THE Trust for the Americas, through its Democratizing Innovation in the Americas (DIA) programme, celebrated the in-person graduation of the pioneering Unleashing the Potential of Jamaican Youth Through Empowerment and Training (JET) project cohort, dubbed Pixels of Possibility.

The 14 young Jamaicans can now make a way for themselves in the labour force after acquiring digital and life skills through JET. This event is testament to the project’s dedication to bridging the digital divide in the face of the digital economy.

The JET project aims to equip young Jamaicans with essential skills while supporting their transition into the digital workforce, freelancing, or entrepreneurial ventures.

Notably, the JET project used the results of a labour market study — generated by the artificial intelligence platform of Citibeats — which identified web programming and app development as the top digital skills in demand. The training modules challenged students to think differently about engaging with technology.

At the graduation Milton Drucker, special advisor at The Trust for the Americas, said: “This project is an example of what can happen when we harness private and public sector resources and the goodwill of community leaders. The Trust has a mission to give people, who otherwise cannot participate in the digital world, a fair chance. Moreover, through the DIA programme we aim to give youth the tools to innovate, use their native creativity, and develop their own independent businesses.”

Likewise, Sudaney Blair, operations associate at Inter-American Development Bank, expressed satisfaction with the programme.

“There is a disconnect between some of the opportunities available in the global market and what our young people can access. And so, in discussion with The Trust for the Americas in terms of understanding the needs of and helping to move our young people to a stage where they have access to [opportunities], we were very excited [to be involved]. I charge you today to take advantage of the opportunities… You do not necessarily have to travel to make an impact, so make the impact.”

In her valedictory address Bianca Powell said this was an opportunity for the participants to gain more digital skills.

“Having the confidence to use the tools and to use them effectively has been life-changing. I just started using Canva [a graphic design platform] within the past three months and I’ve gone from being unable to use it to building a website — that’s crazy to me. We also built an app, and never in my life did I imagine that I’d be able to do that,” said Powell.

The JET project’s inaugural graduation marks the beginning of a transformative journey for these 14 young Jamaicans who have become Pixels of Possibility and are now poised to soar in the digital economy.

According to the project partners, the graduation was a milestone which underscores their commitment to empower Jamaican youth and build a more resilient labour market for the future.

The partners said there has been a major increase in expressions of interest for the second intake of students. Importantly, the JET project is also focused on providing pathways for students to put their skills into action through entrepreneurship, work placement, and freelancing opportunities.

Naketa West, local coordinator of the JET project, said its momentum is building, “And we’re actively seeking to collaborate with more small and medium-sized enterprises, organisations, and partners that can offer meaningful opportunities to our graduates.”

The JET Project is a collaborative effort implemented by The Trust for the Americas with financial support from NCB Foundation, Microsoft, Citi Foundation, and the IDB LAB.

The project is also powered by the leadership of Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, Caribbean School of Data, and the Ministry of Education and Youth.

The Trust for the Americas is a non-profit organisation affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). It was established in 1997 to promote public and private sector participation in social and economic development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.