Bright Light Projects Sierra Leone (BLPSL), in partnership with Youth Action for Sustainable Development Sierra Leone (YAD-SL), has on June 23, 2026 graduated 15 participants from its April–May 2026 Free Basic Computer Skills Training Program under the Digital Futures Sierra Leone (DFSL) initiative.
The certificate presentation ceremony, held at the Bright Light Projects office in Makeni, celebrated participants who completed one month of practical digital skills training aimed at strengthening computer literacy among students, teachers, job seekers and underserved communities.
The April–May cohort enrolled 20 participants, with 17 successfully completing the training and 15 fulfilling all graduation requirements to receive certificates. The graduating class consisted of 11 men and four women.
The training equipped participants with practical knowledge in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, internet browsing, email applications and other essential digital literacy competencies. Organizers said the program is designed to improve participants’ academic performance, employment prospects, entrepreneurial capacity and lifelong learning opportunities.
The latest graduation builds on the success of Bright Light Projects’ inaugural Free Basic Computer Skills Training Program conducted in Kamabai, Bombali District, in 2025, where 88 participants received introductory digital skills training. Together, the initiatives demonstrate the organization’s continued investment in expanding access to digital education across Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the ceremony, Samuel Alpha Thoronka, Country Coordinator of Bright Light Projects Sierra Leone, emphasized the importance of making digital education accessible to all.
“Digital literacy has become an essential life skill. Many students and teachers still lack access to practical ICT training, limiting their educational and employment opportunities. Through Digital Futures Sierra Leone, Bright Light Projects is committed to closing this gap by providing free, community-based digital skills training that empowers young people to participate confidently in today’s digital economy,” he said.
Graduate Kaba Mansaray, a student at Ernest Bai Koroma University, described the training as a life-changing experience.
“This training has been a game changer for me. The skills I have gained will greatly support my academic work, especially as I complete my university thesis. I now feel much more confident using computers for research, writing and presentations,” Kaba Mansaray said.
Representing the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in Bombali District, Deputy Assistant Director Alex Koroma commended the initiative and stressed the growing significance of digital education.
“Digital skills are no longer optional; they are the gateway to the future. Whether in education, employment, or innovation, technology is transforming every sector. Initiatives such as Digital Futures Sierra Leone are helping prepare our young people with the competencies needed to succeed in the modern world,” he said.
Bright Light Projects said the Digital Futures Sierra Leone initiative supports national efforts to improve digital literacy and contributes to the implementation of Sierra Leone’s National Digital Learning Strategy (2025–2030). The organization plans to expand future training cohorts and strengthen partnerships to reach more underserved communities across the country.
Founded in 2012, Bright Light Projects is a nonprofit organization operating in Sierra Leone and Cameroon. The organization focuses on education, skills development, women’s and youth empowerment, digital inclusion, environmental sustainability and community resilience through community-led development programs.
Digital Futures Sierra Leone serves as the organization’s flagship digital inclusion initiative, providing free computer training and creating pathways to education, employment, innovation and entrepreneurship for students, teachers and young people across Sierra Leone.
