The SpringBots will fly the SA flag high on the international stage soon, where they’ll compete in a challenge that puts the environment first!
South Africa (12 October 2025) – SA’s gold-winning robotics champs are heading to Panama City. From 29 October to 1 November, five bright young South Africans will represent the country at the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge, where they’ll come up against 190 countries in a robotics challenge.
The theme, Eco Equilibrium, will challenge teams to do something good – design and programme robots that can help protect the planet’s biodiversity.
“Guided by the spirit of Ubuntu, meaning ‘I am because we are,’ the team will showcase South Africa’s talent, creativity, and collaborative heart on one of the world’s biggest STEM stages,” shares the youth organisation.
The SpringBots began in 2018 as a small team of learners who loved science and robots. They’ve since mushroomed into a movement that’s changing the way STEM education reaches kids in schools. They’ve represented SA at international competitions. Just last year, they scooped gold at the World Robotics Olympics in Greece in 2024.
The SpringBots has grown in leaps and bounds, reaching more young minds in SA.
Earlier this year, they launched 100 robotics teams across five provinces in the Free State, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo, taking coding and robotics kits into underserved schools. The organisation is determined to give more learners a fair shot at exploring technology.
The next milestone is to establish 1000 teams across South Africa and they’re campaigning to have robotics recognised as an official sport in South Africa. Coding, building and competing takes just as much training, teamwork and determination as rugby, cricket or soccer do.
“But dreams this big need support, and SpringBots is ready to partner with those who believe in empowering young innovators to shape a better world,” shares the SpringBots.
Support also looks like cheering them along, as they gear up to represent SA internationally in just a few weeks. Go SpringBots!
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 