The South Sudan Robotics Team, supported by the FIRST Global community and partners, aims to mobilize and encourage South Sudanese youth from the age of 18 years and below to join and participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The study of STEM subjects gears students to innovation and creativity in solving real-world problems. As such, these young robotics engineers applied the skills acquired through STEM to represent the promise of our nation’s young people and their ability to contribute to the development of our country. Technology boosts production and encourages progress in various fields. Currently, most of the population uses generators as the source of energy instead of using hydropower or renewable energy such as solar power, which would help us fight environmental pollution caused by the use of diesel fuel and plastic bottles. Every year, Team South Sudan Robotics puts in more effort, which earned them another opportunity to participate and compete in 2018 Mexico and 2019 Dubai and now in 2023 Singapore FIRST Global under the theme of hydrogen.

South Sudan is in its infancy in many areas including technology development, the country is yet to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs including robotics. With the advancement of science and technology globally, South Sudan has to double its efforts to compete for its rightful place in the world through innovation, science, and technology. The Robotics Association is using the robotics profession to advance STEM subjects, which help over 1000 students understand and mold concepts in realizing scientific and technological growth through coding and programming. South Sudan Robotics Team is scheduled to participate in the FIRST Global competition in Singapore by October 2023, it is to be noted that the robotics competition, in particular, is vibrantly inspiring among young people globally due to its sporting nature. South Sudan Robotics Association seeks to continuously dedicate resources and time in this crucial sector to impart coding, computing, and programming skills to the people of South Sudan. The project intended to train devoted over 500 youth annually with skills that leverage technological and entrepreneurial innovation and digital transformation in the country. The participants in the robotics team expected to embrace the culture of coding, programming, and building robots. The participants envisioned playing a critical technology breakthrough shortly by leveraging their skills, knowledge, and expertise in technology to solve and address the challenges that face our society.

Objectives: To develop computing and programming skills among young people. To experiment with innovation and creativity in science and technology. To leverage technology to provide services to society and to explore ways in which robotics can be used to solve problems globally. To share knowledge, skills, and expertise among young people and the country at large. To attract and develop ideas and talents from South Sudanese and other nations. To promote the spirit of healthy competition and unity of purpose among young people. To represent South Sudan globally in robotic competition;

Beneficiaries: Over 1,000 high school students who are pursuing science subjects in their third, second, or first year are eligible for admission for training and participation in robotics competitions. Both males and candidates will benefit from the training and subsequent participation in the international robotic competition in Singapore by October 2023;

Student:
My name is Maria Nyileuth. I got interested in science when I was in primary school. I never gave up though science subjects are hard because of the lack of teachers and practicals in Secondary School. I chose to do science because I dream of becoming a great scientist like KIM, the founder of FIRST GLOBAL, and Bill Gates. Science has a great impact on our daily life and our environment.

Mentor:
Mr Richard Ring Kuach was honoured as an outstanding mentor who never gave up despite the team’s challenges in the 2017 competition. “Knowing is not enough,” Mr. Kuach told the competitors; “the knowledge acquired must be applied to solve real-world problems. Being willing is not enough, but we must do to solve the problem.” With a motto like that, no wonder he is an inspiration to students. Neither doing nor winning has come easily to Mr Kuach. He has worked hard to acquire a good education. Mr Kuach is currently a lecturer at the University of Juba, School of Computer Science and & IT, and he is also a mentor of FIRST Global Team South Sudan at the University of Juba STEM Centre. He started volunteering with FIRST Global in 2017.

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