From Gaming to Coding: How a Three-Day Camp Is Sparking Jamaica’s Next Tech Talent
For three days, a conference room at the Shipping Association of Jamaica sounded less like a classroom and more like a technology start-up in the making.
From July 1 to 3 2026 students from nine high schools across Kingston gathered for the inaugural ADVANTUM NextGen Coders Camp, a free programme designed to introduce young Jamaicans to the fundamentals of computer programming and digital innovation.
Armed with laptops and curiosity, participants learned to build games and animations using Scratch, a visual programming platform that teaches coding through interactive blocks rather than complex lines of text.
What began with simple commands quickly evolved into something bigger.
The group included students who had experimented with coding before and others who had never written a line of code. Yet, regardless of their starting point, participants reported being challenged by the programme and leaving with new skills and a deeper appreciation for technology.
Students experimented with game mechanics, solved programming challenges and, by the final day, worked in teams to design and present their own interactive games. One of the standout projects came from a team comprising students from Wolmer’s Girls’ School, The Queen’s School and Excelsior High School, demonstrating the power of collaboration and fresh ideas.
For ADVANTUM CEO Dr. Frances Yeo, the benefits of programmes like these extend well beyond technology.
She believes early exposure to coding and problem-solving helps to develop discipline, resilience and strong work ethics among young people, qualities that will serve them regardless of the careers they ultimately pursue.
The camp’s significance also comes at a time when many young people are questioning the value of learning to code in the age of artificial intelligence.
Course facilitator and software developer Jonmarc Young argues that coding is about much more than writing software. Learning to code teaches students how to think critically, strengthens their reasoning skills and encourages them to embrace difficult challenges rather than shy away from them.
As Jamaica continues its digital transformation, those skills are becoming increasingly valuable across every industry, including shipping and logistics, where technology, automation and data are reshaping the way business is done.
Every app, game and digital solution begins with a single line of code. For sixteen young Jamaicans, that journey may have started with a simple game called Scrappy Basketball, but it could ultimately lead to the next generation of innovators shaping Jamaica’s digital future.
Originally published by The Shipping Association of Jamaica on July 07, 2026.