Two hundred and eight students from thirteen constituencies across the island recently completed a Digital Literacy Summer Camp aimed at sharpening their digital literacy skills.
The Digital Literacy Summer Camp was a collaboration of the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP), the Division of Innovation within the Ministry of Education, the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, and Bank of Saint Lucia (BOSL). During the five-day Summer Camp, the young participants acquired essential skills in digital literacy, thereby preparing them for the vast and ever-evolving technological world.
A graduation ceremony was held on Thursday morning, August 29, 2024, at the National Cultural Centre in Castries, where the students were encouraged to use the various skills learned during the summer camp to make meaningful contributions to society.
H.E Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, commended the participants who sacrificed part of their summer vacation to attend the digital literacy camp. Ambassador Chen added that digital literacy and media are necessary skills to possess in an ever-evolving global environment.
“I am glad to see students cultivating these skills from a young age,” Ambassador Chen stated. “This summer camp was not merely an event; it was an opportunity where our young generation can strive in a digitally dynamic landscape. By equipping them with essential knowledge of generative AI productivity tools and coding skills, we are preparing them to navigate and succeed in a new world.”
Ambassador Chen also congratulated the Division of Public Sector Modernization, the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project and other stakeholders for their tireless efforts in making the summer camp a success. He also thanked Hon. Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, Minister for the Public Service, Labour, and Gender Relations, and Hon. Shawn Edward, Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, for their leadership, guidance and unwavering support to bilateral projects. Taiwan’s continued support for Saint Lucia’s overall development was reiterated by Ambassador Chen.
“My Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, has emphasised that Taiwan is a major player in ICT and AI. It is not just ‘Taiwan can help,’ but ‘Taiwan can lead.’ Building on this vision, the Government of Taiwan remains committed to collaborating with the government of Saint Lucia on digital talent training, ensuring that both our nations continue to innovate in the era of AI.”
Hon. Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, Minister for the Public Service, Labour, and Gender Relations, recounted the COVID-19 pandemic which virtually brought the world to an economic and social standstill. Through the use of technology, she said, people were able to perform certain functions, including online learning. She said the summer camp represents a step in the right direction for digital transformation.
“This camp is a key component of the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, an initiative that underscores our Government’s commitment to building a digitally-inclusive society,” Hon. Dr. Albert-Poyotte stated. “The (CARDTP) is a World Bank-funded regional initiative currently being implemented in Saint Lucia and four other OECS countries with a total investment of US$20 million. In Saint Lucia, the (CARDTP) is supervised by the Division of Public Sector Modernization within the Department of Public Service.”
Speaking to the Government of Taiwan’s involvement with the project, she said: “Taiwan is one of the leading giants in information technology. When you are very small, you have to walk with giants; that’s the only time you rise up to a powerful force.”
Hon. Dr. Pauline Antoine-Prospere, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology, and Vocational Training, congratulated the participants, telling them that they had stepped into a realm of knowledge and skills that will empower not only them, but also the globe. She explained that the Government of Saint Lucia will continue to invest heavily in the education sector.
“I’m very elated to say today that the Government of Saint Lucia is doing all within its power and its purse to ensure that we set proper digital literacy benchmarks for global success, providing the necessary tools and training for planned and sustainable digital development in Saint Lucia. The advent of a transition to digital content will ensure that the digital literacy competencies and skills are entrenched in our curriculum. The Government has provided every secondary school student with a laptop to ensure this transition. This means that you, graduands, have a competitive advantage.”
Mr. Brent St. Catherine, Training Officer from the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, presented an overview of the digital literacy component of the summer camp, and noted that digital literacy and technology adoption was just one of the components of CARDTP’s mandate. He noted that CARDTP invests heavily in producing programmes in various initiatives aimed at making Saint Lucia a digital powerhouse, and encouraged the participants to continue working hard towards developing their own digital innovations.
“Your creativity and intelligence surpass any generation before you, and I personally never cease to be amazed by you,” St. Catherine told the young participants. “In visiting the centres, I saw short videos created with basic tools which would rival anything I have ever seen on television. I saw you programme digital robots (and) saw you put together a complete car using software, and I discovered that I can play video games online using CrazyGames.com.”
SOURCE: Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Saint Lucia