Young innovators from across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) will showcase 12 chatbot projects and six multimedia presentations on Friday, 28 August, as the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) concludes its 2026 ECCU Generative AI and Python Summer Camp.
The campers developed solutions to support the ECCU’s Big Push economic transformation agenda by addressing challenges identified by regional businesses and public sector organisations in areas including banking, credit reporting, electricity, port operations, social security, taxation, and water and sewerage services.
Friday’s 2026 ECCU Chatbot and Multimedia Showcase and Closing Ceremony will be held at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium at ECCB Headquarters in Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The public can view the event live on ECCB Connects via Facebook and YouTube.
The event marks the culmination of the four-week 2026 ECCU Generative AI and Python Summer Camp, which was launched on 13 July. Sponsored by the ECCB and the Republic of China (Taiwan), and hosted by the ECCB, the free Camp targeted students aged 14 and older who are entering Forms 4 and 5 or college in the 2026/27 academic year.
Level 1 campers used Generative AI and Python to design and develop chatbots and AI agents, while Level 2 campers—graduates of the 2025 Camp—focused on the application of Generative AI in multimedia. Campers gained practical experience in Python programming, artificial intelligence, data analytics, user experience, multimedia design, design thinking, 3D animation, sound and video editing.
Campers also had the opportunity to put what they learned into practice. Private and public sector organisations across the ECCU identified specific needs, which campers were challenged to address through the development of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Clients were engaged throughout the process, reviewing the projects and providing feedback on their functionality. This client-driven approach gave campers experience in collaborating with stakeholders, understanding their needs, responding to feedback, and developing technology solutions for practical applications.
Client assessment of the chatbot’s ability to address the original business problems identified will account for 50 per cent of the points awarded during the judging of each chatbot, AI agent, and multimedia project showcased at Friday’s event.
The Camp also provides opportunities for participants to continue developing their skills after graduation. An internship and mentorship programme, introduced in 2025, allows selected graduates who have completed Levels 1 and 2 and demonstrated exceptional technical proficiency and leadership skills to return as paid interns. Eleven interns joined the 2026 programme—six from Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis, two from Saint Lucia, and three from Antigua and Barbuda.
The programme’s impact is already extending beyond the Summer Camp. With support from the ECCB, 2025 interns from Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis have established a coding camp at their local college, with a vision of replicating the initiative in other ECCU countries.
Now in its third year, the annual ECCU Generative AI and Python Summer Camp reflects the ECCB’s continued commitment to equipping young people across the region with the digital skills, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities needed to contribute to the ECCU’s transformation and development.
