The YouthMappers Summit Sierra Leone 2024, held on 30-31 August at St. Francis Hall in Makeni, was a landmark event that brought together a vibrant mix of young leaders, geospatial experts, government representatives, and environmental advocates.
Organized by YouthMappers Sierra Leone, a consortium of chapters from universities across the country spearheaded by Ibrahim Abdulai Kargbo, the summit aimed to foster youth leadership and collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable mining practices and environmental stewardship.
With over 50 delegates from various universities, youth organizations, and community initiatives, and more than 10 distinguished speakers, the summit was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.
This session focused on the critical role of YouthMappers in empowering young people to contribute meaningfully to their communities through geospatial literacy and collaboration.
This included OSM Sierra Leone's contributions to various community projects, including mapping efforts in health, education, disaster response, and infrastructure development
It also focused on the role of youth leadership in combating violent extremism and drug abuse and actionable strategies for youth to engage in peacebuilding efforts and the importance of resilience, community engagement, and proactive leadership. This was followed by a presentation on the importance of effective communication in addressing the misuse of information
On the second day, the Local Government Revenue Initiative showcased their innovative approach to using digital tools for mapping property taxes. This session highlighted the practical applications of geospatial technology in governance. We had talks on the importance of strategic business leadership in building the next generation of entrepreneurs, Gender equality and women in leadership, balancing talents and academics and youth leadership and empowerment in Sierra Leone by the deputy minister of youth affairs.
The summit concluded with a Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to engage directly with speakers, followed by an award ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions. The event ended with a networking session, fostering new connections and collaborations among delegates, speakers, and organizations.