Four Dominican students will represent Dominica at the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge in South Korea, competing in robotics, coding and engineering.
Dominica: Four students will take part in the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge in Incheon, South Korea, where young innovators from across the country will compete with teams from other nations.
The international robotics competition is set to take place from October 7th to 10th, bringing together students from more than 190 countries. It will challenge the students' abilities in robotics, coding, engineering and problem-solving skills. It will also test their teamwork and collaborative skills.
The students were chosen from Nature Isle Robotics, a youth STEM programme that involves students from various secondary schools from around the nation.
Nature Isle Robotics representatives include Kaelan Matthew from Saint Mary's Academy, Leonelle Lewis from Dominica Grammar School, Kitarah Eustache from Dominica State College, and Naiyeelie Moreau from Dominica State College.
They are traveling with their mentors Phoenix Jacques and Odessa Dinnard. Kodie Jean-Jacques, who is also a member of the group, will also act as a mentor for the team.
While only four students will travel to South Korea, the robot competing in the tournament is the result of months of collaboration between the students involved in the wider programme. Students have been involved in the design, construction, programming, and testing of the robot.
Nature Isle Robotics was founded in 2018 under the Dominica Robotics Association. This volunteer-run initiative has successfully exposed over 170 youth to the world of robotics, engineering, and programming.
Its activities involve free workshops, community outreach, and participation in international robotics competitions, which provide hands-on experience in STEM disciplines.
Their trip to South Korea received significant support from the government of Dominica, businesses, educational institutions, and individual supporters.
Individual sponsors are 767.dev, Dominica State College, Create Caribbean, National Bank of Dominica, PetroCaribe, Republic Bank, Morancie and Sons, Central Cooperative Credit Union, Carlton Phillip, Campbells, Daniel Fadelle, and Trudy Christian.
The team’s participation provides the young participants an opportunity to show their technical skills, while gaining international exposure. It also offers them a chance to represent their country on a global stage.