The Jamaica-based Amber Group has announced the launch of its newest cohort of young coders as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative to provide coding skills training to young people.

In a recent statement, the group indicated that the initiative will be part of the Technology Advancement Programme (TAP) III.

It also forms parts of a collaborative effort with the Universal Service Fund (USF) and HEART/NSTA Trust and will train more than 200 young Jamaicans in mobile application development, data analytics, and web application development.

The TAP III programme commenced with an orientation session on June 9, marking the beginning of an intensive one-year training course.

The event was attended by the Education Minister Fayval Williams, Energy and Technology counterpart Daryl Vaz, Amber CEO Dushyant Savadia, and Professor Daniel Dawes, Universal Service Fund CEO, as well as technocrats from HEART/NSTA Trust and University of Technology (UTech).

Upon successful completion, trainees achieving the standard will graduate and be awarded the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) certification. This certification serves as a testament to their proficiency in programming and technology, providing a significant advantage in the job market.

The training programme, which was developed by the Amber Group’s specialist team in conjunction with international consultants, will be conducted at eight different locations throughout Jamaica, accommodating participants from various regions. Attendees hail from all 14 parishes.

Amber, in its statement, noted that it has fulfilled employment guarantee commitments by providing job opportunities to nearly 100 individuals from the initial two cohorts after the conclusion of the programme.

Savadia stated, “At Amber Group we take great pride in sponsoring and investing in programs that have a transformative influence on the young minds of Jamaica. This programme is set to unlock the immense potential of the country’s youth, sparking a revolution that will propel our country to the forefront of the global technology industry.

“I’m thrilled to share the fact that we have successfully reached our fourth group of students, representing nearly 500 individuals in total, since the inception of the Amber HEART Academy, and the outcomes have been truly remarkable. The individuals who graduated from our earlier batches have accomplished exceptional feats and are flourishing in the dynamic realm of technology. This partnership not only strengthens the credibility of our programme but also shows the significant positive effect we strive to have on the lives of our participants.”

He continued, “Jamaica is a nation overflowing with boundless talent and creativity. The coding training from Amber fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and paves the way for unparalleled economic success. The stage is set, and the world is watching as Jamaica emerges as the ultimate tech hub of the Western hemisphere.”