The Halo Foundation has handed over air-conditioning units to the principal of St. John’s Catholic School, Ms. Verlyn Richards, to support the development of TechByte STEM Academy, scheduled to launch in September 2026.

The new units will create a more comfortable environment for students to learn, build and explore STEM beyond the traditional classroom.

The handover, led by Her Excellency Lady Sandra Williams, President of the Halo Foundation, forms part of preparations for the launch of the H.O.W. with Halo initiative – Hope, Opportunity and Well-being through STEM, being developed in partnership with Mr. Elijah James, founder of The LocaL App, as part of Lady Williams’ commitment to the Fostering the Future Initiative.

The initiative builds on the Global Coalition Summit of First Spouses, hosted by First Lady Melania Trump from March 24-25, 2026 in Washington, D.C., and it focuses on creating pathways for young people to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for their future, whether in civic life, work or studies.

“Creating the right environment for young people to learn is an important part of creating meaningful pathways,” said Her Excellency Lady Sandra Williams. “We want young people, especially girls, to have spaces where they can explore, experiment, build confidence and discover what they are capable of.”

The timing of this cool boost is especially significant as DadliBots prepares to send its first-ever all-girls team representing Antigua and Barbuda at the FIRST Global Challenge 2026 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, later this year. The five young STEM ambassadors – Hannah, Gyanna, Audella-Mae, Sidea and Neola – are part of a growing generation of students using robotics and technology to develop skills, confidence and solutions for the future.

TechByte STEM Academy will build on the success of community youth initiatives powered by The LocaL App, including summer DadliBots STEM camps and BRIGHT Hackathons, which since 2018 have provided students with opportunities to explore robotics, esports, engineering, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Elijah James expressed his appreciation for the partnership, saying: “DadliBots and BRIGHT Hacks have always been about giving young people the opportunity to learn by doing. This support from Halo Foundation helps us create more interactive spaces where that learning can continue beyond the summer, towards a year-round model after-school model.”

The launch of H.O.W. with Halo seeks to reach 3,000 students annually and will further expand these pathways by inviting other interested organizations to join as partners. Details on student registration and scholarships will be announced as the initiative moves closer to its official launch.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: H.O.W. with Halo Gives a Cool Start to TechByte STEM Academy.