Creating Caribbean content: BrightPath, Columbus hold mobile app workshop in Grenada

A new initiative from BrightPath Foundation is taking a radical approach to Caribbean digital content creation. Called TechLink, the new project is already being described as a revolution in community-driven technology-driven education for the region.

On February 1, BrightPath Foundation, in collaboration with its corporate partner Columbus Communications, brought TechLink’s second mobile app development workshop to St George’s, Grenada.

Stephen Lee, technology trainer for the TechLink progam, said what the 20 college-age participants lacked in experience they made up for in enthusiasm.

“Most of the participants, I would say 75 per cent, had little or no prior app development experience. But many were actively pursuing an interest in mobile apps and saw the TechLink workshop as an opportunity to learn more and develop expertise,” he said.

The workshop syllabus included sessions covering the overall app development process, from idea to publishing, and a live walkthrough of Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone development environments. Lee also presented an overview of game development frameworks and did a walkthrough of online app builders: Appery.io and MIT App Inventor 2.

Participants of all levels were directed to online training resources and encouraged to keep developing skills and innovating. Kensuki Morris, a St. George’s University Student who attended, said, “This initiative is awesome. It encourages young people to empower themselves by taking advantage of what is available through broadband and skills. I will definitely attend future sessions.”

This programme focused specifically on youth from local communities. Fifteen participants were return attendees, who were joined by six new participants. They were exposed to a vast amount of information on the development, design, coding and production of mobile applications.

“The workshop is specifically designed to ensure that all participants, regardless of their entry-level, get a solid introduction to mobile app development and leave with a robust set of resources to start their mobile app development journey,” said Bevil Wooding, Founder of BrightPath Foundation.

At the regional launch of TechLink in Grenada on November 30, 2013, more than 100 young people and small business entrepreneurs participated in a full day of workshops. Many walked away energised with new ideas and ways that technology could be used to develop their communities, businesses as well as their career plans.

Gail Purcell, country manager for Columbus Communications Grenada, said, “Since its debut in Grenada, TechLink continues to attract audiences from all sectors--young people, parents, educators, and small and micro-business owners. At Columbus, we are proud to know that our company is associated with such a program that maintains our corporate social responsibility to all our customers, while truly affording our staff who support, and the participants who attend, such a rewarding experience."

Grenada is just the beginning. BrightPath is already partnering with on-the-ground community leaders in St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Montserrat, Wooding said.

“The goal is to see TechLink run in countries across the region from Belize to Suriname, targeting youth, parents, seniors, educators and small business owners,” he said.

TechLink opens a path for Caribbean digital development

Grenada will be the first Caribbean country to benefit from a technology training initiative designed to train communities to take advantage of Internet, mobile and computer technologies.

TechLink, an initiative of BrightPath Foundation, is staged in partnership with Columbus Communications. The programme is designed encourage participants to apply their knowledge to innovatively address local needs.

Rhea Yaw Ching, corporate vice president of sales and marketing at Columbus, said the company “sees its support of TechLink as an important statement of how serious and committed we are to positively impacting the communities in which we do business".

The programme comprises a series of hands-on workshops and training seminars that specifically target young people, women, entrepreneurs and small business owners. Over the next several months, the programme will expand across the region with initiatives targeting parents, seniors, and even young children.

"At the end of the day, it is imperative that we all work together to ensure that the Caribbean stays ahead of the curve with regard to adapting technology for our benefit and the growth of the region," said Bevil Wooding, Executive Director of BrightPath Foundation.

"We are grateful to have the support of Columbus for this exciting initiative. I am confident that together, we can foster the development of more digital content and Caribbean innovation.”

The programme will kick off in St Georges at the Grenada Boys Secondary School on November 9th with a formal launch scheduled for November 23rd. Gregory Bowen, Minister of Communications, Works, Physical Development, Public Utilities & ICT, has been invited to deliver the feature address at the opening.

Through the Columbus and BrightPath partnership, the TechLink initiative will be rolled out throughout the Caribbean to encourage young people, parents, educators, small business owners, and other groups interested in technology-enabled innovation to deepen their skills, develop more local digital content and exploit new opportunities.

Anyone interested in attending the Grenada TechLink workshops may register online here or by email to techlink@columbus.co, or by calling (800-FLOW).