The Universal Service Fund (USF) has announced the winners of its Crack the Code competition, which ran in celebration of Youth and Technology Month this November.

After a month of intense coding challenges, the following winners have emerged: first place, Jahiem Ferguson, who won a laptop; second place, Jajuan Brown, who received a smartphone courtesy of Flow; and third place, Tamera Anderson, who won a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

Crack the Code, held from November 5 to 29, 2024, invited young Jamaicans 21 years and younger to test their skills in troubleshooting and correcting HTML and CSS code. Over the course of four weeks, participants worked through progressively complex challenges to create fully functional web pages, enhancing their technical abilities while fostering creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.

Commenting on the competition’s success, Acting CEO of the USF, Andrew McRae, shared, “Crack the Code is part of our ongoing effort to equip young Jamaicans with the essential digital skills needed to succeed in the global economy. We are proud to see such talent and creativity from the participants, and we look forward to continuing to nurture innovation among the youth.”

Additionally, USF’s Corporate Planner, Nepatra Bennett, who spearheaded the competition, said, “These young coders embody our belief that with the right encouragement, Jamaica’s youth have the potential to excel. Watching their enthusiasm and determination to complete each weekly task has given me renewed confidence in the future of Jamaica’s digital industry.”

The USF said it remains dedicated to increasing digital literacy and expanding access to technology, empowering Jamaica’s youth to thrive in the digital age.