JPS Foundation Sponsors the 2016 Calico Challenge

Santa Clara, California: September 8, 2016 – The JPS Foundation announced its JA$400,000 sponsorship of the Palisadoes Foundation’s first annual Calico Challenge today at an event held at the UWI Computing Lecture Theatre today. This marks the conclusion of a successful collaboration between the JPS, the Jamaica Computing Society, the Palisadoes Foundation, the UWI Computing Society and the University of Technology IEEE Student Branch.

The Calico Challenge is a summer work study program for computer science students in Jamaica. Each selected student works on enhancing open source software used internationally under the guidance of a Jamaican mentor. Students receive a US$500 stipend for their participation which is incrementally paid upon the achievement of specified milestones. Calico is also a feeder program for the similar Google Summer of Code.

The JPS Foundation’s contribution was used to both fund student stipends and special awards to be announced.

“We welcome JPS Foundation’s support of Calico in our common goal of developing a stronger nation through the empowerment of the future Jamaican technical workforce.” said Peter Harrison, President of the Palisadoes Foundation, “The endorsement clearly illustrates how Jamaicans around the world can collaborate in outreach activities to make an impact in not just in education but in engineering too.”


(l-R) Kevin White, JPS Foundation Coordinator; Collette Bailey, Palisadoes Foundation Volunteer; Sheldon Powe, President, Jamaica Computer Society.

More information can be found on the Palisadoes Foundation website: http://www.palisadoes.org

About the Calico Challenge
Calico was conceived by The Palisadoes Foundation in conjunction with the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force. There has been close technical collaboration between the Foundation; the University of the West Indies (UWI) Department of Computing, Mona; the UWI Computing Society; and the University of Technology IEEE Students Branch to identify open source projects, student sub-projects and mentors.

About the JPS Foundation
The JPS Foundation expands the Jamaica Public Service Company’s role beyond a utility company to include community outreach and the consistent support of Jamaica’s National Development plans.

Since 2013 the JPS Foundation has been the philanthropic arm tasked with the responsibility to help create positive change and prosperity as the leader in Jamaica’s energy sector. Its mission is to improve lives and empower Jamaicans through charitable development projects in Energy Education, Conservation and Innovation.

About the Palisadoes Foundation
The California based Palisadoes Foundation aims to provide new avenues to promote Jamaica’s technology businesses and talent using a series of programs aimed at creating increased awareness of the island’s abilities in the global marketplace.

About the University of Technology IEEE Student Branch
Like the IEEE, the branch’s core purpose is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. It is the first IEEE student branch to be registered in Jamaica and meets regularly to develop the young minds that will create a better Jamaica.

About the UWI Computing Society
The vision for this society is to become a launching pad for the development and exposure of the computing students of the University of the West Indies, with particular focus on undergraduate students. This Society is also envisioned to be a medium by which the university population and the wider society may become more computer literate as well as educated in the efficient use of ICT in the industry and the wider society.

About the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force
The Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force is a group of expatriate Jamaicans interested in assisting in the continued development of new and existing technologies in Jamaica. It is a member of the Jamaica Diaspora Movement

The Jamaica Computing Society and The Palisadoes Foundation Collaborate in the Calico Challenge 2016

Kingston, Jamaica: April 29, 2016 – The Jamaica Computing Society (JCS) announced its collaboration with the Palisadoes Foundation in the first annual Calico Challenge.

The Calico Challenge is a summer work study program for computer science students in Jamaica. Each selected student works on enhancing open source software used internationally under the guidance of a Jamaican mentor. Students receive a US$500 stipend for their participation which is incrementally paid upon the achievement of specified milestones. Calico is also a feeder program for the similar Google Summer of Code.

In the partnership the JCS will aid the Palisadoes Foundation in the disbursement of Calico Challenge funds to students. Future joint activities will include identifying new avenues for Calico, and expanding the promotion of Jamaican IT talent through the participation of Jamaican diaspora talent in local conferences, and the identification of corporate ventures between the JCS and Jamaican companies overseas.

“The momentum of Calico continues to increase daily because the benefits to all members of the Jamaican IT community, future and present, are so clear” said Peter Harrison, President of the Palisadoes Foundation, “this is the reason why Calico’s IT talent development program that has made remarkable gains in its short history. The formalization of our ongoing JCS collaboration is a very encouraging endorsement and we look forward to the future together.”

“This program exposes local ICT talent to practical use of open source software used globally. With these skills our youth will have opportunities for global employment while residing at home in Jamaica. JCS is pleased to partner with the Palisadoes Foundation to make this happen as their mission is aligned with ours with respect to educating the ICT sector ” Sheldon Powe, JCS President and Chief Information Officer, JMMB Group

“This partnership between the JCS and the Palisadoes Foundation expressed through Calico Challenge is most welcomed. I am very pleased with the fact that the selected Jamaican ICT students have been given the opportunity to unleash their programming skills utilizing the latest open source platforms. My desire is for this impetus to grow and deepen so that more Jamaican ICT students can compete and be showcased in the Global ICT Arena.” Maurice Coke, JCS Vice President for Certification, Education, Standards and Accreditation (CESA) and IT Consultant, Jamaica Employers’ Federation.

More information can be found on the Palisadoes Foundation website: http://www.palisadoes.org

About the Calico Challenge
Calico was conceived by The Palisadoes Foundation in conjunction with the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force. There has been close technical collaboration between the Foundation; the University of the West Indies (UWI) Department of Computing, Mona; the UWI Computing Society; and the University of Technology IEEE Students Branch to identify open source projects, student sub-projects and mentors.

