Students from Choco Represent Colombia in International Robotics Competition

Students from the department of Choco are representing Colombia in the international robotics tournament being held in the city of Medellin from February 18 to 22. The Colombian teenagers, who belong to the Nuevo Amanecer Foundation of Chocó and are sponsored by Motorola, compete against representatives from other Latin American countries, the United States and Australia.

The foundation, headed by psychologist Haidy Sanchez Mattsson, from the city of Quibdo, capital of the department of Choco, provides educational programs to children in vulnerable areas of the region, prioritizing STEAM areas. A group of girls between the ages of 13 and 15, five of African descent and one of another origin, are part of the project. Choco is the poorest department and has traditionally suffered exclusion from Colombia’s public policies.

Students overcome adversity

Choco is a region where life is traditionally more complicated than in other areas of Colombia. Opportunities are few, so every achievement of its population has double merit. In this opportunity the Motorola company provides the students and teachers with Motorola devices, as well as transportation and meals for the girls in the tournament in the city of Medellin.

“I like robotics because I consider it is our future and having knowledge on the subject opens doors in every way; also because I know it is a way to help my department. I project myself as a woman capable of creating and transforming people’s lives through technological tools that allow us to build a better life, encouraging other young people to bet on their inventions and put them to work for the advancement of society,” says Maxdy Lorena Perea, a 13-year-old student of the Nuevo Amanecer Foundation.

For her part, the leader of the foundation to which these girls belong has shown her satisfaction at being able to participate in the international tournament representing Colombia. “For me it is very satisfying to see the growth and especially the commitment that this group has had: they are girls who live in very vulnerable scenarios that have shown a high level of commitment, meeting every Saturday with a team of teachers who give them practical advice, and thanks to the alliance we have with the organization Global Art, Science and Technology, they are digitally connected with several teachers from Antioquia who dictate all the theoretical part. This allows us today to have a place in the international competition, which makes me proud”, confirms Haidy Sanchez Mattsson, director of Nuevo Amanecer Foundation.