Making AI Work for People
We rebranded because our mission demanded it. Here is what changed, why it changed, and what it means for the work ahead.
What changed — and why?
We started as Encode SSA with a focused mission: spreading AI Safety awareness and building capacity among African youth. As that work grew, it became clear we needed a broader coalition to match the scale of what we were trying to do. So we came together with other youth-led organisations who shared our belief that AI should work for people — and we built the Global AI Youth Network (GAIN) collectively. It was not an opportunity we joined; it was something we helped form. The name changed. The mission sharpened into Transformative AI. The coalition grew.
What does 'Making AI Work for People' actually mean to us?
It means AI should put money on the table, make life easier, and improve overall well-being for ordinary people — not just researchers or Silicon Valley labs. For that to happen, young Africans need to feel equipped to shape AI's future, comfortable having AI around them, and confident that the people calling the shots on AI actually have their interests at heart. That is the gap we are working to close.
How are we trying to get there?
Three ways: We run advocacy and education that trains youth on transformative AI — what it is, what it can do, and what is at stake. We position young people in strategic rooms where the future of AI gets shaped — conferences, op-eds, policy spaces, fellowships. And we strengthen youth civic engagement so the next generation is not just affected by AI decisions, but part of making them.
Are you still an independent organisation?
Yes — fully. We are legally registered as an NGO in Ghana with the Registrar of Companies and hold complete autonomy over our decisions and direction. GAIN SSA operates within the broader GAIN coalition on shared Transformative AI goals, but we lead on locally relevant issues, set our own programmes, and stay grounded in what matters to African youth. The coalition amplifies our reach; it does not direct our work.
READY TO GET INVOLVED?
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