GoodHeart | Lesma Ellis Foundation drives tech training and mentorship for youth
Published:Sunday | March 23, 2025 | 10:02 PMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
Oshane Creary, the man on the ground in Jamaica leading the Lesma Ellis Foundation, is on a mission to train more women in technology. This comes after the foundation recently received a grant from the European Union to support its mandate throughout 2025. The Lesma Ellis Foundation was established by Dr Ian Campbell, its president, a lecturer, retired United States Army major, and military veteran. Born in Jamaica, Campbell grew up in Torrington Park, Kingston, and attended St Andrew Technical High School before moving to Germany. He registered the foundation in 2015 in honour of his mother, Lesma Ellis, who is still alive and resides in Kingston. The foundation was created to support the residents of Torrington Park, offering educational programmes for young men and women, as well as aid for the elderly.
Since Campbell does not live in Jamaica, he sought assistance from university students through the Placement and Career Services at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Oshane Creary, then a UWI student pursuing a Master of Science in Computer-Based Management Information Systems, was one of those who answered the call to help.
“He needed some university students to assist, and that’s how I became a part of it. I reached out to the email that was on it and then we met up, and my involvement got started pre-COVID, around 2019,” Creary told GoodHeart.
Since volunteering with the foundation, Creary has remained committed, dedicating his efforts to training individuals interested in technology at no cost. He explained that he continues to fill the role of leader on the ground in Dr Campbell’s absence because he is passionate about seeing the foundation thrive and ensuring that vulnerable youth receive the training they need.
As part of the foundation’s mission to equip young people with essential skills for the modern workforce, Creary highlights the importance of providing training in areas that go beyond traditional education.
“We have a learning management system. You can go on the platform once you’re registered, and, once you’re registered, we onboard you. We are targeting high school leavers, the vulnerable at-risk youth, who do traditional subjects in CXC subjects, such as mathematics, English and social studies, but when they go into the workforce, employers are asking for more than that. They are asking them to do an Excel sheet, AI, create a graphic design. So those are the skills we teach them - the non-traditional skills that they wouldn’t necessarily learn at school, but it is what employers want from them,” he explained.
Creary says they also try to incorporate marketing and programming skills in the programme, especially for the women who will be trained through their Jamaican Women in Cyber Technology and Mathematics initiative.
“We are doing this so that they can matriculate in fields that are male-dominated. That is what we are striving for,” he said.
The Lesma Ellis Foundation’s upcoming activations, funded by the European Union and through The Council for Voluntary and Social Services, will include the COMPUTREK Marathon, digital media and advocacy workshops, and the Jamaican Women in Cyber Technology and Mathematics initiative. Since January 4, the Marathon has been held at corporate area schools, starting at Dr Campbell’s alma mater, St Andrew Technical High School, with at least one session per month.
Through the CompuTrek Marathon, successful participants ages 16 to 18 receive certificates in basic computer literacy, cybersecurity, and STEM, from Alison.com, free of charge.
“We don’t have a physical [space], so we [also] collaborate remotely. I do it daily, but it’s not a daily job. It’s just me sacrificing and making the time. It’s just balancing because, at the end of the day, someone has to do it, so mi just do it,” he said.
Creary hopes to see the Lesma Ellis Foundation grow but, to achieve this, he needs more volunteers. He is encouraging people to volunteer and mentor with the foundation. To get involved, individuals can WhatsApp 8762205183 or send a direct message through the Instagram profile @thelesmaellisfoundation.