Girls Harness AI to Tackle Climate Change at Digicel Foundation, STEMSparks Solutions Girls in ICT Day Hackathon
Education
Montego Bay, St. James — April 23, 2026 - Girls from several secondary schools across western parishes came together to prove that innovation has no age or gender limit at the Girls in ICT Day AI and Climate Change Hackathon, where participants developed AI‑powered solutions aimed at tackling serious climate change challenges and improving hurricane preparedness in Jamaica.
The hackathon, organised by STEMSpark Solutions and sponsored by the Digicel Foundation, formed part of the global observance of International Girls in ICT Day 2026, celebrated under the theme “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future.”
The event brought together the girls for a hands‑on innovation experience focused on artificial intelligence and climate resilience. Working in teams, the girls were challenged to design AI solutions that address the impact of hurricanes before, during and after a storm, from early warning systems and evacuation planning to emergency response and post‑disaster recovery.
Top honours went to Pulse Rescue AI, an innovative, AI-powered emergency response solution built by six students from Montego Bay High School. The winning team impressed judges with a practical and lifesaving concept: an instant location-sharing application that connects people in danger directly with emergency responders during hurricanes and severe storms. Designed with Jamaica’s hurricane realities in mind, Pulse Rescue AI enables rapid communication during emergencies, helping to close critical gaps in response time when lives are most at risk.
For team member Gabrianna Smith, the experience was transformative on both a technical and personal level.
“Listening to the speakers share their experiences as women in ICT helped me to understand how a creative approach of a woman to a male-dominated field can transform if we work together. I am so grateful to have been a part of this experience. This opportunity showed me that AI is not just a shortcut tool, but something that can actually develop our ideas into something innovative and intentional,” Smith shared.
Chair of the Digicel Foundation Board, Joy Clark, described the initiative as both timely and deeply relevant.
“This initiative is especially meaningful as our communities continue to feel the effects of climate change. By equipping girls with digital skills and exposing them to AI, we are empowering them to become problem solvers and leaders who can help shape solutions for Jamaica’s future,” Clark said.
The focus on climate resilience resonated strongly with participants, particularly as parishes across western Jamaica are still recovering from the October 2025 passage of Hurricane Melissa. Many teams developed ideas inspired directly by their personal experiences during the storm.
Speaking on the impact of those lived experiences, Dianne Plummer, Engineer and Director of STEMSpark Solutions, underscored why this year’s hackathon focused so strongly on hurricanes and disaster response.
“Jamaica is still recovering from Hurricane Melissa, and with hurricane season just months away, this felt like the right moment to put that experience to work. These girls lived through it, they felt the fear, the disruption and the gaps in support firsthand. That lived experience is powerful. It means they are not just hypothesising solutions; they are designing answers to problems they have personally faced. My goal was to give them the tools, the space and the confidence to turn that experience into innovation,” Plummer said.
She added that the hackathon aligns directly with the global Girls in ICT Day theme, reinforcing the importance of early exposure and inclusion.
“When girls are given the tools, guidance and space to innovate, they bring forward solutions that are creative, practical, and impactful. This hackathon is about showing them that they belong in these spaces.”
Beyond building technical skills, the hackathon aimed to strengthen digital literacy, encourage creative problem-solving, and inspire participants to pursue careers in ICT. Girls also benefited from motivational and career talks delivered by Digicel women in technology and leadership, who shared their journeys and advice on navigating the tech sector.