The robotics team of Zwelethemba High School in Worcester is currently in Massachusetts, USA for an international robotics tournament.
The have defied the odds by becoming one of the top-performing teams in South Africa within only a year of being introduced to robotics.
The Galatic Einsteins, as the team is known, has joined 75 other teams from around the world at the Worcester polytechnic institute (WPI) for the inaugural WPI annual first lego league open event, where each has to complete a research project to identify and solve a real world problem.
Their itinerary includes a visit to the National aeronautics and space administration (NASA). From 23 to 25 June, the Galatic Einsteins will take part in the Maryland tech invitational competition at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
The tournament brings together first tech challenge (FTC) teams from around the world who have demonstrated excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Kudakwashe Takawira, mathematics teacher at Zwelethemba High School, said most of the team members come from poor backgrounds and it is remarkable how well they have performed against well-resourced teams with more than 10 years of experience in robotics.
Establishing a STEM club at the school and introduced the learners to robotics, he said their success sparked a huge interest in the club, making the centre a technological hub in the area.
The Galactic Einsteins arrived in Massachusetts on 8 June and will return to South Africa on the 28th.
