UNICEF trains young digital champions to promote digital learning in Sierra Leone

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Young leaders from Freetown, Kenema, and Makeni have completed the Digital Champions Youth Leadership Bootcamp, a four-day initiative supported by UNICEF to equip adolescents with digital, leadership, and advocacy skills aimed at expanding access to learning opportunities in their communities.

The programme was organized by UNICEF Sierra Leone in collaboration with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation. It focused on strengthening participants’ communication, leadership, and advocacy abilities to enable them to support fellow adolescents in accessing digital learning resources, life skills, and climate awareness content.

Speaking at the event, Rudolf Schwenk, UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, emphasized the role of young people in driving innovation and change, noting that strengthening adolescents’ digital and leadership capabilities can unlock opportunities for both individuals and their communities. He added that UNICEF will continue working with government and partners to ensure that children and young people, particularly girls and those in underserved communities, gain access to the skills needed to thrive in a digital world.

Digital access in Sierra Leone remains limited, with fewer than one percent of schools having functioning internet access. While nearly half of adults own mobile phones, only about 31 percent have access to smartphones, restricting young people’s ability to benefit from digital learning opportunities and emerging digital employment pathways.

During the bootcamp, participants took part in workshops, group activities, and storytelling sessions exploring how digital tools can support education and community engagement. The cohort included 11 girls, reflecting efforts to promote gender equality and strengthen girls’ leadership in digital spaces. Participants also developed skills in public speaking, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and peer advocacy while learning practical approaches to engaging their communities.

Following the training, the newly trained Digital Champions will serve as youth ambassadors for digital learning, working with schools and communities to promote digital inclusion and peer-to-peer learning.

The Digital Champions initiative forms part of UNICEF’s broader effort to expand digital skills and learning opportunities for adolescents across Sierra Leone. Over the next year, the programme aims to support 100 young leaders through a series of bootcamps designed to empower them to promote digital learning and inspire positive change in their communities. Recruitment for the next cohort is expected to begin in May 2026.