Month: September 2025

Nearly 100 Caribbean Youth Transform Into Tech Innovators at Brightstar Lottery’s Milestone Fifth Coding Camp

Students at the 2025 Brightstar Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp examine robotics components and reference materials under the guidance of staff volunteers and Centre Supervisors, developing technical skills through collaborative learning.

Brightstar Lottery (“Brightstar”), successfully completed its fifth annual Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp with 100 Caribbean students graduating from the programme. Comprised of students from five Caribbean territories – Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands – the Brightstar Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp proved that geography cannot limit Caribbean youth’s technological potential.

From July 14-25, students from Brightstar’s After School Advantage Centres immersed themselves in a cutting-edge curriculum developed with the Mona Geoinformatics Institute (“MGI”) at The University of the West Indies. Under the theme “Coding Opens Doors”, participants didn’t just learn technology – they became creators, innovators, and digital architects of the Caribbean’s technological future.

“The digital literacy gap isn’t merely a technological challenge; it’s a matter of economic sovereignty for Caribbean nations,” said Shelly Ann Hee Chung, Brightstar’s Director, Antilles. “Through our Coding & Robotics Rock! Camp, we cultivated a generation of innovative thinkers who transformed from technology consumers to creators, establishing a foundation for sustainable digital economies across our islands.”

The Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp featured two distinct learning tracks. Level 1 students mastered web development fundamentals, learning HTML for content creation, CSS for design, and JavaScript for interactivity. Their capstone projects included personalised websites featuring Home and About Me pages, Coding Careers pages exploring technology opportunities, Coding Tools pages highlighting development resources, and Contact Us pages – all inspired by the camp’s “Coding Opens Doors” theme.

Level 2 participants advanced into artificial intelligence (“AI”) and robotics, exploring AI applications, creating machine learning models using Google Teachable Machines, and building functional robots using VEX robotics platforms. Students engaged with cutting-edge technologies, including Robotic Process Automation and participated in VR.VEX virtual reality activities.

“In the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, early exposure to computational thinking proves as fundamental as traditional literacy,” said Debbie Green,  General Manager, Brightstar Jamaica. “Our multi-island approach to the Coding & Robotics Rock! Camp demonstrates our commitment to democratizing access to these critical skills, ensuring that geographical constraints don’t limit any child’s opportunity to participate in the digital future.”

The programme’s success was measured not only in technical skills acquired but in the transformation of student perspectives on technology careers. Participants discovered how coding opens doors to industries ranging from healthcare and finance to entertainment and environmental conservation, directly addressing the Caribbean’s need for homegrown technology talent.

Throughout the camp, students worked in virtual breakout rooms, fostering collaboration across territories while building individual expertise. The programme’s hands-on approach yielded extraordinary results. Students created working web calculators, interactive image carousels, and AI models addressing everything from hurricane preparedness to sustainable tourism. Their final presentations demonstrated not just technical proficiency but creative problem-solving that directly addressed Caribbean realities.

“By designing content that’s accessible to students regardless of their technical background, we are helping to cultivate the next generation of innovators who can use mapping, software engineering, data analysis, and geospatial thinking to solve real-world problems in their communities,” said Luke Buchanan, Executive Director, MGI.

The 2025 Brightstar Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp’s success arrives at a crucial moment. As Caribbean governments prioritise digital transformation and seek homegrown technology talent, Brightstar’s investment in youth development provides exactly the skilled workforce these ambitions require.

This fifth annual achievement positions Brightstar as more than a technology company – it’s a catalyst for Caribbean excellence, proving that strategic investment in youth education yields transformational results that can benefit entire regions for generations to come.

Students collaborate on coding projects during the 2025 Brightstar Coding and Robotics Rock!, developing essential digital skills via interactive technology education.

Caribbean Brain Gain: How Coding Initiatives Encourage Educated Youth to Stay Local

For decades, the Caribbean has watched its brightest talents migrate to the
United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, pursuing opportunities that
seemed unattainable at home. However, a quiet revolution is unfolding
across our islands, one that is transforming the story of Caribbean youth and
their future prospects. Brightstar Lottery’s fifth annual Brightstar Coding & Robotics Rock! Camp, which took place from July 14 to 25, 2025, is more than just a technology
education programme—it’s a strategic investment in increasing brain gain in
our region.

A student adjusts a humanoid robot during the fifth-annual Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp presented by Brightstar. The hands-on curriculum, developed in partnership with the Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI), is part of a STEM initiative aimed at fostering innovation and technological literacy among Jamaican youth

The concept of “brain gain” has become increasingly relevant as Caribbean
nations recognise that retaining educated talent is crucial for sustainable
development. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on economic
incentives, Brightstar’s innovative camp tackles the root cause: the
perception that meaningful technology careers do not exist in the Caribbean.
“We’re not just teaching students to code; we’re showing them that the
Caribbean can be a launchpad for global innovation,” explains Debbie Green,
General Manager of Brightstar Jamaica. “When young people see that they
can build cutting-edge robotics projects right here in Jamaica, work with
international partners like the Mona Geoinformatics Institute, and collaborate
with peers across the Caribbean, they begin to envision a future where
staying home means staying ahead.”


This year’s camp brought together over 40 students from five Caribbean
locations—Jamaica, St Kitts, St Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US
Virgin Islands. The programme’s theme, “Coding Opens Doors,” took on
greater significance when viewed through the lens of regional development.
These doors do not only lead to individual opportunities; they open pathways
to transforming entire economies.


