Posted by Swellengram
Cyber Tigers: South Africa’s All-Girls Robotics Team Aims for Asia-Pacific Glory
The Cyber Tigers, an all-girls robotics team from Swellendam, Western Cape, are set to represent South Africa at the prestigious FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Asia Pacific Open Championship, taking place from July 3–6, 2025, at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. The team consists of Lisa Glatz, Christelle Glatz, Zané Kotze, Amelia Esterhuyse and Lara Pretorius.
What Is FIRST LEGO League?
FIRST LEGO League is a global *STEM competition that challenges students aged 9–16 to design, build, and program autonomous robots using LEGO technology. Each season centers around a real-world theme—such as ocean conservation or the arts—and includes four key components: the Robot Game, Innovation Project, Robot Design, and Core Values, which emphasize teamwork, inclusion, and professionalism. At the South African national championship, the team took home the coveted Robot Design Award, recognising their efficient and elegant engineering approach. They also received a Core Values award for their exceptional teamwork and spirit at the Open Africa Championship.
A New Challenge—and a Funding Gap
For the 2024–2025 season, themed “Submerged,” the Cyber Tigers developed an innovative app that uses photos to detect rip currents and alert beachgoers to potential dangers.The inspiration behind the Cyber Tigers’ app idea is deeply personal. The team was motivated to take on the challenge of rip current detection after the tragic loss of a friend who drowned while swimming at a local beach. The incident left a profound impact on the girls, highlighting how invisible and deadly rip currents can be, especially when there are no lifeguards on duty. Determined to prevent similar tragedies, they combined their passion for technology with a desire to make a real difference, developing an app that could save lives by warning beachgoers about dangerous water conditions in real time.
Their success at regional and national levels earned them a spot at the Asia Pacific Open, but international travel comes with significant costs. The team still needs to raise R150,000 to cover expenses such as flights, accommodation, and participation fees.
In the past, the Cyber Tigers have demonstrated incredible dedication to fundraising—selling burgers, merchandise, and even holding a dance to reach their goals. Now, they’re calling on South Africans to help them cross the finish line.
To support the Cyber Tigers and help them showcase South African talent on the global stage, donations can be made by contacting the team directly at sanetglatz@gmail.com or phoning 076 52 42 358. Every contribution brings them one step closer to Sydney—and to inspiring the next generation of girls in STEM.
Sanet Glatz
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Interdisciplinary approach to learning that encourages problem-solving, creativity, and innovation—key skills for careers in fields like robotics, software development, medicine, and environmental science.
STEM education is especially vital in today’s world, where technology evolves rapidly, and fostering analytical thinking can lead to groundbreaking solutions—like the Cyber Tigers’ rip current detection app! It’s exciting to see young minds applying STEM to real-world challenges.
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