Continuing its mission to support youth development and digital innovation, Cloud Carib, the region’s premier provider of cloud and managed IT services, proudly returned as a sponsor of the HACK<IT> Bahamas for the second consecutive year. The week-long experience brought together over 50 Bahamian students to the STEM camp hosted at St. Andrew’s International School, equipping them with essential 21st-century skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
This year’s sponsorship of HACK<IT> Bahamas is part of Cloud Carib’s larger “Beyond the Cloud” initiative, a sustained commitment to advancing STEM and youth empowerment across the region. In the summer of 2024 alone, the company invested over $10,000 in education and development programs aimed at shaping the next generation of Caribbean innovators.
Founded by aerospace engineer and entrepreneur Aisha Bowe, HACK<IT> Bahamas is designed to ignite curiosity, inspire leadership, and empower students to become ethical innovators and problem solvers.
“The HACK<IT> Camp is about more than just teaching kids to code; it’s about helping them become confident problem-solvers, leaders, and ethical innovators,” said Aisha Bowe, founder of HACK<IT>. “Seeing companies like Cloud Carib invest in this mission not only validates the work we’re doing but also inspires these students to believe that their ideas matter and their futures are bright.”
Throughout the camp, students explored computer science, electronics, entrepreneurship, and collaborative problem-solving through immersive, hands-on challenges. They were mentored by both Bahamas-based professionals and global STEM leaders, helping them gain the skills and the confidence to design bold, community-driven solutions.
As part of the camp’s expert-led sessions, Cloud Carib’s Marketing Director, Olivia Dorsett, delivered an engaging talk on “Ethical AI and Online Safety for Teens,” sparking meaningful dialogue around the responsibilities that come with emerging technologies and the effects of Cyberbullying.
“We believe in equipping these young minds not just with technical skills, but with a deep understanding of digital responsibility and ethical innovation,” said Olivia Dorsett. “These conversations are crucial as our youth become the future stewards of digital transformation in the Caribbean.”
The culminating pitch competition, which awarded a $1,000 grand prize, was the highlight of the camp. It offered students a platform to demonstrate teamwork, entrepreneurial thinking, and a passion for improving life in The Bahamas. Representing Cloud Carib on the pitch competition judging panel were Solutions Architect Osmany Goderich and Compliance Officer Christian Albury, who was the only female judge on the panel.
“Supporting platforms like HACK<IT> allows us to directly invest in the ideas, talents, and futures of young Bahamians,” said Osmany Goderich. “It’s not just about technology; it’s about empowering people and communities.”
The winning team, Fantastic Rocketz, impressed judges with their innovative response to a rising challenge among Bahamian youth: anxiety and exposure to violence. Their proposed solution: a chewable ashwagandha gum designed to help manage stress and anxiety in real time. With a focus on mental wellness, their idea aims to help both students and adults feel calmer, safer, and more in control.
Through ongoing investments in STEM education and mentorship, Cloud Carib is helping to cultivate a pipeline of homegrown talent equipped to tackle regional challenges with global solutions. The company’s support of these initiatives is one more step in its mission to empower students and strengthen the region’s innovative ecosystem.