The Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation (Grace & Staff), in partnership with Cuso International and supported by the micro:bit Education Foundation, celebrated the successful completion of its Code Queens Project at a closing ceremony held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Christar Villas Hotel in Kingston.
Launched in October 2024, the Code Queens Project empowered 20 teenage girls from Majesty Gardens, Spanish Town, and Central Kingston by combining coding education with emotional and personal development through a unique initiative called the “Confidence Club.”
“Code Queens reflects everything we believe in at Grace & Staff—equipping young people not just with skills, but with belief in themselves,” said Sandrina Davis, CEO, Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation. She added, “When a girl learns to code and grows in confidence at the same time, she becomes unstoppable. This holistic approach is how we empower them to shape their own futures.”
The closing ceremony was a proud moment for parents, who witnessed their daughters officially crowned as “Code Queens,” a testament to their resilience, growth, and achievements throughout the six-month programme. Each girl also received a copy of “Same Suh,” a mental health affirmation and colouring book written by Counselling Psychologist Sosheina Whyte, as a meaningful keepsake to support continued emotional wellness.
Throughout the duration of the programme, the girls participated in engaging sessions that featured hands-on coding workshops using micro:bit devices and the MakeCode platform, which allowed for interactive, beginner-friendly programming projects. They also took part in Confidence Club discussions focused on stress management, goal setting, and self-identity, providing a safe space for personal growth and emotional expression.
The event marked not just the end of a programme, but the beginning of a journey. Many of the girls who once entered the programme shy and uncertain, now stood tall—equipped with technical skills, stronger self-worth, and a sense of purpose.
“It was truly powerful to watch these girls’ faces light up as they discovered their creative potential through code,” said Dhira-Mae Brown-Douglas, STEM Administrator and Project Lead. “But even more inspiring was witnessing their transformation as they found their voices, embraced their confidence, and recognized their inherent worth. Code Queens is about so much more than technology; it’s about empowering lasting change.”
The participants themselves expressed how the experience changed their lives:
“This club taught me that my voice matters.”
— Jamelia, 14
“At first, saying affirmations felt awkward, but now I believe in them.”
— Tianna, 13
“I never thought I’d enjoy coding, but using the micro:bit made it fun and real. It’s like wow, I did that!”
— Marquesha, 13
