St Hilda’s robotics trio takes on the world in Netherlands

In a field long perceived as male-dominated, an all-girls robotics team from St. Hilda’s Diocesan High School in Brown’s Town, St Ann, is challenging stereotypes and preparing to showcase Jamaican talent on the global stage.

The three-member team—captain Toria-Lee Martin, Deijhanae Thomas and lead engineer Isheka Rose—will represent Jamaica at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) European Premier Event 2026 in Eindhoven, Netherlands, starting today and runs until Saturday. Their qualification follows a strong showing at the FIRST Tech Challenge Jamaica National Robotics Championship earlier this year, where their performance secured them a place among the world’s best young innovators.

Beyond competition, the students say their presence is about visibility and breaking barriers for women in STEM. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the WorldSkills Jamaica and Studica Robotics International Training Camp at the Cardiff Hotel & Spa in Runaway Bay, St Ann, captain Martin underscored the significance of their all-female team in a space often dominated by men.

“Robotics is not an activity that only men can partake in. Women can, as well, and we're living proof of this, as our robotics team is just women and we made our robot ourselves,” the sixth-form student said.

She added that the team is aiming to make its mark on the scoreboard while also seeking recognition. “So, we expect to score as much points as possible. We also hope to walk away with one or two awards, hopefully,” she added.

For teammate Thomas, the experience is equally about inspiration and representation. She hopes their journey encourages other girls at St Hilda’s to see robotics and engineering as accessible and exciting career paths.

She described the field as broader than many assume, pointing out that not everyone must be hands-on builders. “There are some people who don't do well or don't want to do the hands-on experience. Well, you also have programming, so, it's not something that you limit yourself to. There are different fields in robotics that you can go into,” she pointed out.

WorldSkills Jamaica team leader Charlene Mohan said the team has been receiving structured support through HEART/NSTA Trust, which has been working closely with the students to refine their robot and competition readiness.

She noted that the initiative forms part of a wider national push to strengthen technical and vocational education. In March 2025, HEART/NSTA Trust relaunched World Skills Clubs in secondary schools, with St Hilda’s becoming the first school to sign up. Robotics has emerged as a leading focus area alongside engineering, cooking and other technical disciplines.

The girls are among participants from countries including China, Singapore, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Barbados, South Africa and Canada attending the training camp, which provides hands-on experience and global exposure in advanced technical skills.