This Thanksgiving, SummerTech and TeachForth directors had the honor of traveling to Oracabessa, Jamaica, to visit the incredible students we’ve been working with since 2021 through our peer teaching coding program. This trip was not just an opportunity to connect in person; it was a moment to witness the transformative power of education and the impact of your generosity.

Our first stop was the classroom you helped build—a space equipped with computers, tables, chairs, and accessories funded entirely through donations from our TeachForth community. This classroom has been the foundation for our virtual coding classes, and seeing it in person was a powerful reminder of how your support has directly changed lives.

At Oracabessa High School, we met with Principal Lothian to discuss plans for expanding our program. The highlight of our visit was meeting the students from our first cohort. These young coders are not only gaining valuable technical skills but are also preparing to become peer teachers and community leaders. Soon, they will begin pedagogy classes, the next step in our mission to create a self-sustaining system where students become teachers and their learning community continues to grow exponentially.

Where Your Donations Go

We are deeply committed to transparency in how your generous contributions are used. To be clear, no donations were used to fund our trip to Oracabessa—this was entirely privately funded. Your support is reserved for directly impacting the lives of students in need and ensuring our programs continue to grow and thrive. Here’s where your funding makes the biggest difference:

• More Laptops: As we expand our work with individual students in Oracabessa, access to laptops is critical. With more laptops, we can reach more students and involve more volunteers—potentially including your children, who can gain valuable volunteer hours while making an enormous difference.
• TeachForth Development: We are enhancing our curriculum and systems to better match students with teachers, improve communication, and streamline both student and volunteer hours reporting. These improvements will create a more effective and scalable program.
• Pedagogy Classes: We are hiring veteran educators to work directly with students in Oracabessa, equipping them with the skills and confidence to become peer teachers. These classes are vital to our vision of creating a self-sustaining teaching community.
• SummerTech Trips: SummerTech is opening its doors to students from Oracabessa as campers, CITs, and future teachers. While SummerTech covers the cost of their participation, we need funding to secure travel for these students so they can join us and bring back the culture of leadership and teaching to their community.

The Impact of Chris Blackwell and the Goldeneye Foundation

We are especially grateful to have the support of the Goldeneye Foundation, whose founder and chairman, Chris Blackwell, has been a guiding light in this endeavor. A legendary music icon and the visionary behind Island Records, Chris Blackwell’s commitment to Oracabessa’s development and education has been instrumental in bringing this program to life. His leadership and passion for uplifting local communities inspire us to think big and dream even bigger for what TeachForth can achieve here.

We also had the privilege of working alongside Travis Graham, the Executive Director of the Goldeneye Foundation and a driving force behind many initiatives in Oracabessa. Travis’s tireless dedication to his community has been instrumental in the success of this program. His leadership and commitment to improving lives have made a tremendous difference, not only for the students we work with but for countless others in Oracabessa. TeachForth is grateful to collaborate with such an inspiring partner, whose vision and determination align perfectly with our mission.

Bringing Oracabessa Students to SummerTech

As part of our long-term vision, we plan to invite high-achieving students from Oracabessa to attend SummerTech, where they will immerse themselves in our unique culture of teaching and leadership. At SummerTech, students don’t just learn to code; they learn how to mentor, teach, and lead. These experiences will empower them to return to Oracabessa with new skills, techniques, and inspiration to share with their peers, strengthening the foundation for growth within their community.

TeachForth is proud to recognize one of our longest-standing partners, Rentacomputer, for their incredible generosity and commitment to our cause. Rentacomputer has graciously agreed to donate laptops to the students in Oracabessa, further enabling them to access the tools they need to thrive in our peer teaching program. This generous contribution ensures that more students can join our classes and that our program continues to grow in impact and reach. Their support is a shining example of how partnerships can transform lives, and we are profoundly thankful for their ongoing dedication to making a difference.

Join Us in Building Brighter Futures

The vision we share with Oracabessa High School is bold: a future where every student has access to quality computer science education and the opportunity to lead. But we can’t achieve it without your help. Your donations directly fund the tools, training, and resources that make this dream a reality. With your continued support, we can reach more students, expand our programs, and ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age.

Join us in building brighter futures. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to empowering the next generation of innovators and leaders. Click here to donate today and be part of this life-changing journey.

Together, we are not just teaching code—we’re transforming lives. Thank you for being part of the TeachForth family. TeachForth is a New Jersey-based 501(c)(3), and your donations are fully tax-deductible.