October 02, 2024

Team South Africa Wins Gold at 2024 First Global Challenge in Greece

Team South Africa brought home the gold medal from the 2024 First Global Challenge, held at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens, Greece. Four of the five South African champions hail from schools in Pretoria, showcasing local talent on the global stage.

The competition, which drew participants from over 190 countries, aims to inspire young minds in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The South African Springbots won the prestigious Dr. Mae Jemison Award for International Unity, recognized for their outstanding collaboration and efforts to break down cultural and international barriers.

The First Global Challenge, often referred to as the "Olympics of robotics," brings together teams from around the world to build and program robots to solve global challenges. Each year, the event is hosted in a different country, with themes centered around pressing global issues. The competition fosters understanding and cooperation among the youth, encouraging them to work together on solutions to engineering challenges.

The winning South African team consisted of mentor Jared Reddy, students Mukondi Sinugo (17), Keletso Nkuna (16), Katiso Mallane (17), Amahle-Amambo Mkhize (17), Chaydon Weldschidt (17), and mentor Roxanne Reddy.