Providing STEM Access To Disadvantaged Communities

To our FIRST^® LEGO^® League team, being a Force for change means utilizing our abilities and resources for the sake of humanity. For each competition we go through the process of brainstorming, research, talking to experts, and preparing presentations. This process allows us to increase our skills in listening, presenting, imaginative thinking and expressing ourselves. These skills help us take real world problems and find solutions to make our world a better place.

Beyond our FIRST LEGO League challenge and competition, STEM has inspired us to apply our skills in new ways. Our team participated in a 3D design workshop where we realized a few of our students were extremely talented in that area. We used our schools’ 3D printers so we could see our designs come to life and envision real world applications. One of the applications we are especially excited about is producing an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be used to carry medical drugs to rural farmers in urgent situations. We have established communication with schools in disadvantaged areas in Turkey and sent them educational kits that we had collected from fellow students at our school. We have consulted many professors in fields related to our project ideas so we can make sure we have a strong knowledge base required for building an innovative project.