DPG Student Meetup Report for ETU-SL Campus
Submitted By:
Boimah Talenboi Cooper Jr.
Eastern Technical University Sierra Leone
Student Lead and Team (Code4Good_ETU-SL)
July 16, 2025.
MEETUP DETAILS
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Theme: | Data Coding Impact |
| Meetup Date: | 14th July, 2025. |
| Meetup Duration: | 4 Hours |
| Venue: | ETU-SL Campus DSTI Hub |
| Notable Stakeholders Present/Guest | Mr. Ahmed Tejan Jallon – Lecturer IT and Computer Science Department ETU-SL |
| Club Leader as Moderator – Code4Good_ETU-SL (Peter Sahr Ngekia, Boimah Talenboi Cooper Jr, Mohamed Kortu Konneh.) |
Attendance Summary
We get the Total of 27 participants who attended the meetup.
| GENDER | COUNT |
|---|---|
| MALE | 23 |
| FEMALE | 2 |
| TOTAL | 25 |
attendance list
Documentation & Media
Overview & Outcome of the DPGs Student Meetup – A Student Perspective
The primary aim of this DPGs Student Meetup was to raise awareness about Digital Public Goods (DPGs) as powerful tools that can drive innovation, foster collaboration, and support inclusive digital development. The event brought together university students, emerging talents, and young innovators in a shared space to learn, connect, and collaborate around the potential of open digital solutions.
More than just a tech gathering, this meetup reflected our collective commitment to growth with not only as individuals in our respective academic or technical pursuits, but as part of a larger, interconnected ecosystem. It was a celebration of knowledge-sharing, creativity, and community-driven progress and at the end of the event, participants walked away with:
- A stronger understanding of DPGs and their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Practical skills in tools like GitHub, C# in Visual Studio, HTML/CSS, and AI applications.
- Inspiration to take an active role in shaping a future of open collaboration, digital inclusion, and innovation for public good.
Our meetup successfully laid the foundation for a growing student-led movement that embraces open-source culture, values digital empowerment, and is ready to contribute meaningfully to national and global digital transformation efforts.
Activites Conducted doing the Meetup
Presentation
Boimah Talenboi Cooper Jr - ETU-SL Student Lead talk on:
Session Title: Overview of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) and Why They Matter
Presenter: Boimah Talenboi Cooper Jr (ETU-SL Student Lead)
Presentation Source: Abdul Rahim Jalloh – DPG Lead, Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation
Boimah Talenboi Cooper Jr. led an engaging session that introduced participants to the core concepts of Digital Public Goods (DPGs), drawing from a detailed slide presentation by Mr. Abdul Rahim Jalloh, DPG Lead at the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation.
The session explained that Digital Public Goods are open-source digital tools including software, data sets, AI models, and technical standards and designed to promote inclusive access and drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). DPGs are built to be adaptable, cost-effective, transparent, and sustainable over the long term, particularly when implemented through collaborative ecosystems. In addition, the session explored the concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), defined as the foundational digital systems such as digital identity platforms, e-payment solutions, and interoperable digital registries. These systems support inclusive, scalable, and secure delivery of public and private sector services.
Participants also learned about the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) is a global multi-stakeholder initiative co-founded by Sierra Leone and UNICEF and which are coordinates international efforts and promotes best practices in the development and adoption of DPGs worldwide.
The presentation highlighted some of Sierra Leone’s pioneering efforts in this space, including the use of following:
DHIS2 (District Health Information Software 2) for nationwide health data management.
Rapid Pro, a mobile-based platform used for real-time monitoring in health and education sectors.
Sierra Leone’s commitment to DPGs is also evident in its development of supportive policies, promotion of local innovation, and efforts to build strong developer and student communities. Our session served as a valuable foundation for students to understand how DPGs can be powerful enablers of digital transformation and ensuring that technology serves the public interest and reaches the most underserved populations.
GUEST SPEAKER
Mr. Ahmed Tejan Jallon – Lecturer IT and Computer Science Department ETU-SL
Visual Studio Basic
Mr. Jallon Speak of Visual Studio Basic doing our Student Meetup As a guest speaker, He delivered an insightful session on digital empowerment through open-source technologies. He emphasized the role of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) in driving innovation and solving real-world problems using platforms like Visual Studio for rapid prototyping and development. By highlighting the importance of open digital resources, he discussed how these tools can power inclusive solutions in education and entrepreneurship. He also encouraged students to align their development efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to actively contribute to an open digital ecosystem where young innovators can build impactful software applications that address local and global challenges.