The multi-island approach is especially crucial. Instead of creating isolated
pockets of expertise, the programme fosters a connected network of young
innovators who view themselves as part of a larger Caribbean tech
ecosystem. This interconnectedness is essential for brain gain, as it shows
that remaining in the Caribbean does not mean working in isolation.
Amarez Huggins Delashley, from the camp’s 2024 cohort, notes: “The camp
helped me to solve problems more easily: this made me think logically and
solve complex problems. For example, solving a Rubik’s Cube, putting
together a complex puzzle, etc. The Robotics Camp taught me multiple
shortcuts, which are now helping me to easily access and use computers.”
The economic implications are profound. Traditional Caribbean
industries—tourism, agriculture, and financial services—are increasingly
reliant on technology. Young people trained in coding and robotics are not

just prepared for hypothetical future jobs; they are enabled to innovate
within existing industries and to develop entirely new ones.

“We’re witnessing the emergence of a generation that sees technology as a
tool for Caribbean empowerment, not escape. These students are learning
that they can build international-standard solutions while addressing
uniquely Caribbean challenges. That’s the foundation of sustainable brain
gain,” says Green.
The camp’s collaboration with the Mona Geoinformatics Institute enhances
academic rigour and local relevance in the curriculum. Students are not
merely acquiring generic programming skills; they are investigating how technology can tackle Caribbean-specific issues, such as climate resilience,
disaster preparedness, and sustainable tourism.


“Our partnership with Brightstar represents a critical shift in how we
approach technology education in the Caribbean. By providing coding and
robotics training in real Caribbean scenarios, from hurricane tracking,
general software development and coastal monitoring to environmental
stewardship, at MGI we help students see that some of the most exciting
technological opportunities exist right here at home. These young innovators
are not just learning to code; they are learning to build solutions for the
Caribbean and beyond.”


Fun fact: students from other islands are already envisioning projects that
could assist with oil spill clean-up—something that is very important for our
environment here.
The programme’s success is measured not only by the technical skills gained
but also by the changed perspectives about the Caribbean’s potential.
Participants leave with more than just coding knowledge; they carry a vision
of the Caribbean as a place where innovation thrives and where young talent
is nurtured.


The broader After School Advantage programme, which operates 38 centres
across the English-speaking Caribbean, provides the infrastructure for this
transformation. These centres ensure that the camp’s impact extends well
beyond two weeks, establishing year-round communities of learning and
innovation.


Programmes like Brightstar’s camp offer a path forward that does not
require choosing between progress and place. By investing in technology
education that is both world-class and locally relevant, Brightstar is not just
training programmers—they are cultivating the architects of our region’s
digital future.
The true measure of success for initiatives like this will not be reflected in
graduation statistics or job placement rates, but in the young Caribbean
professionals who, in ten years’ time, will be leading technology companies, developing innovative solutions, and mentoring the next generation—all
while calling the Caribbean home.

Students at the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation’s Mandeville Centre participate in one of the Level II sessions during the 2025 Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp presented by Brightstar

Young musicians exhibit impressive talent at Food For The Poor Band Camp closing ceremony

Stephanie Lyew, Public Relations Account Executive for the Sean Paul Foundation presents graduation certificate to Bjorn Hawthorne, Senior Band Camp member with focus on the Keyboard. The graduation ceremony for the annual Band Camp was held on Thursday, August 21 on the grounds of Food For The Poor. The summer camp, which commenced on Monday, July 21, took in sixty students from St. Catherine and surrounding areas to develop their skills and talents in playing musical instruments. 

The Food For The Poor (FFTP) annual Band Camp closing ceremony was held on Thursday, August 21, 2025 with rousing performances from the participants in the summer camp, held under the theme “Where Passion Meets Purpose: Saluting the Next Generation of Musicians”. 

The camp, held on the grounds of FFTP in St.Catherine, brought together sixty talented youths from across the island, providing them with hands-on training in various musical disciplines including brass, percussion, woodwinds, and strings. Led by experienced music instructors, the four-week programme focused not only on technical ability but also on discipline, teamwork, and creative expression.

“The Band Camp is about more than learning to play an instrument,” said Camp Director Jeffrey Brown. “It’s about giving our youth a platform to grow, express themselves, and dream bigger; today’s performances are proof of what can happen when we invest in their potential.”

Over the course of the camp, students benefited from mentorship, instrument care workshops, and opportunities to collaborate on musical pieces. The initiative forms part of FFTP’s ongoing commitment to youth development, providing safe and inspiring spaces for creativity to thrive.

The closing ceremony featured graduates of the camp showcasing their achievements through stirring ensemble performances and vibrant renditions. 

Andrew Mahfood, Chairman of Food For The Poor Jamaica remarked, “The Band Camp stands as a testament to the power of nurturing talent. The musical excellence on display is exceptional and it reflects the hard work of the students and mentors. This initiative goes beyond music; it is helping to build character and create brighter futures for our youth.”

The organisation is marking its 15th year of the camp and has influenced many of their students to establish their own music classes as a source of income.

FFTP Jamaica expresses gratitude to the sponsors: dancehall artiste Sean Paul and prominent goods production company, Wisynco; camp volunteers; and families whose support made the Band Camp a success.