Israeli youth flex their innovation muscles in Houston
The competition is supported by the NASA Space Agency and is attended by hundreds of outstanding high school groups from around the world.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: APRIL 16, 2018 13:11Team 7039 XO Robot Reveal 2018 (YouTube Team XO 7039)
For the first time, the Israeli delegation to the World Robotics Competition in Houston will include 15 Israeli youth from the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village with the support of the Jewish Agency's Activism Unit. The unique delegation consists of three girls and 12 boys, most of them members of Na'aleh (‘immigrant youth without parents’), who came from countries of the former Soviet Union.The students worked day and night to prepare the robot that earned them many praises during the competition in Israel and helped them reach the most advanced stages. The team is one of the top ten teams in the FIRST Israel Robotics Competition, winning the opportunity to take part in the global competition that will be taking place April 18-22 in Houston.The competition is supported by the NASA Space Agency and is attended by hundreds of outstanding high school groups from around the world.During their stay in Houston, the delegation will hold a memorial service for IDF soldiers at the site of the competition and a memorial ceremony to Ilan Ramon at the NASA site in Houston.Hadassah Neurim Youth Village students show off their robot "We are highly proud of the Hadassah Neurim youth robotics team for their participation in the International Robotics Competition in Houston," said Nir Lahav, Director of the Jewish Agency’s Activism Unit. "We work all year round to ensure equal opportunities for youth at risk and particularly in the periphery. Every child, regardless of family origin or socioeconomic status, has the right to dream and reach as far and high as he possibly can.”The Social Activism Unit promotes social activism in service of vulnerable populations in order to provide equal opportunities for those at risk, empowering young social activism leaders, promoting Jewish unity and creating connections between Israelis and Jews from overseas."This is a great honor for the Hadassah Neurim youth village, whose vision of pursuing excellence as well as technology orientation are engraved on its flag. On Israel's 70th Independence Day our group will be among the schools that will represent Israel in this prestigious competition," said Shlomo Haronishki, Chair of the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village.
