The Halo Foundation has donated air-conditioning units to St. John’s Catholic School to support the establishment of the new TechByte STEM Academy, which is scheduled to launch in September 2026.

The units were presented to the school’s principal, Verlyn Richards, and will help create a more comfortable environment where students can learn, build and explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics beyond the traditional classroom.

The handover was led by President of the Halo Foundation Her Excellency Lady Sandra Williams as part of preparations for the launch of the H.O.W. with Halo initiative—Hope, Opportunity and Well-being through STEM.

The programme is being developed in partnership with Elijah James, founder of The LocaL App, as part of Lady Williams’ commitment to the Fostering the Future Initiative.

It follows the Global Coalition Summit of First Spouses, hosted by United States First Lady Melania Trump in Washington, D.C., from March 24 to 25, 2026.

The initiative will focus on creating opportunities for young people to acquire the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in their studies, the workplace and civic life.

“Creating the right environment for young people to learn is an important part of creating meaningful pathways,” Lady Williams said.

“We want young people, especially girls, to have spaces where they can explore, experiment, build confidence and discover what they are capable of.”

The donation comes as DadliBots prepares to send Antigua and Barbuda’s first all-girls team to compete in the FIRST Global Challenge 2026 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, later this year.

The team comprises five young STEM ambassadors, Hannah, Gyanna, AudellaMae, Sidea and Neola—who are part of a growing generation of students using robotics and technology to develop practical skills, confidence and solutions for the future.

TechByte STEM Academy will build on the success of community youth programmes operated through The LocaL App, including the DadliBots summer STEM camps and BRIGHT Hackathons.

Since 2018, the programmes have allowed students to explore robotics, esports, engineering, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

James welcomed the Halo Foundation’s support, saying it would help provide more opportunities for hands-on learning throughout the year.

“DadliBots and BRIGHT Hacks have always been about giving young people the opportunity to learn by doing,” he said.

“This support from Halo Foundation helps us create more interactive spaces where that learning can continue beyond the summer, towards a year-round after-school model.”

H.O.W. with Halo aims to reach approximately 3,000 students annually. Other interested organisations will also be invited to participate as partners.

Information regarding student registration and scholarship opportunities will be announced closer to the programme’s official launch.