Five teenagers from Palestine are set to compete in Panama next week at one of the world's largest youth robotics events. Amid a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, they have finalized a robot designed to tackle climate change simulations. Their aim is victory followed by teaching STEM to war-displaced peers.
For the past year, the teenage members of Team Palestine have developed their robotics project while their homeland faced the Israel-Hamas war. The conflict engulfed Gaza, complicating their efforts until earlier this month, when a fragile ceasefire took hold. With Israeli forces pulling back from parts of Gaza, the teens completed their robot, which navigates simulated challenges inspired by climate change effects.
Next week, these five Palestinian teens will travel to Panama for the competition, hoping to secure a win. Beyond the podium, they plan to use their success to educate peers displaced by the war in STEM subjects. This initiative highlights resilience amid ongoing regional tensions, as the ceasefire offers a brief window of stability.
The project underscores the role of youth innovation in adversity, with the robot's design focusing on environmental hurdles like those posed by rising seas or extreme weather—mirroring broader global concerns.