A LEADING housing developer has received major praise after providing hundreds of pounds to support a new children’s robotics club at the heart of one of its flagship developments.
Dundas has donated £558.60 to First Step Robotics an initiative that promotes science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) to children between the ages of 8 and 17.
The club has been running from Dundas’ Community Hub in West Lothian’s Uphall Station Village, where they prepared awe-inspiring robots which clinched the Amaze Award at their first VEX IQ Robotic regional contest in Edinburgh.
Founded by Edoh and Lydia Agbenokoudji, the club excelled against 12 teams from 10 schools showcasing their months of hard work.
Co-founder and resident at Uphall Station Village, Edoh, said: “Getting young people engaged and interested in STEM is valuable and can lead people on some incredible career paths. We’re very lucky to be able to bring that opportunity to West Lothian.
“The children love being a part of this international competition and they were over the moon when they received the VEX award at the regional Scottish Competition”.
“We do everything from our own pocket and without the hub, we wouldn’t be able to run this anywhere else. To have the support of Dundas and use of the space has been crucial to our success.
“The donation from Dundas towards the entry fee for our upcoming March 2024 competition has been a huge lift, as it will allow us to be able to expand to the larger community and offer a lot more. We look forward to inspiring other aspiring young engineers and robotic enthusiasts.
Edoh, who previously set up a robotics club in London while working as a technologist at the London School of Economics, is now continuing his passion in West Lothian, and is hoping to inspire more young people to engage in engineering and technology.
Edoh added: “My wife and I are very happy but shocked at our success with the club, as we couldn’t advertise it. We decided to sign up for the competition in Edinburgh and through word of mouth, we have already started having more young people join which was great.
“Lydia supports me and the team taking time off from her cafe to attend the group’s workshops and even helps support us financially by selling cakes. She is a wonderful mother to our four children, and I wouldn’t be able to do this venture without her.”
The club aims to compete in the Scottish First Tech Challenge in March, to advance from Scotland to England, and then from the UK to the international stage in the US. This marks the first time the competition has been held in Scotland.
Craig Fairfoull, Head of Sales and Marketing at Dundas: “Our main concept for the community hub was to ensure the space could be used for anything – from neighbourhood get-togethers to community groups. We wanted to create something of real value for the people who live here.
“What Edoh and Lydia have accomplished with the robotics club is just remarkable. It’s clear the club is already a treasure for this community, the opportunities they’re providing are incredible.
“We were over the moon when we heard the club competed in their first-ever regional robotics competition. We have no doubt they’ll continue to improve and achieve remarkable things and we hope our donation can help facilitate this.”
Dundas, an award-winning and independent Scottish homebuilder, prides itself on crafting homes that enhance the well-being of its occupants. Known for its well-designed homes, this independent company has a solid reputation in the industry.
They emphasise creating inclusive communities and strive to simplify, enrich, and add enjoyment to the home-buying experience.
For further information about their Uphall Station development, you can reach them at 0345 853 5007 or explore more at https://www.dundas.co.uk/uphall-station-village-development-overview
To find our more about First Step Robotics visit: https://fsrobotics.co.uk/