About the Jamaica Computer Society (JCS)
Founded in 1975, The Jamaica Computer Society’s mission is to provide leadership in the promotion of the efficient and effective use of Information Technology in Jamaica. JCS conferences have been distinguished by the participation of presenters and attendees from across the globe including the Caribbean, USA, Canada, UK and Europe

About the Palisadoes Foundation
The California based Palisadoes Foundation aims to provide new avenues to promote Jamaica’s technology businesses and talent using a series of programs aimed at creating increased awareness of the island’s abilities in the global marketplace.

About the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force
The Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force is a group of expatriate Jamaicans interested in assisting in the continued development of new and existing technologies in Jamaica. It is a member of the Jamaica Diaspora Movement.

The Palisadoes Foundation Announces the Calico Challenge 2016 Awardees

Santa Clara, CA: April 29, 2016 – The Palisadoes Foundation today announced the 8 student awardees to participate in the first annual Calico Challenge.

The Calico Challenge is a summer work study program for computer science students in Jamaica. Each selected student works on enhancing open source software used internationally under the guidance of a Jamaican mentor. Students receive a US$500 stipend for their participation which is incrementally paid upon the achievement of specified milestones. Calico is also a feeder program for the similar Google Summer of Code.

Calico was conceived by The Palisadoes Foundation in conjunction with the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force. Over the past year there has been close technical collaboration between the Foundation; the Department of Computing, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona; the UWI (Mona) Computing Society; and the University of Technology IEEE Students Branch. Work included the identification of open source projects, student sub-projects and mentors.

The Calico Challenge students will be working on adding software features to MaterialUI, that makes it easier to create mobile and web apps; HarvestAPI, aimed at helping farmers optimize their yields; and Infoset, that provides status reports on the operations of computer equipment connected to the Internet.

The Calico Challenge awardees are:

  1. Kimberly Simmonds
  2. Luke Chen Shui
  3. Brandon Hinds
  4. Javon Davis
  5. JeVaughn Ferguson
  6. Christopher Lee Murray
  7. Alexander Nicholson
  8. Jerene Ricketts

“The proud achievement of this milestone is important to Jamaica’s growing role in the international IT community”, said Peter Harrison, President of the Palisadoes Foundation, “The collaboration of so many diverse stakeholders, including academia, students, and businesses in both Jamaica and overseas is truly remarkable in getting us this far. I look forward to the future.”

“This is yet another milestone in a string of successes by our hardworking and capable students. These achievements of our students truly make us extremely proud. Keep up the good work! Your Department is solidly behind you.” Dr. Ezra K. Mugisa, Head of Department, UWI Department of Computing, UWI (Mona).

More information can be found on the Palisadoes Foundation website: http://www.palisadoes.org

About the UWI Department of Computing

The Department of Computing is home to 589 undergraduate students and 76 postgraduate students. As of 2015 the department had produced over 1145 Bachelor’s degree holders and over 186 graduates with MSc, MPhil and PhD degrees.

About the Palisadoes Foundation

The Palisadoes Foundation aims to provide new avenues to promote Jamaica’s technology businesses and talent using a series of programs aimed at creating increased awareness of the island’s abilities in the global marketplace.

About the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force

The Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force is a group of expatriate Jamaicans interested in assisting in the continued development of new and existing technologies in Jamaica. It is a member of the Jamaica Diaspora Movement.

Twenty Four Students Sign Up for Calico 2016

Santa Clara, CA: March 26, 2016 — The Palisadoes Foundation, with the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force, announce the initial application statistics for the 2016 Calico Challenge.

Applications closed on March 25 after a sustained campus education campaign by the UWI Computing Society and the UTech IEEE Student Branch student clubs. Activities included promotions on the Palisadoes Foundation’s Facebook and Twitter accounts,  email campaigns to the computer science student bodies at both universities, and weekly education sessions held as part of the student clubs days.

The interest in all three Calico Challenge projects was strong:

  • Harvest API: 3 Students.
  • Material-UI: 8 Students
  • Infoset: 13 Students

Student applicants ranged from high schools to university. All undergraduate years of tertiary education were represented from UWI and UTech.

“The level of interest really exceeded our expectations from the beginning. The Calico launch in February attracted over 120 students which has resulted in us receiving 24 applications. Of that number, 5 were from women in technology,” remarked Peter Harrison, President of The Palisadoes Foundation. “We hope to see similarly strong numbers of applicants for the Google Summer of Code, for which Calico is a stepping stone. This is very encouraging.”

Over the next week students will work with their mentors to clarify the scope of their proposed summer projects and will submit their formal proposals on April 1, for review by the Acceptance Committee.

Details on each project can be found at: http://calico.palisadoes.org/

 

About the Calico Challenge

The Calico Challenge is a partnership between The Palisadoes Foundation and the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force. It is a summer work study program for computer science students in Jamaica. Each selected student works on enhancing open source software used internationally under the guidance of a Diaspora mentor. Calico is also a feeder program for the similar Google Summer of Code.

 

About the Palisadoes Foundation

The Palisadoes Foundation aims to provide new avenues to promote Jamaica’s technology businesses and talent using a series of programs aimed at creating increased awareness of the island’s abilities in the global marketplace.

 

About the Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force

The Jamaica Diaspora Technology Task Force is a group of expatriate Jamaicans interested in assisting in the continued development of new and existing technologies in Jamaica. It is a member of the Jamaica Diaspora Movement.