Six Geelong kids are preparing for a Nepal adventure this month to share the robot-based brilliance that helped them win on the world stage.
Moolap robot enthusiast Tommy Le, 11, will travel with five former Christ the King Catholic Primary School students after raising $20,000 for the trip.
“I like using my imagination to create robots,” he told the Indy on Monday.
“Sometimes I think about designing robots when I sleep.”
The group will teach science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to underprivileged children after winning at First Lego League’s latest state and Australian competitions.
Two of the group, William Scott and Tommy’s sister Makaira, represented Australia at the league’s world championship at Hungary last year, winning its ‘core value’ section.
About 88,000 students worldwide compete in the annual competition, which involves programming a Lego robot to complete autonomous tasks.
Tommy admitted he was nervous about teaching robotics for the first time.
But he looked forward to exploring Nepal, including a planned hike to a Buddhist monastery where the group will stay overnight.
“We’re thinking of ways we can teach children robotics for research,” he said.
The group sets off on 24 May after weeks selling fundraising chocolates and developing teaching strategies, according to proud teacher Aisha Kristiansen.
“The kids have been working so hard over the school holidays and weekends,” she said.
“It’s their chance to think big and about their life beyond Geelong.”
She thanked various sponsors who donated money and equipment to the group.
