in response to issues affecting their communities.

(Lead Consultant at Afriqia HR Solutions; Maryam Darwich Facilitates Bootcamp Session)

(Young People Engaged Team Building Exercise At Bootcamp)

THE GENU IMAGEN VENTURES PITCH COMPETITION 1.0

The Bootcamp culminated in a pitch competition where 5 of the most promising ideas were awarded USD 1,000 each in seed funding and technical support. The five winning teams were selected, representing Makeni, Western Area, and Kenema regions whose solutions centered around solving critical issues concerning Environmental Health, Climate Change, Disabilities inclusion, Digital skills, and Online learning tools.

(Participants From Team Normalnet At Pitch Competition 1.0)

MENTORSHIP & ACCELERATION PHASE

Following a successful first pitch, the five winning teams engaged in pitch training sessions with Innovation SL designed as diagnostic exercises to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the participant’s pitch skills and the feasibility of their business plans.

(Head of Innovations SL Francis Stevens George facilitating a pitch training session)

THE GENU IMAGEN VENTURES PITCH COMPETITION 2.0

These sessions ended with a final pitch competition at Mamba Point Hotel to determine the two most promising solutions to represent Sierra Leone at the GenU global youth innovation competition.

(Judges at the Pitch Competition 2.0)

“DSTI is grateful for the continued collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Youth Affairs. The Generation Unlimited project aligns with the Government’s flagship Human Capital Development agenda. Being that the youth accounts for over 60% of the country’s population, projects like GenU awaken their entrepreneurial ingenuity and reaffirms our commitment to delivering on the National Development Plan” – Jasper Sembie, Head of Finance & Operations, DSTI.

(DSTI’s Head of Finance & Operations, Jasper Sembie, Delivering The Keynote Address)

After a heated battle of wits, teams LOREM AND TOMDACT won the pitch and will represent Sierra Leone at the global competition.

(TEAM LOREM – Pitched the idea of developing an e-learning intervention in STEM)

(TEAM TOMDACT – Pitched the idea of developing a skills training initiative for persons living with disability)

Watch the Official Live Announcement here.

Tanya Phiri, Youth Innovation Specialist at UNICEF SL, speaking on the benefits and true goal of the initiative, emphasised that “As part of our robust big picture strategy, the young people will further receive mentorship opportunities to support the implementation of their projects. Ultimately, the aim is to inspire young people who possess brilliant ideas but lack the resources to actualize their dreams and make a difference in their communities”.

(Winning Teams from Pitch Competition 1.0)

NEXT STEPS

Following the completion and success of the Exhibition and Bootcamp, GenU project coordinator at DSTI, Fatmata Bangura, indicated that the project will continue with a 6-month Mentorship and Acceleration phase. “Invariably, these are all geared towards ensuring that we adequately prepare the two most promising solutions to represent Sierra Leone at the ImaGen Ventures global youth innovation challenge,” she concluded.

About Generation Unlimited Global

Generation Unlimited is a global multi-sector partnership designed to meet the urgent needs for expanded education, training, and employment opportunities for young people. Gen U, which prioritises young people in the development agenda, creates global public-private-youth partnerships to co-create and support large-scale investment opportunities, programmes, and innovations to become productive in life.

https://www.generationunlimited.org

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More than 50 Young People in Sierra Leone showcase their talents at an Exhibition and Boot Camp through the Generation Unlimited Initiative

by dsti

March 4, 2022

Blog

Sierra Leone joins Africa’s tech nations to deploy drones for COVID-19 Response

by DSTI MEDIA

April 16, 2020

Drones flew over the capital city of Freetown during a three-day lock-down in March as part of Sierra Leone’s COVID-19 Response. The Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) collaborated with a local drone company to capture images to understand citizen compliance in the Western Urban and Western Rural districts during the lock-down.

In West Africa, Sierra Leone has the sub-region’s only national government drone corridor which was launched in November 2019, by H.E. Julius Maada Bio in partnership with UNICEF, and Njala University. Since then, the nation’s first certified female drone pilot graduated from the Africa Data and Drone Academy’s (ADDA) drone certification program at Malawi University of Science and Technology, aerial drones have been used in medical deliveries, and now for COVID-19 emergency response activities.

Countries in Africa that have embraced innovation are integrating technological solutions in their COVID-19 Response. This week Rwanda used drones to spread public health awareness messages. In South Africa, Artificial Intelligence and drones are collecting data on citizen movement and lockdown measures. Similarly, in Tunisia, police robots equipped with AI capabilities are manning the streets as part of their compliance monitoring strategies.

Sierra Leone’s DSTI has the vision to use science, technology, and innovation to support government service delivery and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. DSTI is currently deploying its scientists and technologists to support the Government’s integrated COVID-19 Response.

Revolutionizing Innovation: University Students Participate in Two-Day Digital Public Goods 3D Printing Hackathon in Kenema, Sierra Leone

DSTI & UNICEF hold the first official meeting of the Sierra Leone Digital Public Goods Steering Committee.

10 Things to learn from DSTI and UNICEF’s Hackathon

Sierra Leone’s Team Lorem emerge as 1 of 20 country teams to win Generation Unlimited ImaGen Ventures Global Youth Challenge

Sierra Leone Launches Three (3) Digital Learning Hubs (DLH) to Boost Digital Skills Acquisition.

Project Giga; Redefining Digital Education for every school in Sierra Leone.

DSTI, UNICEF and MBSSE Train 84 Education Stakeholders across 4 Districts on the use and Benefits of the Learning Passport

Generation Unlimited Sierra Leone; A Blueprint for stumulating creativity and Upscaling Opportunities for young people in Sierra Leone

More than 50 Young People in Sierra Leone showcase their talents at an Exhibition and Boot Camp through the Generation Unlimited Initiative

Sierra Leone joins Africa’s tech nations to deploy drones for COVID-19 Response

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