The Team Guinea Bissau for the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge is composed of eight remarkable individuals—six passionate students and two dedicated mentors—who embody a vibrant blend of talent, ambition, and cultural diversity. Together, they are united by their commitment to leveraging robotics for the advancement of their nation’s future.

Karina Fabiula Da Silva De Pinais a 16-year-old student who epitomizes resilience and ambition. Hailing from Guinea-Bissau but born in Senegal, she currently thrives in Côte d’Ivoire, where she is a top student at Collège Sainte Camille in Abidjan. She has demonstrated a profound dedication to learning, especially in languages, earning national recognition as the second-place winner in an English competition. Karina’s passion for technology is evident in her role as an interpreter at the African Exhibition of Invention and Innovative Enterprises and her achievements in coding. Aspiring to become an astronomer, she recognizes the critical connection between astronomy and robotics in addressing climate change and fostering sustainable development.

Diego Mateus Lopes da Cruz, a 15-year-old from AEPGB, exemplifies a visionary spirit. As a consistent honor roll student, he has received multiple academic awards that reflect his commitment to excellence. Diego merges his interests in art and technology, believing that this fusion can solve global challenges. Inspired by his resilient mother, he dreams of becoming an architect, focusing on eco-conscious designs and sustainable living spaces that utilize renewable energy. His ambition drives him to create homes that harmoniously coexist with the environment.

Alexander Filipe Barbosa Pitti Rivera —commonly known as Alex—is another inspiring member of the team. At 15 years old and enrolled in the 9th grade at Lycée Français Blaise Pascal, Alex is passionate about robotics and technology. He views participating in competitions as a vital way to expand his skills and knowledge while fostering collaborations with peers worldwide. Approaching his challenges with determination, he is eager to represent his country and uphold the core values of competition.

Mansata Seidi, a 17-year-old from SOS Polytechnic High School, has a thriving passion for robotics. Currently, in her third year, she is dedicated to exploring the world of technology and robots. Her commitment to understanding electronics, programming, and artificial intelligence drives her ambition to create solutions that can positively impact lives. Mansata actively pursues practical experiences that allow her to witness robots in action, viewing each learning opportunity as a step towards her vision of transforming imagination into reality.

Laíssa Rafaela Araújo Durante, who recently celebrated her 15th birthday, is in the 10th grade at Libanesa-Guinea School. An adventurous spirit, Laíssa eagerly seeks new experiences. Her participation in the FIRST Global competition in Athens in 2024 ignited her passion for robotics and innovation, underscoring her commitment to shaping a better future through technology.

Guerrino Embaló de Medina is a 15-year-old student in the 9th grade at Liceu João XXIII, with a special fondness for English. He truly enjoy his studies and embrace the journey ahead as part of the FGC Team Guinea Bissau.

Together, these young students together with two vibrant mentors, Cristiana Silva representing Fundação ATENA and alumni of FIRST Global Challenge 2019 and Anicet Ateba representing Impact Hub Bissau, a strategic partner of Fundação ATENA at FIRST Global Challenge 2025, form a dynamic and diverse team that is not only preparing to make history in the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge but also embodying the future leaders in science and technology for Guinea Bissau. Their collective ambition, creativity, and determination pave the way for meaningful contributions to the global robotics community and their nation’s progress.

Our Mentors:
Cristina Silva is a mentor who has participated in the 2019 FIRST Global Challenge in Dubai where she discovered her talent for driving the robot. She has severed as mentor of several teams that represented Guinea Bissau during Covid times and in Switzerland, Singapore and now in Panama. Cristiana is part of Fundação ATENA team dedicated to FIRST Global Challenge and is currently studying medicine in Portugal.

Anicet Ateba is the technical mentor, graduated in design and with extensive experience in graphic design. He is a founding member of Impact HUB Bissau, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Guinea-Bissau. Anicet currently serves as the President of the Guinea-Bissau E-sports Association and is also a member of the Executive Council of the Olympic Academy of Guinea-Bissau.

Team Media

guinebotics@gmail.com

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