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Christel House South Africa learners and educators are making their mark in Robotics and Esports, demonstrating what is possible when young people from under-resourced communities are given access to technology, expert guidance and opportunities to compete on national platforms.

At the recent World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Provincial Event at the University of the Western Cape, a Christel House South Africa team achieved first place in the Senior category, automatically qualifying for the South African National event. The school’s Explorer Prime team also secured an impressive third place and has since received an invitation to compete at Nationals.

For Grade 12 learner Sabri K., achieving first place alongside teammate Jacen F. was a particularly meaningful milestone in his final year of WRO competition. The experience has strengthened Sabri’s interest in technology and problem-solving, and he is now considering pursuing a career in biomedical engineering.

The school’s success extended beyond its learners. Beverley Esterhuizen, Mathematics Teacher and Robotics Coach at Christel House South Africa’s Junior School, was recognised as the second highest-ranked Head Judge at the provincial competition, receiving a four-out-of-five-star judge rating in recognition of her experience, expertise and contribution to the WRO programme.

Christel House South Africa’s Esports learners are also heading to the national stage, with five learners who qualified for the Minecraft Build Battle invited to represent the Western Cape at the Curro Clash Grand Final LAN in Gauteng, where they will compete against teams from across South Africa.

These achievements reflect the importance of providing learners with opportunities to develop practical STEM, coding, robotics, problem-solving and digital skills. Through the support of dedicated educators, donors and partners, Christel House South Africa is helping learners gain the exposure and experience they need to imagine and pursue futures in technology and other emerging fields.