The National Transformation Initiative (NTI) is partnering with the National Summer Camp Programme (NSCP) to complement this year’s programme by connecting camp leaders and young people with engaging digital learning opportunities.
Announced during the National Summer Camp Programme Media Launch on June 30, 2026, the partnership will introduce camp directors to the NTI learning platform and selected NTI-Coursera courses while opening up new opportunities for campers to continue learning throughout the summer. Older campers will have access to a curated collection of short online courses, and all campers across the programme will explore STARR Adventures, NTI’s interactive citizenship game, where storytelling and gameplay encourage active citizenship, leadership, teamwork and communication. NTI Change Artivists will also engage campers through conversations designed to inspire mindset shifts and highlight the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to thrive in today’s world.
Speaking at the launch, Senator The Hon. Shane Archer, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Youth and Culture, highlighted several enhancements for this year’s National Summer Camp Programme, including an expanded curriculum for campers, the reintroduction of stipends for camp personnel, the inclusion of school meals, enhanced security measures, and capacity-building initiatives for camp directors. The programme has already registered more than 1,800 campers and is expected to engage approximately 3,000 children, aged 4 to 17, across up to 50 camp locations throughout Barbados.
The partnership also includes the Embassies of the Republic of Cuba, Colombia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which will support the programme by promoting Spanish as a second language, adding another dimension to the learning experiences available to campers.
Among those attending the launch were Her Excellency Elizabeth Inés Taylor Jay, Ambassador of Colombia to Barbados; Joy Adamson, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture; Cleviston Hunte, Director of the Division of Youth and Culture; Elizabeth Bowen, Programme Coordinator, Division of Youth and Culture; and Lynriel Hunte, Project Officer, Division of Youth and Culture.
The partnership reflects NTI’s commitment to working alongside organisations already creating meaningful opportunities for growth in communities across Barbados, helping build a culture of lifelong learning and digital capability beyond the classroom.
