Help get pupils to the national robotics competition

Published Aug 30, 2024

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Cape Town - Erica Primary School’s robotics and coding team rose above their circumstances, qualifying to take part in this year’s national robotics competition.

The learners from the school, in the heart of Belhar, competed against schools across the province, mainly private schools, to earn their spot.

However, they need the public’s help to get them there for the competition, from September 13 to 14, and only have nine days to raise the funds.

Their teacher, Vernon Petersen, who has headed the club for the past two years and saw his teams previously rank second and third in categories at previous World Robotics Olympiad, said his learners are well deserving to show off their skills in Johannesburg next month.

“We had seven teams who competed against more than 200 schools and clubs in this year’s Provincial World Robotics Olympiad competitions. You only see the best schools in the province compete.

The learners are still training while trying to raise funds towards the competition. Picture: Supplied

“Erica Primary School is one of the few ‘marginalised’ schools that compete at these competitions. We are also the school across the entire South Africa that has five teams who qualified for the national competition.

“We need about R105 000; this includes travelling, accommodation, registration, food and some material. “We have already raised R25 000.” To help, contact Petersen on 082 607 4307 or visit Back-a-Buddy: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/rcsquared2is-going-to-jhb

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

Cape Argus