The Digicel Foundation, in partnership with STEM Spark Solutions, hosted a Girls in ICT Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Climate Change Hackathon on May 20, 2026, at Denham Town High School. The event united female students from Denham Town High School and Tivoli Gardens High School for a full day of hands-on learning, collaboration and innovation at the crossroads of technology and environmental action.

The hackathon builds on the Digicel Foundation’s Girls in ICT initiative, a sustained commitment to closing the gender gap in technology by providing young women with the skills, confidence and real-world exposure they need to thrive in a digital world. Throughout the day, participants discovered how artificial intelligence can be applied to pressing climate challenges, from forecasting extreme weather events and tracking environmental shifts, to developing community-driven solutions for climate resilience.

Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, spoke to the urgency of bringing girls into the AI space.

“We are at a pivotal moment in history where artificial intelligence is reshaping every industry, every profession and every aspect of daily life. If we do not intentionally bring our girls into this space now, we risk leaving an entire generation behind. Exposing girls to AI and ICT is about giving them the tools to protect their families, their communities and their environment. That is exactly what today is about,” said Miss Daniels.

Central to this year’s hackathon was the theme of disaster preparedness, one that struck close to home for many participants, having recently lived through the destruction of a Category Five hurricane. Students examined how AI can be deployed before, during and after such events to strengthen early warning systems, coordinate emergency response and support communities in rebuilding.

Dianne Plummer, Engineer and CEO of STEM Spark Solutions, reflected on what drove the hackathon’s design.

“These girls know what it feels like when a Category Five hurricane tears through your neighbourhood, when the lights go out, the roads flood and the community is left to piece itself back together. What we wanted to show them today is that AI gives us the power to prepare better, respond faster and recover smarter. When a young woman from Tivoli or Denham Town can build a climate model or design an early warning system, she becomes part of the solution,” said Miss Plummer.

The spirit in the room spoke for itself, as participants threw themselves into the challenge with energy, creativity and a clear sense of purpose.

For Ameerah Burke, a Grade 9 student at Denham Town High School, the day marked her first real introduction to artificial intelligence and it was one she won’t soon forget.

“When they showed us how AI can predict where a storm will hit and help plan where people should go, it made me think differently about what I can do. We went through a hurricane and I remember how scary it was not knowing what was coming. If AI can help with that, I want to be one of the people who builds those systems,” she said.