Seychelles Gears Up for the Annual FIRST Global Challenge: A Showcase of Youth Innovation and Collaboration

Seychelles Gears Up for the Annual FIRST Global Challenge: A Showcase of Youth Innovation and Collaboration

Team Seychelles, a vibrant group of young students, is all set to participate in the upcoming annual FIRST Global Challenge. This international robotics competition is scheduled to take place from October 6-10 in Singapore. The team is assembled by the Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) and the Ministry of Education. The group comprises five core members, six supporting students, a volunteer, and seven mentors. All these participants, aged between 14 and 17, come from various schools across Seychelles.

The team’s journey to the FIRST Global Challenge is facilitated by several sponsors, including FIRST Global, Children’s Special Fund, PRINTIT, and Cable and Wireless. These sponsors have generously covered the costs of the team’s accommodations and flight tickets. Team Seychelles has been a regular participant in the FIRST Global Challenge since 2017, demonstrating consistent improvement in their rankings over the years.

Hydrogen Horizons: The Theme of the Challenge

This year’s competition, aptly named “Hydrogen Horizons”, revolves around complex challenges related to hydrogen technology. The participants are required to form regional alliances and work collaboratively to produce, store, transport, and convert hydrogen into energy. The competition culminates in these alliances showcasing their innovations in hydrogen technologies. The winning teams are determined based on their proficiency in completing the tasks and their ability to cooperate effectively with other teams.

In addition to the main challenge, teams also participate in the Social Media Challenge, which involves eight distinct activities. These activities aim to raise awareness about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Activities include organizing joint meetups with other teams, sharing group photos, unboxing the robotics kit, conducting STEM outreach sessions, showcasing their innovations, connecting with country leaders, garnering support from friends and family, gaining media coverage, and expressing commitment to FIRST Global’s Declaration of Interdependence and Bill of Responsibilities.

Team Seychelles: Champions of STEM Education

There’s more to Team Seychelles’ participation in the FIRST Global Challenge than just the technical aspects of the competition. The team is also fully vested in engaging with their community and the international STEM community. Their involvement in the competition underscores the importance of STEM education and highlights the incredible potential it holds for the youth of Seychelles.