In neighborhoods often defined by hardship, something new stirred this summer. Instead of watching the season slip by, teenagers from Kingston, Clarendon, and Westmoreland stepped into a space built not for pastime, but for power.
The program—part camp, part accelerator—treated 13 to 16-year-olds less like children and more like emerging entrepreneurs. They weren’t told to “stay out of trouble.” They were asked: What can you build?
Workshops ran like training grounds. One morning, artificial intelligence wasn’t a buzzword but a tool placed directly in their hands. Another session broke down branding and product development as if every participant was already a founder. By the end, they weren’t just learning—they were pitching businesses and showcasing talent to their communities.
For some, the impact was immediate. A 12-year-old from Parade Gardens left with a sharpened vision of herself as a future business owner. A 17-year-old, on the verge of college, walked away not only informed about engineering but armed with a practical plan to start a phone repair venture.
The agenda stretched beyond profit. Sessions on health, self-confidence, human trafficking awareness, and creative arts drove home a bigger message: success means mastering both opportunity and responsibility.
The climax came with an expo where teens stood proudly before parents, mentors, and community leaders to present what they had created. Ideas turned into prototypes, voices turned into performances, and doubts turned into confidence.
What emerged was more than a camp—it was proof that when given the right tools, Jamaica’s youth will not wait to be “saved.” They are ready to lead, to innovate, and to transform their own communities.
This summer may have ended, but for these young builders, the work has only just begun.
