Mentoring teams outside of North America

[molly o]

Team 433 tried to start a team in Ghana this year as one of our community outreach projects. Unfortunately, a sponsor withdrew at the last minute, and we were not able to register them for the 2006 competition. We did manage, however, to raise enough locally to bring eight students and three teaches to the Philadelphia regional from Ghana. They learned about the competition as they made repairs in our pit, looked over and debugged our code, and participated in our best cheering section of the year. Next year, we believe that they will be competing for themselves.
In the past few weeks, our mentor/teacher has been receiving emails from different people who saw us at Philadelphia or our pit at Atlanta where we had a team picture of us and the Ghanaians from Drexel. Some people have been inspired to start a similar outreach or already had such an endeavor underway. They have been looking for advice and support. Mentoring a team abroad has some obstacles. If your team is in the process or has already started a team overseas, please post here. Creating a database will allow us to know who to turn to with fundraising questions (particularly in regards to shipping), travel issues (visas?), and any other of the numerous logistical issues that arise in such a project.
Thanks.

[Evenstar_342]

Ghana?! That is very cool, I'm sorry you guys couldn't get this started. Out of curiosity, what does it take to start a FIRST or FLL team in a country that has never had one before? I am going to Chile for two months this summer as part of an exchange program and my family is hosting a Bolivan girl who is very interested in engineering - so of course I want to expose her to FIRST! -and I thought that it would be cool if I, not necessarily my team, since we already have enough to do! could start an FLL or FIRST team in one of those countries. Do you have to get special permission from FIRST, or can you just sign the team up (obviously with support from a local school in the country or something like that) and then start fundraising for all the stuff? Thanks and definetly good luck with your efforts!

[Timothy D. Ginn]

Originally Posted by Evenstar_342

what does it take to start a FIRST or FLL team in a country that has never had one before?

This isn't something I've tried; but I think a good start would be to go to http://www.firstlegoleague.org/nobanner.aspx?pid=0 and find out what the nearest country is that does have one then try and get in touch with the person who's organising it's country page and ask for some help/advice (they may be able to help with shipping things faster than you'd get them from the US if there's a local distributor in that country).

[yamo18]

My old team (Oaktown Crewz-1188) worked with students from South Africa last year. I am sure that any of the mentors there would be happy to talk with any team about mentoring overseas.

[OZ_341]

Our VEX team from Singapore has been to the USA 3 times now for competitions. They have been to Atlanta twice and PA once. They also attended school at Wissahickon HS for 5 days. The experience was awesome, but the money issue was tough!!

Fortunately they received several large grants in Singapore and our sponsor picked up some local bus transportation.

So far we have sent one student to Singapore. We are working right now on making a trip to Singapore in August with a larger group, but things are not final yet.

We'll keep you posted on our progress.

[santosh]

We are working to start a VEX or FRC team in Denmark after an FLL team from there came to champs and visited with us for a day. THose guys were awesome.

[GaryVoshol]

Yes indeed, 1188 did mentor students in South Africa this past season.

For the first year of our relationship, the students became part of our team. The intent was for them to build a mirror robot in SA, but it was not possible to get parts to them. They worked on our website, animation, and a safety presentation. In addition, they became part of our Chairman's presentation via a video recording.

5 team members and the coach were able to visit with us for about 10 days before the Championship, and then travel with us to Atlanta. However 9 additional team members and several mentors were not able to afford the trip. Airfare was about $2500 per person.

In addition to being a part of 1188, the SA students were also an FLL team competing in the World Festival. In many countries that do not have FRC, the age limit for FLL is increased a year or two, which is what SA does. However these students are either at or approaching that age limit, and they will be looking at competing in FRC.

The goal is to get an FRC regional in Africa. There already is a regional in Isreal. I believe there will soon be a regional in Europe, as there is a very strong FLL presence there and that would be the next developmental step for those students. There were 5 FRC teams in Great Britain this year, including 4 rookies - they may be instrumental in getting a regional going there. I've also heard that a regional is desired in Brazil, which currently has 5 teams.

There are many areas around the world where FIRST could expand. In Asia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China have FLL teams, plus Isreal and Jordan in the Mideast. Those would be natural areas for expansion of FRC. In addition, there should be great opportunities for FIRST in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zeeland, and in the rest of Latin America. FLL is the obvious first step, as there are far less costs involved to get programs and competitions going.

FLL has a "Contact Us" page - http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=7350 - where you could inquire whether there is an "FLL Partner" for any country in which you are interested. FLL Partners are the organizers for teams and tournaments in their countries. There was talk at the World Festival of a new Parnter somewhere in South America, but I can't remember what country.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

Our VEX team from Singapore has been to the USA 3 times now for competitions. They have been to Atlanta twice and PA once. They also attended school at Wissahickon HS for 5 days. The experience was awesome, but the money issue was tough!!

