Banlieue Smart Days: When Senegal’s Suburbs Became a Hub of Innovation and Hope

Jan 6

Learn more on Le Massarois TV (French) and Banlieue Infos TV (English)

Migration is a part of the human condition. People have always moved — for safety, opportunity, and sometimes both — since the beginning of time. But what if more people could “bloom where they are planted,” rather than being forced to move to make a brighter future? OIA’s Advocacy Director, Demba Ndiath, is leading initiatives to make that future possible for more Senegalese youth.

From December 13 to 14, Yeumbeul Nord — one of Senegal’s most vibrant yet underserved suburbs — became the epicenter of the largest technology gathering ever organized in the country’s banlieue (suburbs). Banlieue Smart Days, an initiative born from lived experience and a deep commitment to youth empowerment, brought together more than 1,000 participants over two days of learning, innovation, and inspiration.

“As someone who grew up in Yeumbeul Nord,” Ndiath said, “organizing this event was both personal and purposeful. The goal was clear: bring technology, opportunity, and hope directly to the suburbs, where talent is abundant but access is often limited. It was a diverse and inclusive gathering of students, young entrepreneurs, professionals, and even military personnel. Participants came from all age groups and backgrounds, united by a shared curiosity for digital tools and a desire to build a better future. Technology companies, startups, and training institutions showcased their solutions and demonstrated how digital skills can transform businesses, careers, and communities. Over the course of two days, more than 500 people were trained in practical ways to use technology to improve productivity, visibility, and efficiency—especially for small businesses operating online.”

Training the Present and the Future

One of the strongest pillars of Banlieue Smart Days was capacity building:

Women entrepreneurs received hands-on training through Orange Digital Center and Force N, a program supported by the Virtual University of Senegal, helping them better leverage digital tools for their businesses.
Dakar Institute of Technology introduced young participants to artificial intelligence, demystifying a field often seen as inaccessible.
Xale Codage trained children aged 4 to 9 in robotics, planting the seeds of innovation at an early age.
Senegal Drone Academy trained both the general public and military personnel in drone piloting, opening doors to new professional and security-related applications. These sessions transformed the venue into a living laboratory of ideas, curiosity, and creativity.

RECOGNIZING INNOVATION: BANLIEUE SMART GENIUS COMPETITION

Out of nearly 20 startup applications, 11 teams were selected to compete in the Banlieue Smart Genius contest. After a rigorous evaluation and pitching process on Day 2, the jury awarded the following prizes:

🏆 DLCARD – 1st Prize
🏆 Yeumbeul Digital Services – 2nd Prize
🏆 SEN Rigole Smart – 3rd Prize

Two high-school teams — Kay Jël Bus and Couveuse Automatique — received Special Jury Prizes for their bold ideas and strong potential. Beyond cash prizes (up to $1,000) and laptops, all shortlisted teams received certificates and encouragement grants to help them continue their journey.

Institutional Support and National Recognition

The Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy of Senegal officially recognized the importance of Banlieue Smart Days by signing an agreement to promote the initiative and committing to support future editions. This endorsement confirms the event’s relevance as a driver of digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and local development.

Panels during the event addressed key themes such as:

Youth empowerment through digital skills
Entrepreneurship in the suburbs
Cybercrime prevention
Responsible and ethical use of technology aligned with social values

Why Banlieue Smart Days Matters

Many people who immigrate to the United States or Europe today would choose to stay in their native countries, if it was an option. Instead, they make a difficult decision that shows tremendous courage, strength, and love — at great risk and sacrifice — because they have to. Ndiath is trying to change that calculation for some of Senegal’s youth.

In his stunning poem, “Dark Journey,” Souleye Ball spoke lovingly about the “lands full of rainwater and the pastures that fed the calves, mooing and frolicking lightly, calling their mothers who would answer” in his native Mauritania. “Ah, what a life!” he said. But then, due to enviromental and political plundering, Souleye and many people like him were forced to leave in order to take care of their families.

Along the journey, which is painfully detailed in his spoken word performance in Fulani, with an annotated English version, Souleye described the dangers they met: “In those dense forests where hyenas and snakes threatened, afraid of the wild animals and scared to turn back, we had no choice but to move forward. We heard the cries of wild birds. We came across road cutters armed with rifles and machetes. They scared even the bravest among us with their screams. We no longer thought of bowing to pray.”

This experience, forever held in the minds and bodies of thousands of people who wanted stay at home, but had no other choice than to leave, inspired Ndiath to create Banlieue Smart Days. “Growing up in the suburbs, I witnessed how poverty and lack of opportunity push many young people toward crime or irregular migration, risking their lives on perilous journeys toward uncertain futures,” Ndiath said, “Yet, at the same time, the global tech economy is booming — offering paths to independence, creativity, and dignity. Banlieue Smart Days was created to bridge that gap: to show young people that they can build careers, launch businesses, and thrive without leaving their country. The entire program was self-funded, at a cost of approximately $10,000. It was a significant investment — but one that proved immeasurably worthwhile. Lives were impacted, perspectives changed, and hope was restored.”

Continued Ndiath, “Banlieue Smart Days demonstrated that innovation does not belong only to city centers. When given access, training, and trust, the suburbs can become powerful engines of progress. Proud of what was achieved, we are more determined than ever to continue organizing these events, supporting young entrepreneurs, and proving that the future can be built here, at home, rather than pursued through dangerous routes to uncertainty.”