Full Stack Vision Foundation: Empowering the next generation of Caribbean creators through Code Club

Full Stack Vision Foundation, a Code Club partner, is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to create the foundations for knowledge in the digital sector and provide opportunities for children in the Caribbean through activities like Code Club.

Ruhee Shah, Global Partnerships Coordinator at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, spoke to Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation, about their work and how Code Clubs are inspiring the next generation of coders in the Caribbean.

Engaging the next generation of Caribbean makers

Since launching in 2022, Full Stack Vision Foundation has grown from a single library session in Oranjestad to a thriving network of ten clubs. The foundation is driven by a “full-stack” philosophy,  meaning it works on every level of the community, from youth programs to regional digital strategy. 

To engage young people who might not initially see themselves as “coders”, Bruce uses technology that feels relevant to their daily lives. By using Raspberry Pis and BBC micro:bits to build wildlife cameras or retro gaming consoles, he demonstrates the practical uses of these tools for islanders. He often demonstrates to coders how these devices can solve real-world problems, such as a Pi-powered door opener for a family member with limited mobility or a micro:bit “Heart Listener.”

“Our ecosystem of Code Clubs have no boundaries: we have 7-year-olds doing microbits, parents joining in learning to Scratch, university students helping out in sessions and teachers getting inspired to learn.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

For Bruce, tailoring content to the local context is a core part of the learning experience. When using the Experience AI curriculum, clubs analyse pollution data from Aruba. In Scratch, a project about growing sugar is adapted to focus on the aloe vera plant. These cultural and historical contact points help creators see themselves as part of a global movement that respects local roots.

“The word ‘resilience’ has a special meaning for us islanders. Raspberry Pis and Code Club are the building blocks for a sustainable future.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

Building pathways to STEM careers

The impact of Code Club is evident in the individual journeys of the participants. Former mentors and students are now using their Code Club experience as a foundation for higher education and international STEM competitions. For example, Jean-Luc transitioned from mentoring into university, and Ruart secured a top spot in a global robotics competition. Another creator, Gervinio, started as a CoderDojo “Ninja” and was inspired to pursue studies at Instituto Pedagogico Arubano with a focus on cybersecurity.

“We want to see more of these stories and hope to benchmark these journeys as a whole.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

Building a Caribbean-wide network

Looking ahead, the Full Stack Vision Foundation has ambitious plans to continue growing its digital ecosystem. This year, they established the Caribbean’s first Raspberry Pi Lab at the EduCampus Code Club, providing a dedicated space for more advanced making and experimentation.

By building partnerships with organisations like UNESCO and the University of the West Indies, Bruce is helping to connect the region through a shared digital language. To support their mission of uniting the region, they are also launching codeclubcaribbean.org. This new platform will serve as a hub to share stories and resources, helping to onboard new clubs in islands like Barbados, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.

“Giving young people the ability to make, create, and sustain technological solutions is what the Caribbean wants.”
– Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

Inspired by the work in Full Stack Vision Foundation’s work in the Caribbean? Find out more on how to run your own Code Club.