World Learning Algeria Team Prepares to Compete in Global Robotics Challenge
World Learning will send four high school students to the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge in Washington, DC, this July. The competition, hosted by the International FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Committee, will challenge teams from more than 100 countries to build and test robots that help improve access to clean water.
Cyrine, Nabil, Rafik, and Sara met during a Lego Robotics workshop at World Learning’s Algiers STEAM Center. A public-private partnership with funding from the U.S. State Department, Dow, Boeing, and Anadarko, the Center provides youth in the community with engaging educational activities and specialized training in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) The Lego Robotics workshop was part of a STEAM camp that convened more than 200 students from across Algeria for two days of intensive workshops on robotics, coding, and 3D modeling and printing.
The team’s camp experience deepened their interest in the STEAM field, prompting the Algiers Center to put forward their names for the competition. During the games, the team work with others from around the globe to use their robots to complete engineering tasks related to clean water access, including storing drinkable water, filtering contaminated water, and securing new water sources. The goal of the competition is to inspire young people to pursue careers in STEAM fields and build a new cadre of leaders with the knowledge and skills to help address critical global issues.
World Learning recently launched a crowd-funding campaign to support the team, which needs to raise $13,000 to cover travel expenses. Any additional funds raised will allow for alternate members of the Algerian team to also attend the competition.
