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So, the PUC handed the computers out to the IT teachers in the 6 districts, and trained them on how they work. The kids ran with it from there and today, the PUC hosted its first Raspberry Pi Jam, to see what the schools had come up with. Daniel Ortiz got a chance to see the creations for himself. Here's his report:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
After 10 months of working with the Raspberry Pi Computers, schools from all across the country put their creations on display for the judges to view.

It was an expo of innovation in which the students showcased problem - solving, ingenuity, and the use of technology to create science projects with real-world applications. The organizers were excited by how well the schools embraced the program.

John Avery - Chairman, Public Utilities Commission
"Considering that nothing like this has been attempted in Belize before, I must say I was very much impressed with what the students presented today. I think some of them only demonstrated the seed of a bigger idea."

One group of students created this makeshift teleprompter. Another group built this electronic billboard.

All creations were powered by the Raspberry Pi computers, purchased by the Public Utilities Commission. The idea behind it was to have these kids learn computer language and coding and put it into practice.

The judges had a bevy of inventions to peruse, but at the end of the day, they could only chose 1 winner whose project stood out among the rest.

That was the group of students from the Corozal Community College. They created an automated irrigation system which could have a real-world application in commercial agriculture.

Tsungwei Wu - Student, CCC
"You know how Belize have a lot of agriculture stuff, so we made up an idea about our water irrigation system. We wanted a system that can water the plants automatically. Mainly the raspberry PI is the one that controls everything, it is the brain of the operation. It controls the sensors, the electronical valves that controls the water, everything. There were many obstacles we had to face through. There were lots of things we had to do but we had to face it as a group and as a family. Some people did the engineering part, some did the programming part but we came together and we solved their problems."

John Avery
"I think the school that won, Corozal Community College, that automatic irrigation system. That is a very practical application, and is something that can solve issues in Belize today and going forward. I think Ocean Academy, even though they didn't win any prize, they have the basis for a billboard. You drive along the road you see all these billboards all the time. They have an electronic one that can change and so I think we have some very good projects today considering that its the first time. As I've said to the students, I am looking forward to even better things next year and I'm sure they will. That is the whole idea for our young innovators program."

That hope is that a Belizean could one day become the next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, pioneers in start-up tech companies whose influence on the computer world created industries.

Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"I think that the way forward in this country in terms of our economy has got to be through service. While tourism is the buzzword in that regard, I think Belizeans being able to be innovative and to create services especially as it relates to technology and being able to market this at home and even abroad, is the way forward. So we embrace this initiative whole heartedly."

But that starts with a familiarization with the technology, an intimate understanding of microchips, internal circuitry, and computer programing. All these things may seem foreign to you, but the idea is that they will become second-nature to these and future students. The program is pricey, but, the partners say that they're in it for the long haul, so that the gradual change in mind-set, from consumers of technology to creators of technology, can take hold.

Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"Well you are right that it did cost a pretty penny to the PUC and in fact in some ways to the government of Belize, because we had to forego some revenue from the importations of the various different pieces of the devices that came in. We intend to continue to support this kind of development in our schools. Much of this that is being done is a learnt skill and so we believe that if we continue to train our young people that the money will follow from the private sector and from investors to assist our young people in fleshing out their skills and talent. As far as the government is concerned, I believe we can speak as well for the PUC, this kind of innovative investment in innovation is going to continue."

John Avery
"The way we look at it, we will encourage the students and not only them but people who are interested. As you are aware, we had a none high school participant today, we will continue to encourage them. I think our Raspberry PI Jam should be an annual thing. Our young innovators program that we started at the PUC 3 years ago, we intend for it to be an ongoing thing. The Raspberry PI program has taken 2 years to reach at this stage, we will continue to support this program but the reason we did it through the Ministry of Education and introduce it to schools as part of the ICT program. So we will continue to support the teachers and for them to continue to incorporate computer science as part of the ICT program. The Raspberry PI is just an affordable tool."

The Raspberry Pi initiative is a part of the PUC's Young Innovators Program.