PITTED against 64 teams from California, Jamaica’s entrants failed to even rank in the F.I.R.S.T LEGO League contest in San Jose, but returned home feeling like winners, and as community heroes.

Not even their disappointing finish could dampen the thrill of the experience for seven kids from Kingston’s poor neighbourhoods, five of whom were travelling for the first time, and who a week after their return home were still basking in the warmth of the reception they got from overseas hosts and rivals charmed by their life stories.

Under the supervision of coach Marvin Hall, the team competed as the Caribbean’s sole representative in what was Jamaica’s third appearance in the league competition.

“Despite the cold weather, the children warmed the hearts of the judges with their passion and song about their lives and overcoming the challenges to participate in a robotics programme in their community,” said Hall.

But hampered by the cold weather and a malfunctioning robot, the team managed to score only 117 points – insufficient to rank. The team, whose members spoke to the Sunday Observer on Wednesday, was still proud that they at least tried, for themselves and for their communities, where good things happen infrequently.

“It was a very good experience for me because we learnt a lot from the other students while we were there, but it was too cold,” said Shamari Thompson, 14, of Central Branch All-Age.

“We are proud of ourselves,” added Steve Nelson, 13, of Tivoli High. “It made our community feel good because, as inner-city children, it made us know that good can come from the community.”

The primary and high school students, ages 10 to 14 years, were selected from a group of 100 scholarship awardees that attended the Halls of Learning Creations Lab programme last summer, run by coach Hall. Those scholarships were sponsored by National Commercial Bank and American company Vickers One Corporation.

“We were very nervous when we arrived but the people were warm and friendly to us,” said Kaytana Taylor, 14, of Alpha Academy.

The youngest member of the group, Theoni Ellis, 10, of Mel Nathan Prep, said Jamaica had the only black participants at the contest.

“We were the only black people there, but everybody loved us. We had to stand up in the auditorium many times for applause,” she said.

Added coach Hall: “This year was our best year because we were never received at the competition like that before. The other teams that competed had to qualify to participate but we were specially invited.”

The students said that when it was time for them to demonstrate to the judges their months of hard work, something went terribly wrong.

“We couldn’t find the programme that we saved on the computer,” said Nelson. “And our robot malfunctioned.”

This was very disappointing for the students who had sacrificed long hours on weekends and even public holidays to prepare for the competition. As a result, the group only received 117 points for their effort, a very low score when compared to the other teams.

For the competition, the theme of which was ‘Ocean Odyssey’, their chosen project was to identify an activity that impacts on the health and biodiversity of rivers, streams and oceans.

They focussed on garbage disposal in gullies and the effects on the Kingston Harbour, one of the most natural in the world. For the robotics aspect, their presentation to the panel of judges was supposed to focus on how robot programming on the ocean floor can minimise the negative effects of garbage disposal.

In preparation, the team, based at the Jones Town Centre for Change in Kingston, went on numerous field trips to the harbour, the Marine Lab in Port Royal and the National Environment and Planning Agency to conduct research on how poor garbage disposal practices impact negatively on communities.

Despite their failure in the competition, the Jamaicans received a special award from the judges panel, a prize for the team that travelled the longest and overcame the most challenges to participate.

This recognition, they said, made the trip even more worthwhile; plus their forays in San Jose.

“We got to visit a technology museum and we went shopping even though it was still very cold,” said Kaytana.

Importantly, for the students, the hard work they put into the preparations, boosted their academic performances.

“Computing was boring at school but because of the workshop it became more fun. I got to learn much more about computers,” said Percival Robinson, 14, of Vauxhall High.

“The programmes we wrote help me to do better in Science and Mathematics in class,” Theoni chipped in.

“In IT class my teacher didn’t really understand something, and I was able to explain it to her so I felt very bright. It also helped me to think better,” added Kaytana.

Most of the team members hope to pursue careers in the sciences and plan to continue exploring computer technology.

And, mindful of the help they got, the students insisted on saying thanks to the bank for sponsoring their trip; and their coach for his help and encouragement.

“He is a great teacher and he encourages us to do our best at all times,” they said of Hall.

Hall meantime said sponsorship was being finalised to get more students into the Creations Lab summer programme.

“We want to grant more scholarships to inner-city kids. The main aim is to expand the programme to target more kids. We also want to expand into digital photography,” he told the Sunday Observer.

He also disclosed that a booth would be set up at the next Children’s Expo in May to promote the programme by offering demonstrations in robotics.

reidt@jamaicaobserver.com