Build the Future with Cocobots! Help Cook Islands Youth Compete at the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge in Panama!
The Cocobots are raising funds to support Cook Islands youth through STEAM education and robotics, mentoring, and global competition. After proudly winning Gold at the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge in 2024, our national team is preparing to represent the Cook Islands again in Panama this October. This campaign supports not just their journey to the world stage — but the growth of local talent and future tech leaders.
*Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics
Our Purpose
Thanks to the backing of our sponsors and donors in 2024, the Cocobots made history in Athens by securing Gold with their Alliance!
We’re now raising funds to send our national robotics team to the 2025 FIRST Global Robotics Challenge, purchase essential robotics kits, and continue weekly mentoring — not just to prepare Cook Islands youth for this year’s competition, but to equip them for success in a rapidly changing digital world.
Your support helps build confident, capable young people — and gives them the chance to represent our nation with pride.
Why do you believe this will resonate with potential donors
Our māpū are representing our small nation with pride, talent, and excellence — and proving they can compete on the global stage. This campaign isn’t just about robotics; it’s about belief in our own and building the future. Supporting Cocobots means backing our māpū , investing in their future, and lifting our whole community through education, innovation, and island pride. This years theme is Eco-Equilibrium – is about achieving a balance between human progress and the health of our planet. It challenges students to design robotic solutions that reflect how we can protect our ecosystems and design more sustainable solutions.
Turu i te au māpū o te Kūki ‘Āirani kia tū i runga i te ta’ua o tēia nei ao.
How will the funds be used?
You donations will support:
1. Travel to represent the Cook Islands at the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge in Panama Oct 2025!
– registration fees, REV robotics competition kit, travel transit to Panama City, team uniforms, accomodation, and travel insurance
2. Robotics Tools and Equipment
– purchase robot replacement parts, tools, equipment to design, build and test our prototypes and construct our competition robot
3. Mentoring and Training
– support weekly training sessions with locals mentors and experts to guide students in design, coding, engineering, and team building challenges.
4. STEAM education, advocacy and outreach
– funding workshops and hands-on robotics projects and events to inspire more youth and promote STEAM and Robotics across the Cook Islands. We also are advocating for Robotics to be recognized as a Sport – https://first.global/sport/
Our mission is to make STEAM fun! We can achieve this by giving our youth opportunities to build, create, and innovate in a technology driven world.
