Curious students at Constant Spring Primary School gather around Sharika Miller, volunteer and Customer Care Team Leader at Digicel, as she reads from the SIT Squad comic and interactive activity book during Read Across Jamaica Day on May 5, 2026. The school was among four visited by Digicel Foundation volunteers as part of efforts to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour
In recognition of Read Across Jamaica Day 2026, the Digicel Foundation brought literacy to life through a series of interactive reading sessions in primary schools across the island, delivered under its Safer Internet Together (SIT) programme.
More than 20 Digicel employees volunteered their time to support the initiative, visiting St. Richards Primary, Rollington Town Primary, Spanish Town Primary and Constant Spring Primary, where they read with students and facilitated engaging discussions focused on online safety.
Students were introduced to the “SIT Squad” by Kavelle Hylton, CEO of STEM Builders Learning Hub. The interactive comic and activity book promotes safe, responsible and positive internet use. By blending reading with practical digital lessons, students learned how to protect their personal information, recognise online risks and make informed decisions when navigating digital spaces.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, highlighted the need for early and inclusive digital education. “As children become increasingly connected online, it is essential that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely,” said Daniels. “The Safer Internet Together programme goes beyond
students, it engages teachers, parents and even senior citizens, ensuring that entire communities are empowered to use technology responsibly and confidently.”
The Safer Internet Together programme is a year‑long national initiative designed to educate and empower students, teachers, parents and the elderly on digital literacy, online safety and emerging technologies. In its pilot year in 2025, the programme directly reached more than 34,000 students across 150 schools and impacted over 2,000 senior citizens through digital literacy and artificial intelligence workshops.
Building on this success, year two of the Safer Internet Together programme begins in May 2026, with an expanded focus on deepening digital awareness and creating safer online environments for all Jamaicans.
Tisha Wilson, IGT’s Administrative Supervisor, and youngsters at SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town display some of the books donated by the IGT team on Friday, September 22, 2023. Standing at the back of the room are house mothers Marcia Whyte (left) and Juliet Campbell. (Photo: Contributed)
Hewitt Walker, SOS Children’s Village director, is impressed with the progress of his residents after a comprehensive upgrade by International Game Technology (IGT) of their After School Advantage (ASA) computer lab at SOS Barrett Town, St James.
“Previously, students lacked convenient access to information to complete their assignments but now we are grateful to have a dedicated space where the residents can efficiently access resources needed for their academic tasks,” said Walker.
Generous donation
SOS Barrett Town was first equipped with an IGT ASA computer centre in 2013. In a recent upgrade, the company replaced previously installed desktop systems with 10 brand-new laptops equipped with updated software. In addition, IGT has provided a laptop storage cabinet and versatile multipurpose printer.
In observance of International Literacy Month, representatives of IGT made a generous donation of books to SOS Barrett Town earlier this month, engaging residents in a reading session.
Hosted under the theme ‘#IGTreads,’ this initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to supporting education while emphasising the importance of literacy and reading. The theme was created for an IGT read-aloud initiative last year.
Debbie Green, IGT general manager, says she is elated to see the progress and growth in the IGT decade-long partnership with SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town under its After School Advantage programme.
“We remain committed to partnership and continued support of our centres under our After School Advantage programme, and we embrace the opportunity to nurture lifelong reading among our students, understanding that in the pages of books, we venture into a world of possibilities,” said Green.
Tisha Wilson, IGT’s administrative supervisor, along with two team members, were welcomed by a host of youngsters at the children’s village, who were thrilled to receive this book donation. Upon seeing the range of books being donated, the youngsters could not contain their excitement.
Support United Nations SDG
This positive reaction was a major goal as IGT is encouraging reading and awareness around the significance of literacy. This is also in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, and Reduced Inequalities.
“The children were just so excited,” said Wilson. “The goal is to raise awareness for reading and improve literacy among our children. With technology and the Internet, we don’t have many readers, so for me, I was very surprised when we came in and the students were picking up books to find their favourite stories – even without us planning to engage them at that level. It was heart-warming to see students still having that interest to read.”
Walker believes that this initiative has the potential to ignite a passion for reading among the residents, particularly in an era dominated by technology, where reading is less common and social media use is more prevalent.
“I think it was a very good initiative because we live in a technological age and a lot of children use technology for social media, as opposed to reading, so a donation of books to the SOS Children’s Village is a good venture. This is a very important donation because it allows the kids to be exposed to books so that they can delve into stories and read more,” said Walker.
He, too, was impressed by the reaction of the youngsters.
“I think the kids are quite happy. They are looking for the books that they like and are enjoying them so far. I am very happy to see this because this is not something that you see very often in the village,” said Walker.
Improved literacy
House mothers at SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town Juliet Campbell and Marcia Whyte were also impressed by the initiative taken by IGT. For Campbell, IGT’s push for improved literacy plays an active role in their homework sessions.
“There are times when we have problems getting books at their reading level and I see that they have received a lot of those, so we are happy for them. We will engage them with more reading in the evenings after school,” Campbell said.
“I think this initiative will enhance the children in their vocabulary and help them to know new words,” said Whyte.
IGT shows its commitment to supporting education and technology access for youth through its After School Advantage (ASA) programme. The gaming technology firm has established 15 ASA computer labs in NGO-run institutions in Jamaica, including those in SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town and Stony Hill, Mustard Seed Communities – Matthew 25:40, Spring Village Development Foundation, Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation Mandeville and Savanna-La-Mar and Sunbeam Children’s Home in St Catherine.
SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town provides an alternative home for 38 children and young adults up to 22 years old who have lost parental care. SOS Children’s Villages International comprises more than 130 national associations around the world and has helped over four million children worldwide since its inception in 1949.
Jamaica Highlights 