Demo/ Tech Walkthrough
Session Title: GitHub for Collaboration – Leveraging Open Source for Collective Impact Facilitator: Peter Sahr Ngekia (Moderator, Code4Good_ETU-SL)
In this practical and engaging session, Peter Sahr Ngekia introduced participants to the powerful world of GitHub, emphasising its role in fostering collaboration and transparency within the software development ecosystem.
The session began with a hands-on walkthrough, where attendees were guided on how to create and set up their GitHub accounts. Peter explained the fundamentals of using GitHub, including repository creation, committing changes, and pushing code, for all essential skills for managing and contributing to open-source projects.
He also highlighted the critical role GitHub plays as a Digital Public Good (DPG) and not just as a version control tool, but as a collaborative platform that connects developers, students, and innovators from around the world. The emphasis was on how GitHub enables teamwork, knowledge sharing, and open innovation, especially for academic and community-driven projects.
Participants engaged in a few practical activities on the platform to reinforce what they had learned, including basic version control exercises and mock collaboration tasks to simulate real-world project workflows.
The session served as both a technical introduction and a motivational call to action, urging students to actively explore and contribute to open-source communities as a means of learning, networking, and building impactful digital solutions.
Session Title: C# in Visual Studio – Building with Open Tools for the Public Good
Facilitators: Boimah Talenboi Cooper Jr. & Mohamed Kortu Kanneh (Moderator, Code4Good_ETU-SL)
During this interactive session, we guided participants through the practical use of C# programming within the Visual Studio environment to create simple desktop applications. The hands-on demonstrations helped attendees understand the process of building functional software using open-source resources, aligning with the principles of Digital Public Goods (DPGs).
We emphasised the importance of open collaboration and encouraged participants to engage more deeply with DPGs by exploring and contributing to open-source solutions that address local and global challenges.
In addition to the C# development walkthrough, we introduced the fundamentals of HTML and CSS, showcasing how basic web pages are structured using tags and how simple styling can enhance functionality and visual appeal. This served as an entry point for beginners interested in web development and design. Our session was designed to be both educational and inspiring, aiming to equip students with the foundational tools and mindset needed to create digital solutions that support sustainable development and inclusive access to technology.
Break & Networking
The Break and Networking session served as a refreshing and engaging interlude during the DPGs Student Meetup. Attendees were treated to light refreshments while enjoying a relaxed atmosphere designed to foster connections and informal discussions.
To make the break both fun and educational, we organised an interactive Icebreaker Game and Tech Trivia Challenge, where participants answered questions related to technology, Digital Public Goods (DPGs), and real-world tech applications. Small prizes were awarded to winners, sparking friendly competition and lots of laughter.
The trivia game not only entertained but also introduced participants to new, simple tech ideas and concepts in an enjoyable way. It was a great opportunity to reinforce key learnings from earlier sessions while keeping the energy high.
More importantly, this session provided a space for networking and collaboration. Students from different backgrounds had the chance to connect, share their interests, and even begin discussing potential partnerships for future projects. The informal setting encouraged openness and peer-to-peer interaction for critical ingredients and building a strong community of young innovators.
The session was a reminder that learning doesn’t only happen in formal presentations—it also thrives in conversations, games, and shared experiences.
Open Discussion
Theme: “Tech for Good – Using Technology to Solve Local Problems”
The Open Discussion segment of this DPGs Student Meetup provided a powerful platform for participants to engage deeply with the event’s central theme: “Tech for Good – Using Technology to Solve Local Problems.” This session encouraged students to think critically about how digital innovation go particularly through Digital Public Goods (DPGs) and can be applied to address pressing challenges within their communities.
Participants shared real-life examples of issues they face in sectors such as healthcare, education, sanitation, and agriculture. The discussion revolved around how open-source digital solutions could be tailored to tackle these problems sustainably and inclusively.
Our conversation was rich, reflective, and inspiring. Students voiced the need for more accessible tech resources, community-based innovation hubs, and mentorship to help youth translate ideas into scalable solutions. There was a strong emphasis on collaboration and the belief that technology should not only serve global needs but also be grounded in local realities.
Key takeaways included:
The importance of university and community-driven innovation.
Using DPGs to promote transparency, access, and inclusion.
Encouraging students to move from consumers to creators of technology.
Aligning tech projects with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for greater impact.
Our session fostered a strong sense of ownership and motivation among attendees, reinforcing that young innovators have the potential to drive meaningful change when equipped with the right tools and mindset.
