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Eight-Year-Old Selected For World Robotics Competition In Ontario Inspires Community Mobilization As Family Seeks To Raise Up To R$20 Thousand To Ensure Mother’s Presence On International Trip
A story of talent, dedication, and overcoming challenges has been attracting attention in Minas Gerais. A student just 8 years old, living in the Capoeirana community in Nova Era, in the Médio Piracicaba region, has achieved an opportunity that few Brazilian students reach: representing the country in an international robotics competition. Young Alana was selected to compete in the world stage of the FIRA RoboWorld Cup, an event that brings together teams from various countries and will be held in Ontario, Canada, starting on July 14.
However, despite this extraordinary achievement, the family now faces an additional challenge. Although part of the travel costs is being covered by institutional support, there is still a need to raise funds so that the student’s mother can accompany her during the international experience, something deemed essential for the child’s safety and well-being.
The information was disclosed by the portal “De Fato”, which is following the family’s mobilization and detailing the student’s journey from her entry into the robotics project to her qualification for the world championship in Canada. According to the report, the campaign to enable the mother’s presence on the trip has been publicized on social media and is mobilizing residents, supporters, and institutions in the region.
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Performance in National Championship Secured Spot in the World Competition
Before earning the opportunity to compete abroad, Alana and her team had to demonstrate outstanding performance in a national stage. Qualification for the international tournament occurred after the group achieved seventh place in a national competition held in São Paulo.
The result caught attention mainly because the preparation for the event was relatively short. According to family members, the team had about two months of targeted training for the competition, during which the children intensified their studies and activities related to robotics.
With the national result secured, the team guaranteed qualification for the FIRA RoboWorld Cup, one of the most well-known educational robotics competitions in the world. The delegation is set to depart on July 14 for the province of Ontario, Canada, where the international tournament will take place.
In this context, the Nova Era City Hall announced that it will cover various essential items for the students’ participation, including:
- airfare for the children
- accommodation
- necessary documentation
- logistics for issuing passport and visa
However, support does not include expenses related to the presence of family members or legal guardians, a situation that led the family to initiate a parallel mobilization to raise funds.
Family Mobilizes Campaign To Ensure Mother’s Presence On The Trip
Alana lives with her mother, Eliane Lopes da Silva, and receives support from family and friends who have started to share the story on social media. The mobilization began to gain momentum after the announcement of the spot in the international competition.
According to Pablo Felipe da Silva Miranda, 25, the student’s cousin, having the mother present during the trip is seen as essential for the child to face the experience with peace of mind.
“Everything will be new for her: the airplane, the international trip, and a foreign country. The mother’s presence is not a detail; it is her safety net,” he explained.
The campaign seeks to raise between R$16 thousand and R$20 thousand, the estimated amount to cover the mother’s travel expenses, such as airfare, accommodation, and living costs in Canada. According to the family, the final amount may vary due to the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar, a factor that directly influences the trip’s budget.
The mobilization is being conducted through social media posts, promotional videos, and contacts with companies, journalists, and residents in the area. The goal is to ensure that the student can participate in the international competition accompanied by her mother.
Social Robotics Project Opened New Opportunities For The Student
Alana’s journey in the tech world began about a year ago, when she was selected to participate in the Na Mochila Project, a social initiative focused on education in STEAM, an acronym that encompasses science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
The project operates in several cities in the Médio Piracicaba region, including:
- João Monlevade
- São Domingos do Prata
- Nova Era
- Rio Piracicaba
The initiative brings together students from public schools and has achieved recognition in national and international competitions. Among the recent results, the project has already won a silver medal in a world tournament held in Daegu, South Korea, in the U14 Impossible Mission category.
In Alana’s case, entry into the project was based on criteria such as academic performance and attendance at educational activities.
According to Pablo, the student’s talent quickly stood out among the participants.
“She has always been one of the best students in school. She participates in everything, is focused, and is always present. Within robotics, she stood out for her creativity and speed in learning,” he stated.
Currently, the student attends the Cecília Gabriela Martins Quintão Municipal School, located in the Capoeirana community.
Female Delegation Will Represent Community In The International Tournament
In the international competition in Canada, Alana will participate in the FIRA Kids category, aimed at children of the same age group.
The Capoeirana community delegation will consist of four girls, namely:
- Alana
- Roberta
- Laura
- Lívia
Alana and Roberta were part of the team that competed in the national championship in São Paulo, while Laura and Lívia will serve as substitutes in the delegation.
Meanwhile, the family’s routine has changed to accommodate the training schedule and commitments of the team. According to the student’s mother, her daughter’s dedication requires constant organization.
“She spends all day at school, and on Saturdays, she goes to practice. If there is an event in another city, we need to go too. My routine is to chase everything for her and solve what needs to be done,” Eliane reported.
For the mother, contact with robotics has broadened her daughter’s perspectives about the future.
“She sees these opportunities as a chance to achieve better things, have a better profession, and more possibilities in life,” she stated.
Student’s Story Inspires Residents Of The Community
In addition to directly impacting the student’s life, the story has also generated inspiration within the community itself.
According to Pablo, Capoeirana is a low-income locality, with characteristics that mix urban and rural areas. In this context, seeing a child from the region gain national and international recognition is significant for the residents.
“Capoeirana is a low-income community, partially urbanized and partially rural. We grew up on the same lot. Seeing an eight-year-old child from a public school achieve a national result with little training time and receive an invitation to the world championship changes what the community believes is possible,” he stated.
The campaign continues to be promoted on social media and remains mobilizing people from the area. If the raised amounts exceed the established goal, the family informed that they intend to allocate part of the resources to the Na Mochila Project, contributing to the purchase of materials and supporting other children interested in learning robotics.
Stories like Alana’s demonstrate the impact of technological education in public schools — do you believe that robotics projects should be expanded in Brazil?
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