We are five students from South Tarawa, proudly representing our schools and our home, Kiribati, on the global stage. We come from King George V & Elaine Bernacchi School (KGV&EBS) and Moroni High School, each of us bringing different strengths, passions, and dreams for the future. Etita Raweita (14, KGV&EBS) manages our robot’s electrical systems and hopes to become a doctor or engineer in the future. Lachlan Andrew (16, Moroni High School) is our team leader and lead robot engineer, with a goal of becoming a biochemical engineer. Rudolf Roman (17, KGV&EBS) is the vice team leader and robot designer. He dreams of becoming a doctor and helping others through healthcare. Roreta Starroti (16, KGV&EBS) is our lead programmer, with a strong interest in medicine and growing experience in practical coding. Charlotte Kaierua (16, KGV&EBS) takes on the role of an engineer with a future goal of becoming a civil engineer.

Taking part in this robotics challenge has been a rare and exciting opportunity for all of us. In Kiribati, robotics is not yet taught in schools or widely practiced, so being able to build, program, and operate a robot has opened a whole new world of learning. It has introduced us to skills like robot design, mechanical engineering, and programming, things we only ever saw in videos or read about. For many of us, it’s the first time we’ve had hands-on experience with this kind of technology. As science majors, it’s been fascinating for us to compare how a robot operates with how the human body functions. For those of us aspiring to become engineers, this challenge has strengthened our passion for creating systems that work and used to serve the environment. More than anything, this journey has strengthened our values of teamwork, perseverance, creativity, and unity. These qualities have always been part of who we are as I-Kiribati.

This year’s theme, Eco-Equilibrium, truly speaks to our hearts. As young people from a nation on the frontline of climate change, we’ve seen how it affects our land, our food, and our future. We’ve come to understand that restoring biodiversity in areas already impacted by climate change and protecting what remains is essential to reducing its long-term effects on our small, low-lying islands. Even though we come from a small country, we’ve realized that we can still dream big, use technology with purpose, and most importantly, take meaningful action for our environment and our communities.

Team Media

first@kiribati.gov.ki

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