The Rwanda Basic Education Board has welcomed a team of students from Hope Haven Christian School following their outstanding performance at the First Lego League World Championship held in Houston, United States.
REB Director General Nelson Mbarushimana officially received the students after winning the prestigious “Innovative Project Medal” for their project titled “Deep Trace.”
The award-winning innovation uses robotic technology to explore and track hidden underground information, particularly data on soil and underground structures. The project was praised as a strong example of how technology and innovation can provide solutions to real-world challenges beyond education, including agriculture, land management, and environmental monitoring.
As young innovators arrived in Rwanda on May 6, 2026, student Abeza Mary, speaking after the competition, encouraged fellow learners to remain focused on education and innovation.
“We should love learning, value education, and use technology responsibly. We are the energy of the nation and the generation that will move it forward,” she said.
Beyond the celebrations at the airport and official reception, the achievement has sparked renewed conversations within the education sector about the growing role of robotics in shaping Rwanda’s future workforce. Educators say that Such success stories are steadily strengthening how students perceive science and technology subjects, making them more engaging, practical, and increasingly inspiring.
REB’s Director of Technology in Education, Sengati Diane, said the annual competition aims to equip students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills through robotics and innovation.
“These competitions help students think broadly and create technological solutions to challenges affecting communities in different sectors, including agriculture, water, land, and even space,” she explained.
She further noted that participation in global competitions exposes students to advanced ideas and modern technologies, helping them build confidence and adapt to rapidly evolving digital environments. According to her, such experiences are essential in preparing learners who can compete and collaborate on a global stage.
School leaders also emphasized that the students’ performance reflects consistent effort, discipline, and teamwork developed over time through practical learning and mentorship.
The achievement follows another milestone earlier this year when Hope Haven Christian School and Rwanda Coding Academy emerged among the top schools in robotics and artificial intelligence competitions, earning the opportunity to represent Rwanda in international contests in the United States and Switzerland.
