iamtheCODE to Equip 600,000 Jamaicans with Future-Ready Skills

Some 600,000 Jamaicans will benefit from free access to online training in artificial intelligence (AI), coding, digital literacy, and other future-ready skills through the iamtheCODE platform.

Founded by Senegalese-born technologist Lady Mariéme Jamme, and endorsed by the United Nations, iamtheCODE is a global charity with a mission to upskill marginalised young people, particularly women, to participate in the digital economy.

It is targeting the training of one million young women and girls as coders by 2030.

In October 2025, Jamaica became the 89th country to launch the global movement, spearheaded locally by iamtheCODE Caribbean co-founders Nadeen Matthews Blair and Mariame McIntosh Robinson.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who recently met with Lady Mariéme at Gordon House in Kingston, welcomed the initiative by iamtheCODE to offer free training to Jamaicans, noting that the move is in keeping with the country’s push towards digital transformation and AI inclusion.

“I’m happy you are here. You are assisting. I want to thank you for the efforts that you have made,” he said.

During the meeting, which involved Education, Skills, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Most. Hon. Juliet Holness, discussion focused on making AI easier for the average Jamaican to understand and use, while ensuring young people have the skills to build with the technology.

The Prime Minister said that Jamaicans must not be left behind as technology advances.

“We must equip our children, workers and entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills to participate in this new digital economy,” he noted.

“For many, they hear about this thing called AI. It’s a mystery for many, and it is a threat for some, and for others, it’s just ungodly and the question is, ‘How do we demystify and make it understandable for the average man? How do we make it accessible?’” he asked.

Lady Mariéme, in her response, said that demystifying AI requires embedding AI literacy in schools.

“We need to make it compulsory. The problem with artificial intelligence is that access is very, very limited. People don’t understand it… . It’s very expensive. We have not made it compulsory to people, so people are going on different platforms to try to have access because everybody wants to have access. What we want to do is to ensure that people can learn what AI is, really from the beginning,” Lady Mariéme said.

She noted that the iamtheCODE platform offers 67,000 courses in collaboration with major partners such as Amazon and Google, and the aim is to ramp up training in Jamaica.

She noted that Jamaica has made strides in making computer and internet access available to students, so the next step is to get the iamtheCODE platform in schools.

“We have amazing AI courses. The platform is very, very expensive. It’s a gift. We are now in 90 countries. Pakistan is using it, I just came from Chile, so everyone is using it,” Lady Mariéme said.

The first cohort of iamtheCODE Caribbean participants graduated in July and a second cohort of students will begin training shortly.

Interested persons may register at https://www.iamthecode.org/.