GoodHeart | National Baking Company Foundation boosts UTech’s STEM Camp
Published:Saturday | June 29, 2024 | 12:07 AMKeisha Hill/ Senior Gleaner Writer
The National Baking Company Foundation (NBCF) has heavily invested this summer in developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills and career opportunities for youth in western Jamaica. This partnership with the University of Technology (UTech) was announced at the launch of the university’s STEM Summer Camp on the grounds of its western campus, under the theme ‘Think, Collaborate and Innovate to Grow and be Resilient’.
This programme aims to strengthen and expand education in these critical areas during July. The government, primarily through the Ministry of Education and Youth, has consistently promoted STEM, with both public and private sectors urging continuous support and investment.
Present at the launch event was Lauri-Ann Samuels, executive director, NBCF, one of the camp’s platinum sponsors, who emphasised why the foundation answered the call to make STEM funding a priority.
Samuels sees STEM as a necessary focus in education, which has never been higher than it is now. “This initiative embodies our commitment to the future of our nation and the empowerment of our youth. The UTech STEM Summer Camp in western Jamaica marks the commencement of a journey aimed at empowering marginalised and vulnerable male and female high-school students,” Samuels told GoodHeart.
“This STEM Summer Camp is designed to provide these young individuals with opportunities they might not have otherwise, fostering their growth and development in a nurturing and supportive environment. In a world that is constantly evolving, the skills transferred through this initiative have the potential to galvanise the students’ basic skills and serve as a foundation for their future success,” Samuels added.
The NBCF, she said, will always stand with these initiatives as they embody their grounding principles of education, entrepreneurship, environment, and empowerment. Samuels also encouraged all the participating students to embrace every opportunity, ask questions, and believe in themselves.
“This camp is just the beginning. The skills and confidence you gain here will be your foundation as you build your futures,” she said.
The UTech STEM Summer Camp aims to equip the young participants with skills in critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, communication, and digital literacy. Students enrolled in this programme will develop a unique set of talents in robotics, mechatronics and mathematics.
These students who stand to benefit range from ages 14 to 17 years and hail from rural communities such as Spot Valley, Farm Heights, Salt Spring in the western end of the island, as well as neighbouring communities in the parishes of Trelawny and Hanover.
In a world that is constantly evolving, the skills that will be transferred through this initiative have the potential to galvanise the students’ basic skills and serve as a foundation for their future success. During this one-month camp, participants will engage in hands-on activities, interact with inspiring mentors, and explore various STEM careers.