The 10-day Big 5 AI & Blockchain Hackathon Bootcamp has officially come to a close, and what a journey it’s been! Over 250 young innovators from across Sierra Leone gathered in Freetown to sharpen their skills, build real-world tech solutions, and prepare for the upcoming national hackathon.
Empowering 250 Youth Across Sierra Leone
This year’s bootcamp brought together 250 passionate young people from across the country, including participants from provincial towns. Through a competitive call for applications, the bootcamp welcomed a diverse mix of aspiring and advanced tech enthusiasts into three specialized tracks:
- AI Track – for those curious to build AI-driven solutions using tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other low-code platforms.
- Blockchain Track – for technical builders exploring blockchain applications, smart contracts, and decentralized systems.
- Vibe Coding Track – a creative zone for solution builders using AI tools to solve real-life public service challenges.
Each track was carefully designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and technical growth thereby ensuring participants not only gained new skills but also applied them in real-world problem-solving.
A Bootcamp Like No Other
From hands-on technical sessions and peer-to-peer collaboration to expert-led training and mentorship, the bootcamp featured a dynamic blend of theory and practice. Local AI and blockchain experts led core sessions on:
- Notebook LM and Cursor & Presentation tools for productivity and coding.
- Blockchain 101, smart contract simulations, and real-world blockchain use cases.
- Introduction to Problem Bank and Basic System Architecture for designing scalable solutions.
- Sessions on model explainability tools like LIME and SHAP, and hands-on AI debugging using FastAPI, Flask, and HuggingFace.
Each day built upon the last, combining theory with practical labs, peer-to-peer feedback, and intensive group exercises to move ideas into prototypes.
Beyond Learning: Building for Impact
More than a learning program, this bootcamp is a launchpad. As the 10-day training wraps up, participants are moving into the Build Phase which is a 4-week challenge where teams will refine or develop AI and blockchain solutions aligned to Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
Looking Ahead
This bootcamp marks a significant milestone in the government’s digital transformation agenda and demonstrates how inclusive, well-designed programs can unlock potential across all regions. From gender and disability inclusion to mentorship and IP support, the initiative lays a foundation for scaling youth-led innovations nationally and potentially across Africa.
Stay tuned as these builders bring their bold ideas to life.