By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
St. Edward’s Secondary School has won the inaugural Robotics for Good Youth Challenge, securing the national title, a cash prize, and a fully funded trip to the Global Finals, where they will compete against youth teams from other countries. Winners also received complete robotics kits to further develop their projects beyond the competition.
The competition was organized by the KYC (KYIC-SL) in partnership with the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI-SL), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and AI for Good. It brought together student teams from across Sierra Leone to develop robotics solutions addressing social and developmental challenges. Entries were judged on innovation, technical execution, and potential social impact.
During the one-day event, students demonstrated functional prototypes and pitched ideas on how their robots could be applied in sectors such as health, agriculture, education, and environmental management. Mentorship clinics and technical inspections supported teams in refining their designs and preparing professional presentations for the judging panel.
Organizers explained that the challenge aims to build a national pipeline of STEM talent, promote practical skills in robotics and AI, and create pathways for young Sierra Leoneans to engage with international innovation networks. The partnership with MoCTI, ITU, and AI for Good provided resources, mentorship, and technical support for participating teams.
Education and technology officials praised the students’ creativity and emphasized the need for sustained investment in STEM education and vocational training to scale the impact of youth innovations. The fully funded trip to the Global Finals offers students exposure, capacity building, and potential partnerships.
St. Edward’s coaches and students stated they plan to use the robotics kits and international opportunities to advance their prototype and forge connections with mentors and institutions at the Global Finals. Organizers encouraged other schools to participate next year as part of a growing national effort to position Sierra Leone’s young technologists on the world stage.