ACTING president of the Trench Town Community Development Committee (CDC) Zann Locke has lauded Brightstar Lottery Jamaica (BLJ) for its contribution to the development of the storied area through its sixth annual Coding and Robotics Rock! Summer Camp.

The free two-week camp is an initiative by BLJ in partnership with the Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) at The University of the West Indies, Mona.

Through hands-on training in coding, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI), students are challenged to develop innovative solutions to Jamaica’s infrastructure needs.

Speaking on day three of the camp at the Trench Town After School Advantage (ASA) Centre last week, Locke told the Jamaica Observer that the residents of Trench Town — the birthplace of many of Jamaica’s musical giants — appreciate the initiative by BLJ and the educational access it provides to students in the community.

She said the initiative has been so well received that older residents are now asking for similar programmes.

“They get jealous and say, ‘What about us? We are the adults, can’t you have some programmes [for us]?’ So ,we’re hoping that we can have a partnership to look at computer literacy when it comes to adults because our they are getting older and they are living longer,” said Locke.

She added that the students in the community have responded positively to the summer camp and are eager for the opportunity to learn more, despite initially complaining that they would not get to enjoy their summer holiday.

“We also encourage them that this is an opportunity, [and] the fact that this opportunity comes to you in your space and you are only giving a couple of hours per day for two weeks, what a great advantage for you.

“And so, the fact that you can learn this, go back to school — and if this is shared at school, then you’re more advanced than the student in school because you used your summer wisely,” added Locke.

One of the participants, Jamaica College student Jayden Derby, told the Observer that he decided to take part in the camp because of his interest in computers and coding.

Ryan Cooper (left), lead camp tutor and software developer at the Mona Geoinformatics Institute, looks on as Coding and Robotics Rock! campers (from second left) Jayden Derby, Kataleye Smith and Gareth McKenzie get hands-on with a Robotis Mini robot, alongside Brightstar Lottery Jamaica General Manager Debbie Green. The programmable robot is among the hands-on tools campers are using this year to build practical coding and robotics skills.

“It could be very useful in your day-to-day life, knowing now that computers are really taking over the world. In the future it’s going to be very useful — and you might really need it too,” said Jayden.

Meanwhile, Vauxhall High School student Sherekel Walker said her interest in the camp developed because she is studying information technology (IT) at school and believes the content could help her ace her school-based assessment.

According to Sherekel, although she had prior knowledge of some of the areas covered, there is a lot she has learnt.

“To me, it’s really important because it’s an opportunity for me to learn new things that can benefit me in the future. And doing this also helps me because I’m in a computer class at school, so it helps to advance my knowledge in computers further so it’s been really great,” said Sherekel.

The camp is part of BLJ’s wider ASA Programme, which provides students with access to technology and to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) learning opportunities.

This year, for the first time, the curriculum includes AI training and offers two levels for beginners and returning participants.

According to Debbie Green, general manager of BLJ, the community has been very responsive to the partnership, and the students have shown great initiative in participating in the programmes and making use of the opportunities provided.

“The children of Trench Town have an exuberance that is unbelievable. They want to be involved, they want to know, they want to be better than anybody else,” said Green.

She told the Observer that BLJ’s contribution to Trench Town’s development is its way of supporting and giving back to the community.

Last year, BJL retrofitted and reopened the community centre to create the ASA Centre, which is now being used to host this year’s camp.