In today's technology-driven world, access to computer skills training is essential for youth empowerment and economic advancement. Yet in Sierra Leone, many young people face significant barriers to acquiring these skills — limiting their education and employment opportunities before they ever enter the workforce.

Traditional schools and colleges in Sierra Leone lack adequate computer education facilities, leaving many students without essential digital competencies. The digital divide disproportionately affects youth from underserved communities — and without intervention, it compounds the barriers they already face.

Develop Africa is working to close that gap. Through our computer training initiatives at the DASL Computer Lab and the FAWE All-Girls Computer Lab in Freetown, we equip young people in Sierra Leone with the foundational digital skills they need to succeed in school, enter the workforce, and contribute to their communities.

"Access to computers and the internet has become a basic need for education in our society." — Kent Conrad

Computer Classes Through Develop Africa

Develop Africa offers comprehensive computer skills training programs tailored for children, youth, and working professionals — covering foundational computer operations, software applications, and digital literacy. Our programs are structured to ensure that every student has access to an individual computer, with class timings and days varying based on the group.

By investing in computer skills training, we empower youth to succeed in the 21st-century workplace, expand their opportunities for education and employment, and build self-sufficiency and confidence in a digitally connected world.

Juba Hill — DASL Computer Lab

Develop Africa offers computer classes at the Develop Africa Sierra Leone (DASL) Computer Lab in Freetown. Each class is structured to ensure every student has access to an individual computer. Class timings and days vary based on the respective student groups.

Classes include:

• Introduction to Computers and parts of a computer
• Input and output devices
• Basic mouse and keyboard techniques
• Typing Master
• Microsoft Office applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Access
• Hardware and networking

Photo Album — Computer Lab Graduation Ceremony (February 2024)

FAWE All-Girls Computer Lab

The FAWE All-Girls Computer Lab in Freetown, Sierra Leone, serves approximately 130 girls between the ages of 9 and 14. For many of these girls, this is the first opportunity they have ever had to use a computer. The training provides foundational computer proficiency skills — basic computer literacy, word processing, and access to a networked server with books, study guides, and a wide range of digital learning materials.

Each student has access to an individual computer, allowing for personalized learning and skill development. Empowering girls through computer training is not only a matter of equity — it is essential for driving sustainable development and economic growth in Sierra Leone. When girls gain digital skills, they gain access to opportunities that were previously out of reach.

"We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher's hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world." — David Warlick

You Can Help Bridge the Technology Gap

By donating to Develop Africa, you can help provide computer training and contribute toward the development of technology centers in Sierra Leone. Your donation puts digital tools in the hands of young people who are ready to learn — and ready to build a future with what they know.