Young Gambians unveil digital innovations to transform children’s lives

The forum marked the culmination of a six-month innovation programme that equipped young Gambians with mentorship, incubation, prototype development and seed funding to transform innovative ideas into practical digital solutions.

Speaking at the event, UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique, described the showcase as a celebration of the creativity, resilience and leadership of young Gambians.

“What began as a call for bold ideas has grown into practical solutions led by young people responding to real challenges affecting children, families and communities,” she said, stressing that young people are not merely beneficiaries of development but innovators and partners in building the country’s future.

She highlighted the achievements of the three winning teams. First-place winners, Kids Entertainment Lab, developed animated educational videos with sign language interpretation, making learning more accessible for children, particularly those with hearing impairments. The team is now piloting an AI-powered virtual teacher project with UNICEF.

The second-place team, Children’s Foundation Gambia, focused on promoting disability inclusion through community engagement and sign language education, while the third-place winners developed Wild Wizard, a mobile application designed to help senior secondary school students prepare for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

United Nations Resident Coordinator Karl Frédérick Paul said the initiative reflects the strength of partnership among UN agencies and government institutions in supporting national priorities.

He noted that investing in young people’s digital skills and innovation is essential for inclusive and sustainable development, adding that youth-led innovations are already providing solutions in education, agriculture, financial inclusion, energy and environmental sustainability.

Minister for Youth and Sports Bakary Y. Badjie congratulated the participants, describing them as “the brightest future of our nation.”

He said the success of the Digital Innovation Sprint demonstrates that Gambian youth are already designing solutions for the country’s future rather than waiting for opportunities.

“The Government remains committed to supporting young innovators through policies, resources and platforms that will enable youth-led enterprises and technology startups to grow and compete globally,”the minister assured.

The showcase also provided finalists with an opportunity to pitch their innovations to government institutions, development partners, private sector representatives, academia and civil society organisations with the aim of attracting partnerships, investment and support to scale their digital solutions nationwide.