At The Stoneridge School, we take immense pride in celebrating the achievements of our learners who embody our school motto: Learn, Discover, Inspire. This term, we are delighted to recognize one of our own, Roshan Aitham Karoobi, a Primary Six pupil, as the Outstanding Achiever of Second Term 2024 for his remarkable performance at the prestigious Pan-African Robotics Competition (PARC) 2024 held in Dakar, Senegal.
Roshan had the honor of representing Uganda and The Stoneridge School through the Young Engineers Club, competing alongside some of the brightest minds from across the continent. Reflecting on this achievement, Roshan shared, “It felt good and fun representing Uganda and The Stoneridge School at the Pan-African Robotics Competition in Senegal.” His enthusiasm and dedication led him to secure an impressive second place in the competition, a significant accomplishment at an event that hosted 94 teams from 25 African countries.
The Pan-African Robotics Competition is recognized as Africa’s largest robotics competition, providing learners with the opportunity to showcase their skills and apply science and technology to real-world challenges. This year’s competition focused on themes such as AgTech, EnergyTech, SporTech, and LogTech, reflecting the transformative power of robotics and artificial intelligence in shaping Africa’s future. Participants were tasked with designing and engineering robots to solve complex problems in fields like agriculture, energy, and sports technology.
The journey to success was not without challenges. “It was quite challenging because part of the competition involved driving the robot I built, which could only pick up one ball at a time,” Roshan explained. “Meanwhile, the robots I was competing with could pick up 4-5 balls at a time.” Despite the difficulties, Roshan’s perseverance and ingenuity stood out, earning him a top spot among some of Africa’s best young engineers.
Roshan’s exceptional performance at PARC 2024 not only highlights his brilliance in robotics but also speaks volumes about the impact of the Young Engineers Club at The Stoneridge School. Established to offer learners skills for the future and to expand beyond the traditional UNEB-based curriculum, the Young Engineers Club has become a cornerstone for fostering creativity, innovation, and problem-solving among our learners.
Under the guidance of our dedicated teachers and mentors, the Young Engineers Club has enabled learners like Roshan to discover new passions and develop valuable skills. “Being a part of the Young Engineers Club at The Stoneridge School has helped me develop my skills and the love for engineering and coding that allows me to build robots today,” Roshan noted.
As a young innovator, Roshan has big dreams for the future. “I hope that I’d be able to go to the United States so that I can show my talent to the world and hopefully get a scholarship in the future,” he shared. His aspirations in science, technology, and robotics are a testament to our commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists, innovators, and creative thinkers who will drive progress in Uganda and beyond.
Roshan also offered advice to fellow learners aspiring to make their mark in the field of robotics and innovation. “No dream is too big,” he said. “You’ll need to understand that ups and downs will come ahead.”
As we celebrate Roshan’s success, we also recognize the importance of providing our learners with platforms like the Young Engineers Club, where they can develop new skills and explore their potential. We are confident that Roshan’s achievements will motivate his peers to pursue their dreams and continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
We congratulate Roshan Aitham Karoobi on his outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing where his journey of learning, discovery, and inspiration will take him next.
