US Embassy partners with STEAMHouse, NexxStepp to launch youth innovation programme

The United States (US) Embassy Kingston and STEAMHouse Network Limited, in partnership with NexxStepp Training and Social Impact Consulting, yesterday officially launched TechStage: AI-Powered Solutions for Industry Recovery – a seven-month youth innovation programme equipping Jamaican high school students with artificial intelligence skills to address real community challenges in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

The initiative is funded through the US Department of State’s Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) and forms part of Freedom 250, the US’s year-long global observance marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

TechStage will train 120 students ages 15-18 across four schools in Kingston and St Andrew – Kingston High School, St George’s College, Pembroke High School, and Convent of Mercy ‘Alpha’ Academy. Over 12 weeks of structured learning, students develop AI-powered solutions in four critical industry sectors: creative industries, tourism, agriculture, and technology services. The programme culminates in a National Innovation Showcase on June 12, 2026, where student teams will present their solutions to business leaders, government officials, and media.

Through weekly innovation labs and team-based projects, students gain foundational skills in design thinking, digital literacy, prototyping, presentation development, and creative leadership – preparing them for future pathways in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Godiva Golding, founder and CEO of STEAMHouse, said: “At STEAMHouse, we believe Jamaica’s greatest untapped resource is its youth. TechStage was born from that conviction.”

INVESTING IN YOUNG PEOPLE

Golding added: “Moments of disruption remind us why investing in young people matters. This programme gives students the skills, resilience, and confidence to lead in a rapidly changing world. We are proud to provide access to the tools, mentorship, and real-world experiences that will help them compete globally – starting right here at home.”

Tishauna Mullings, chief social innovator at NexxStepp, indicated that her organisation was committed to building Jamaica’s innovation capacity, arguing that the nation’s future competitiveness depends on a sustainable pipeline of digitally skilled youth.

“When young people are empowered to design solutions for real community challenges, they are not only shaping their own futures – they are shaping Jamaica’s social and economic landscape,” Mullings added.

TechStage is supported by strategic partnerships with Google, the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Smart Term, and StarApple AI, along with US alumni networks including the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, the International Visitor Leadership Program and TechCamp.