The CEO and Founder of STEM Builders Learning hub, Kavelle Hylton is encouraging more young females to look to the information communication technology (ICT) field as a viable career path because, according to her, it is “very lucrative.”

In an interview with OBSERVER ONLINE, Hylton, who started STEM Builders Learning Hub as a way to introduce more students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), said, “Essentially you can make a lot of money.”

“I did a training programme with them [students at the Women Centre of Jamaica Foundation] on cybersecurity, and one of points that I brought forward is how much money they can actually make in US dollars to be in that field, so it’s a very lucrative field, and that is why we want to encourage our girls to enter the ICT fields. Because it provides that sort of economic reward and empowerment that will allow them to be independent and take care of themselves and their communities,” she explained.

Hylton went on to say that with ICT being a male dominated field, she wants to help break certain stereotypes of women in the sector.

“I remember a lady said that her teacher told her that girls can’t code, and so definitely you have to try and break that sort of stereotype. Even as young women ourselves, sometimes we don’t have that sort of boldness when it comes to mathematics and physics, we tend to shy away – some of us, not all. Or we think that it is too difficult or it’s not fun enough or feminine enough,” she stated.

“We have to definitely try to break that sort of stereotype by ensuring that we promote the fact that girls can do this too. And when students see this sort of representation, they are also able to follow through,” the CEO added.

Speaking on what motivated her to enter this field, the 35-year-old said after attending a non-traditional high school – Trench Town Comprehensive High School – and not having a dedicated science teacher, she wanted to make STEM and ICT more available to students.

“So, for me, that lack of access really motivated me to want to bring access to students who are not in that position, who don’t have easy access. For me it’s all about making sure that anybody at all, regardless of where you are from or the amount of money your parents have, or even your ability, because what we try to do is reach out to students from the disabled community so that they too can take their place in one of those fields, whether to be programmer, cybersecurity consultant or specialist, or a scientist,,” she said.

She added that STEM Builders, since being registered in February 2020, has 15 students taking online and face-to-face classes. It sponsored students from the School for the Deaf to attend a recent science festival, and established the STEM the Violence initiative, in which it reaches out to teen mothers at the Women Centre of Jamaica.

She further said, “A mother said to me that her daughter wants to be a woman in STEM because she sees me doing it. I felt really good about that because that’s what I want. I want to inspire others. I always say I stand on the shoulders of the women before me and so I want to make my shoulders available for others to stand on so that they can get where they have to go.”

Additionally, Hytlon was quick to point out the importance of having a robust ICT and STEM industry in Jamaica.

“As soon as the child can basically use a phone, as early as possible, we are giving them devices, so they become consumers very early and that’s what they know. So, we have to really change that sort of narrative, so that we can use that creativity that Jamaicans have and bring that to the world of technology, to the ICT field and to STEM,” Hylton said.

She added that this has to be done through education.

“Because how else are we going to get the further generation to be able to take their place in the global sector if we do not ensure that they have the necessary skills, critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, and that they are able to actually code, or programme things. How else are we going to ensure that they take their place?” she asked.