The Beginning — New Forest High School, 2011

In 2011, at New Forest High School in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, I began a transformative journey in STEM education and helped establish an FLL LEGO League robotics team at New Forest High School where I am an Educator. As a mentor, I watched a group of curious, bright-eyed learners embrace this new challenge, armed with nothing more than a LEGO kit and boundless enthusiasm. This initiative brought robotics and problem-solving skills to our students, fostering critical thinking, teamwork, and innovation. The experience not only impacted the young participants but also transformed my own perspective on education and mentorship. Thank you to the generosity of SAP. The sponsorship was obtained particularly through MDEF member Raj Dhaniraj who worked at SAP. With MDEF team support we were able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many young South African students, setting them on a path of technological exploration and creativity. The programme spread to Asoka Secondary, my alumni school and subsequently to more than 100 children in KZN.

It started small—just a team of eager students, a LEGO kit, and a big dream in a classroom at New Forest High School. But from that humble beginning, something powerful began to grow. As their educator and mentor, I watched these young minds tackle each robotics challenge with growing confidence, transforming a simple LEGO kit into a gateway for learning engineering principles, coding fundamentals, and essential life skills. What made this journey even more meaningful was seeing how each student brought their unique perspective and talents to the team, creating an environment where innovation and collaboration flourished naturally.

What our children learnt

At New Forest High School, our FIRST LEGO League Challenge team transformed our classroom into a hub of innovation. Students aged 9-16 not only built and programmed LEGO robots but also tackled global issues like environmental sustainability. As they developed critical thinking and engineering skills, they also embraced FLL's core value of gracious professionalism. This journey fostered confidence, teamwork, and a spirit of community, teaching our students valuable life lessons that extended far beyond technical skills.

First Lego League Background

FIRST LEGO League Challenge brings STEM education to life through an exciting blend of robotics and real-world problem-solving. Students aged 9-16 work in teams to design, build, and program autonomous LEGO robots while tackling global challenges ranging from environmental sustainability to space exploration. Beyond technical skills, the program nurtures critical thinking, teamwork, and FLL's core value of gracious professionalism - creating an environment where students learn to value high-quality work, respect others, and contribute positively to their community.

Being a judge

My journey with FIRST LEGO League evolved when I became a regional judge for competitions across KwaZulu-Natal. From this new perspective, I evaluated diverse teams not just on their robotics skills, but on their teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving abilities. Witnessing students from various backgrounds rise to meet challenges with creativity and gracious professionalism reinforced my belief in STEM education's power to transform young minds. Each judging session revealed the incredible potential that emerges when youth engage with technology in meaningful ways.

The FIRST LEGO League journey at New Forest High School left an indelible mark on everyone involved, creating lasting memories and fostering valuable skills. As an educator and mentor, I witnessed this initiative evolve beyond a mere robotics competition into a powerful incubator for critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. The program revealed that mentorship is a two-way street; while guiding students through complex challenges, I found myself growing alongside them, gaining new insights into creativity, perseverance, and the boundless potential of young minds. To those contemplating mentorship in STEM education: embrace the opportunity. The rewards of nurturing young talent and witnessing students discover their capabilities are immeasurable, transforming not only their futures but your own perspective on education and innovation.