Show & Tell / Project Demos
One of the most exciting moments of the DPGs Student Meetup was the Show & Tell / Project Demos segment, where students had the opportunity to present their personal or group-led tech projects. The energy in the room was electric, with participants passionately showcasing their innovations and explaining the real-world problems their projects aimed to solve as many inspired by the principles of Digital Public Goods (DPGs).
We were thrilled by the number and diversity of projects presented. From health-tech solutions to hardware prototypes, students demonstrated creativity, critical thinking, and a desire to make social impact through open digital solutions.
At the conclusion of the demos, two standout projects emerged as the most innovative and impactful:
- Health Central Digital Records System
A student team proposed a DPG-based system designed to improve patient data management at public hospitals. Currently, hospitals rely on physical notebooks to record visitor information, often leading to data loss over time. The team’s solution involves a digital platform to securely capture and store patient details, ensuring continuity of care and easy access to records on future visits. This idea addresses a real, urgent need in many health centers and aligns well with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). - Automated Grass-Cutting Machine for Engineering Impact
Another participant introduced an innovative concept aimed at reshaping the mindset of engineering students by encouraging hands-on, locally impactful solutions. His idea involved designing a grass-cutting machine tailored for community use and bridging mechanical engineering with DPG values. The project showcased how practical, locally-developed technologies can contribute to sustainable development and foster a culture of problem-solving.
Overall, the demo session was a clear highlight of the event. It not only revealed the talent and creativity of our participants but also emphasized the importance of DPGs in encouraging open innovation, especially among the next generation of tech builders.
Audience Q&A encouraged
During the DPGs Student Meetup, we hosted an interactive Q&A session that encouraged active participation from attendees. The session aimed to assess the audience’s understanding of the topics discussed and to explore any new insights gained from the presentations. It was truly energizing to witness the enthusiasm and curiosity in the room, as participants eagerly asked questions, shared perspectives, and reflected on how Digital Public Goods (DPGs) can drive innovation and inclusion.
Notably, approximately 65% of the participants contributed during the open discussion and project demonstration segments. Their input ranged from insightful questions to practical ideas and feedback on the showcased projects. This high level of engagement not only reinforced the relevance of the topics but also highlighted the growing interest among students in leveraging open digital solutions for societal impact.
The interactive nature of the session made it a standout moment of the meetup, fostering a collaborative learning environment and sparking meaningful dialogue around DPGs and their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Challenges and Constraints Encountered During the DPGs Student Meetup
While the DPGs Student Meetup was a great success in fostering collaboration and digital awareness, a few challenges and constraints were observed during the planning and execution phases. Below is a summary of the key issues and suggested solutions for future improvement:
| Challenge Area | Description | Suggested Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Participant Engagement | Some attendees were shy or hesitant to actively participate in discussions and activities. Additionally, due to unexpected rainfall, many participants arrived late, and some were unable to attend entirely. | Introduce icebreaker games, group-based activities, and small incentive rewards to encourage active engagement. Consider flexible scheduling during the rainy season. |
| Technical Gaps | A few participants were not from technical backgrounds and found it difficult to follow along with some of the hands-on sessions. However, they were eager to learn and engage. | Include a beginner-friendly orientation or pre-session materials for non-tech participants. Break down complex topics using simpler terms and offer mentorship opportunities. |
| Logistical Delays | There were some delays in executing the planned agenda. Notably, flyers were distributed late, and administrative approvals were not secured early enough, which affected overall coordination. | In the future, initiate early communication with administrative bodies, and finalize promotional materials well in advance. Assign roles and follow up on task deadlines. |
Conclusion and Vote of Thanks
As we brought the DPGs Student Meetup to a close, there was a strong sense of inspiration, collaboration, and shared purpose among all participants. The event not only introduced valuable tools and knowledge around Digital Public Goods (DPGs), but also strengthened connections among students, tech enthusiasts, and mentors committed to building inclusive, open digital solutions for local and global impact.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the speakers, facilitators, and organizers, whose insights and efforts made this event both impactful and memorable. Special appreciation goes to the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) and global multi-stakeholder initiative co-founded by Sierra Leone and UNICEF, Eastern Technical University Sierra Leone, our mentors from Code4Good_ETU-SL, and our student volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
To every participant who showed up, engaged, asked questions, and shared ideas and thank you for being part of this movement. Your curiosity and passion are the driving force behind the success of this initiative.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the next meetup as we continue to grow a community of digital changemakers, empowered by knowledge, collaboration, and the principles of open innovation.
Boimah Talenboi Cooper Jr
ETU-SL Student Lead,
Code4Good_ETU-SL
Eastern Technical University SL
