The 2024 HYPE International Experience was Saved by Students’ Heart for Service
You can imagine how stressed we were when Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Jamaica just days before our nine HYPE alumnae and three trip leaders were scheduled to take off for our 2024 HYPE International Experience. This was set to be our first trip since 2019, and we worried that yet another trip would be canceled due to circumstances out of our control, just like the 2020 trip was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our HYPE Scholars held hope, energy and excitement to head to Jamaica in one hand and empathy and concern for the residents of Jamaica in another. The day before the trip, our hosts on the ground in Kingston let us know that while it was safe for us to travel there, they weren’t sure what the actual camp would look like or if the previously confirmed students would still be able to attend.
We left it up to the girls, and they ultimately decided we should still go, even if we arrived and the mission of the trip had to pivot to help with hurricane relief efforts. They wanted to make a difference, regardless of what that looked like.
As it turned out, everything was fine at the camp site and our group of 9 HYPE alumnae and 3 trip leaders led an amazing coding camp for over 60 teens in Kingston, Jamaica. It was awesome to collaborate with Summer Camp Adventures with Technology and Education (SCATE) and be hosted by The University of West Indies at Mona, Jamaica for both our on-campus lodging and camp facilitation. During the week, students learned about web design and created personal web portfolios showcasing their skills, talents, interests, and aspirations.
“I couldn’t be prouder of how the International Experience #ComebackCrew’s servant leadership shone through as they prepared to be flexible, be patient, and helpful in whatever way was needed – even if it wasn’t the coding camp that they had planned and prepared for,” said HYPE Founder Kristina Newton.
Our #ComebackCrew displayed tremendous grace, teamwork, perseverance, global awareness, and servant leadership to put on this amazing camp experience. These girls truly embody the mission and vision of HYPE to empower leaders who are prepared to lead in the global tech workforce of our future.
