As part of the effort to increase access to quality education and psychosocial support for Syrian refugees, MAPs launched the Hope of Syria Robotics Team in 2016. That same year, the team of 240 students invented Robogee: the world’s first robot refugee.

Robogee and the Hope of Syria Robotics Team immediately attracted international fame, getting picked up by The Guardian, The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, The National, Now This, and Buzzfeed. Team Hope has traveled across the globe to educate politicians and amplify awareness on the refugee narrative and have won countless awards for their robots at competitions around the world.

The success of the Hope of Syria Robotics Team is changing perceptions of refugees and helping build promising futures for every young engineer on the team. Creativity defeats suffering.

Meet Team Hope

Amina Kabbour, Lebanon
I am 16 years old and I’m a painter. I participated in VEX IQ in Lebanon, then I joined Team Hope the last year in FGC and it was an amazing experience, in addition to the Arduino training with MAPs. I entered this robotics domain because everything now is depending on technology and programming. I’m very excited to be a part of this team again. It’s my pleasure to show the world the abilities of refugees wherever they are, and especially the abilities of girls in technological developments.

Ghassan khubbieh, Lebanon
I am 17 years old. I would like to be a surgeon in the future. I entered the world of robotics and programming because I love this field very much. I participated in international and local competitions. I would like to let the people know that the refugee can build a robot and can win competitions despite the difficult conditions of refugees.

Mohammad Adnan Alkhatib, Lebanon
I’m 16 years old. I like to edit photos to make them better than before. I want to be a programmer in the future. I’m so proud to be part of Team Hope to represent every Syrian refugee in the world. I like developing my computer abilities. This competition makes us work as a team and improve our communication skills.

Salam Al Farekh, Lebanon
I’m 16 years old, I’m a painter, I want to be a detective or police woman. It’s my honor to win the first place with Team Hope in the 2019 FIRST Global Challenge. We achieved the dream of every refugee, I hope this year also to be the champions and to be a wonderful representative for the refugee girls who are interested in technology and have the opportunities to create.

Salam Alkhatib, Lebanon
I’m 17 years old. I love photography. I want to be a pediatrician in the future. It’s an honor for me to represent refugees around the world. I enjoy learning more about programming and technology since life has become dependent on technology and robots. At the end, once you choose hope, nothing is impossible!

Yaman Naanaa, United Kingdom
I’m 18 years old. Currently, I’m in year 13 studying IT, which was one of the reasons why I joined this team. I chose robotics because I want to gain more experience and I think it will make a big change to my life in the future as most things nowadays depend on technology. This is the first time I entered a competition like this, as I did not have the chance to do so before. When I heard about Team Hope, I joined immediately because I loved the idea of knowing lots of people from different countries who might have faced the same problems as me. We are here representing the refugees who have lost their homes and families, with our wonderful team we are here to show the world that refugees can do a lot of things inside and outside their country. I’m proud and really excited to achieve amazing results. It’s true that we lost our land but we did not lose our Hope.

Ziad Allawi, Lebanon
I’m 17 years old and I would like to be a football player. I entered the robotics domain because it was always my passion. I’m very glad to be part of this team to show the world that refugees have the ability to develop and do something big.

Banan Khoulani, Lebanon
I’m 18 years old and I would like to be a pharmacist. I entered the robotics domain because It improves my skills, and programming is a future language. My hoppy is reading.

Sedra Keshkieh, Turkey
I’m 15 years old and I would like to be an engineer. I entered the robotics domain because It was always my passion. I’m very glad to be part of this team to show the world that refugees have the ability to develop and do something big.

Amin Eissa Jnad, Turkey
I’m 16 years old and I would like to be an engineer. I’m very glad to be part of this team to show the world that refugees have the ability to develop and do something big.

Hitham ossama jaamour, Lebanon
I’m 14 years old and I would like to be a doctor. My hoppy is programming. I entered the robotics domain to improve and develop my country, programming is amazing.

Ahmad Radwan AlDabea, Lebanon
I’m 15 years old and I would like to be a programming engineer. My hobby is swimming. I entered the robotics domain to improve myself and it’s the future. Programming is my passion.

Basmala Reslan Dobeea, Lebanon
I’m 17 years old I want to be a neurosurgeon. I have a great passion for science. I love getting to know the human body in detail, especially the brain. Also robotics took a big part of my life so I will study programming to make a robot for medicine and surgery. I always like to do exercises because I feel comfortable when I’m doing them. Singing is my favorite hobby. Reading takes me to another world.