I should also note that their Singapore Vex team is one third of the reigning FVC world champions. It's not only possible to get teams from the other side of the world to compete in FIRST, it's possible for them to win it all!

[Bill Moore]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I should also note that their Singapore Vex team is one third of the reigning FVC world champions. It's not only possible to get teams from the other side of the world to compete in FIRST, it's possible for them to win it all!

They were finalists at the Delaware Regional FIRST Vex Challenge as well as winner of the "Think Award".

Judges comments for the Think Award:
"This team's impeccably documented notebook tells the story of each and every team member and includes an in-depth diary of the concept, design, trials and errors, and lessons learned in the creation of their robot. Additionally, this notebook includes up to the minute diary entries of the team's preparation for and excursion to the Delaware Regional FVC event. This notebook is the most thorough of all entries received and is neat, visually appealing and the most creatively decorated of all."

[Jeff K.]

This year, we tried to get a team started up in England. I think it was funds that held them back this year, but they did send a group of students and a mentor here to the Southern California Regional, where we competed and they worked with the VEX stuff. They also hung out with us in the pits and watched the matches. They loved the overall feel and excitement of the competition. Since we hosted them for a week here in the states, they invited us over to England in October and will play host to Europe for us.
They really hope be able to compete next season.

[molly o]

do you have to get special permission from FIRST, or can you just sign the team up

No, you don't need special permission. But, when you decide whether to try to start a FLL or FRC team, remember the differences in funding required. Of course, depending on ages and interest, a FRC team might make more sense.

Our VEX team from Singapore has been to the USA 3 times now for competitions. They have been to Atlanta twice and PA once. They also attended school at Wissahickon HS for 5 days.

Congratulations on your efforts. It is great that they went to the school for a few days; when the Ghanaians attended our school, it definitely generated attention for the Firebirds as well as created a positive experience for all students.

Fortunately they received several large grants in Singapore

That is fortunate that you received funding from a local (for the other team) source. When our sponsor withdrew, they simply said that they wanted to keep the money in the area.


Thank you for all the replies so far. I wish everyone the best of luck in spreading the mission of FIRST. Different regional locations, as Gary mentioned, would definitely help out in the future as they could lessen the shipping burden.

[Carmine Rizzo]

Team #75 (the Original RoboRaiders) has mentored a Team in Brazil. 1382 Tribotec and 1382 then had started 1860 Cephas. We are from the same corporate sponsor and we all know each other. I have spent about three months in Brazil on my normal job and we have built a friendship beyond Work and FIRST. The key to an overseas sponsorship is to have a sponsor that believes in the youth of tomorrow. This then allows the students and mentors to have a common goal to achieve from both teams. The sponsored team must have an enormous drive to press forward through all adversity.

The mentors had built friendships through our job and they had seen the benefits of FIRST. The engineers reported back to management with a positive response. It took several years for the Team to be created. I cannot say enough about my friends in Brazil, they have beaten us in competition and they deserve all the awards they have won. Team #1382 is an outstanding team and now they are creating another force to be reckoned with Team #1860. I had been to their school and had seen the Educational program which is behind FRC and it is a genuine program. Team #75 has hosted #1382 in the school and we have provided tools, parts, batteries and help. Brazil has a difficult time to get parts in and out of Brazil. We have also helped get items like the balls from several years to the Teams in Brazil for them to practice. You have to maintain your relationship and never abandon these teams. You cannot start a team and leave them on their own that is not gracious professionalism. Be prepared for the long haul if you commit then understand what that commitment truly is.

I have traveled to many places in world and FIRST is an expensive program for most countries. Students who are sponsored through corporations, schools, parents and local business should consider themselves lucky. Many people would rather spend this money on food. But if we educate the youth and they become the future scientists and engineers of tomorrow, then they could devise ways to become more productive and take this investment and return it back to the people. This is a balance and we have to leverage large US and EU based corporations located in these remote locations to see these benefits. I’m privileged to work for a corporation which has a CREDO and states we must give back to the community.

Team #75 Mentor

[OZ_341]

We have finally made it work!!! We are going to Singapore!!! (8/14 until 8/25)
We are taking 7 students, 1 college mentor, 3 coaches, 1 Principal, and a few family members. We are also taking our FRC machine "Miss Daisy" across the world with us!
Our kids will be attending classes, participating in co-curricular activities and seeing the sights of Singapore. We will also be holding demonstrations for several schools, community groups, companies and government officials. The goal is to spread the message of FIRST and rally support for the schools involved.

We are looking to build on their success in VEX and get them started in FRC. They are a bit scared, but who doesn't feel that cold chill when they drop that curtain in Manchester each year.

We can't wait to go and will keep you posted on our progress.

[molly o]

Congratulations to team 341. I am sure that will be an amazing experience. Good luck recruiting support while you are there. Hopefully we will see a new FRC team next year.