Lesedi Moloi (12) from Reddford House Blue Hills in Midrand has achieved global recognition for her robot invention in the Inspired Build 2023, a premier global inter-school technology challenge. Amidst fierce competition spanning 111 schools in 24 countries across five continents, Lesedi and five students from Reddam House Bedfordview propelled South Africa into the spotlight, clinching awards in a remarkable three of the six age categories.
Competing in the Age 11-12 category, Lesedi designed an innovative robotics sorter. This brilliant piece of tech efficiently organises rubbish (in the form of Lego blocks) into various recycle categories. Reflecting on this achievement, Michael Maher, Robotics Teacher from Reddford House Blue Hills, a school that has featured in the top placements for three consecutive years, said: “Lesedi’s work is a shining example of technical acumen and environmental awareness. Her ability to seamlessly code and execute the robot’s function left us all in awe.”
In the global arena of school-based technological innovation, Inspired Build is regarded as the premier inter-school technology challenge. The competition challenges young innovators aged 7 to 13 to design and create robots under a different theme each year. This year, the spotlight was on ‘Environmental Innovation’, pushing young minds to address pressing issues such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and resource conservation. The competition, hosted by the illustrious St. Louis School of Milan, received close to 100 robot entries in each age category.
