Samsung Electronics and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are spotlighting young innovators from the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow program at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. This event marks the first Olympic Games held on the African continent. The initiative brings together students who have developed technological solutions to address social challenges within their local communities.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Impact Programme
The collaboration between Samsung and the IOC focuses on the Sport and Tech theme. It builds on the joint delivery of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Impact Programme, which launched in August 2026. This program supports young innovators in developing their ideas and implementing them in their communities. The initiative is scheduled to run until the end of January 2028.
Solve for Tomorrow is Samsung’s global corporate social responsibility program for young people. Launched in 2010, it helps students use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to address community challenges. Through education and mentoring, students learn to identify problems, develop ideas, and build prototypes. The global ambassador initiative provides opportunities for these students to present their work internationally.
At the Youth Olympic Games, the ambassadors are sharing their solutions with a global audience. They are also learning from peers and taking the next steps in their development. The exhibition, organized in cooperation with the IOC at the Corniche West Live Site, allows visitors to explore these solutions. It runs through November 13, 2026.
Young Innovators Share Solutions in Dakar
During the exhibition opening, a panel discussion titled “Youth at the Heart of Global Transformation” took place. Samsung shared the program’s objectives with Senegalese students, highlighting how young people can use sport and the Olympic spirit to tackle challenges. The event emphasized working together in everyday life.
As part of the program, the ambassadors met with IOC Young Leaders from Kenya and Lebanon. They participated in a knowledge exchange workshop focused on social challenges facing young people in Africa. Students who used technology to tackle local problems exchanged experiences with IOC Young Leaders who used sport to bring about change.
After the workshop, the students visited the “Olympic Social Impact” booth, presented by IOC Young Leaders in the Youth Olympic Village. They learned about athlete experience engagement and further discussed how their technology might serve a wider range of needs.
Ela Aksoy from Türkiye, representing the Oilsorb project, said she wanted to address problems she saw around her. Through the program, she learned technical skills and worked with mentors to refine her idea into a working solution. She stated she is proud to demonstrate what they have built in Dakar. Aksoy added that she wants to use the feedback received to develop technology that can help more people.
Kukhanya Mbebe from South Africa, representing the Brick Beast project, described the experience as fun. She enjoyed meeting students from different countries and hearing about their projects. Mbebe noted that it was easy to connect with others through their shared projects. She said she is taking home new ideas and great memories from Dakar.
Eddie Cho, Head of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics, said the commitment made with the IOC at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games was a promise to give young people opportunities to discover what they can achieve through technology and sport. He stated that in Dakar, that promise starts to take shape. Cho added that the ambassadors began by tackling problems in their schools and neighborhoods and are now sharing their solutions with the world.
James Macleod, Olympism365 Director at the IOC, said the Youth Olympic Games are about much more than competition. He described them as an opportunity for young people to challenge themselves, learn from one another, and experience Olympic values. Macleod stated that together with Samsung, they are committed to supporting young people to take that spirit beyond the field of play. He expressed hope that the ambassadors would leave Dakar inspired, with new connections and greater confidence in their ability to make a positive difference.
Samsung and the IOC first introduced Solve for Tomorrow ambassadors at Paris 2024. They affirmed their shared commitment to developing future talent at Milano Cortina 2026 and beyond. As Samsung’s Olympic partnership continues toward the LA28 Games, both organizations plan to sustain their collaboration on the Sport and Tech theme and the Impact Program.
Source: Samsung
