SARAO proudly supports two Robotics teams from Carnarvon at inaugural FIRST LEGO League Open Africa Championship

Two star Robotics teams from Carnarvon High School are flying the flag high this week by participating in the inaugural FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Open Africa Championship at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 7 to 9 May 2025.

This premier international event brings together robotics teams of young innovators from South Africa, across Africa and around the world.

Among the South African teams, two teams from Carnarvon High School, Sharpshooters and Tesla Minions, are participating in the championship. These teams are part of the SARAO Human Capital Development (HCD) Schools Programme, which has been running the Robotics Schools Programme in the Karoo since 2016. The aim of the programme is to develop and inspire an interest in STEM skills in the schools around the Square Kilometre Array site.

At the First LEGO League South Africa Nationals Robotics Competition held in December 2024 at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg, the Sharpshooters team secured an impressive 3rd place for Best Robot Performance with 325 points.

Held under the theme Submerged, the three-day event will provide these inspired and courageous teams of learners the opportunity to engage in thrilling robot runs and present their team innovation projects to a panel of expert judges.

“FLL is one of the competitions where team members learn how to work in groups, doing research and presenting their research and robot design. The opening of this event illustrated the network amongst the different countries. About 40 teams from abroad and from Africa participate in this historical event. The fact that two teams that is supported by SARAO had the opportunity to participate means that our schools Programme is making strides in the right direction. I am so proud of what our learners have become. Our learners can compete with the rest of the country as well as the world,” says Chantel Mathison, Professional Officer in the SARAO Schools Programme.

Teams are encouraged to explore the mysteries and challenges of underwater environments by being tasked with designing innovative solutions and programming autonomous robots to complete missions related to underwater exploration and technology. This theme aims to inspire participants to think critically about real-world problems and develop practical solutions through STEM.

The event details:

• Dates: Wednesday, 7 – Friday, 9 May 2025
• Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa
• More info: https://oac.firstsa.org/

The FLL Open Africa Championship 2025 promises to be a landmark event, showcasing the talents of young innovators and reinforcing the importance of STEM education in addressing global challenges.