Taking Action

We live in a world full of problems. You see them every day in your communities, countries, and across the globe. The news feeds we all consume are built on highlighting problems.

The most common reactions to these problems? Complaining, blaming others, and calling for change, and it can become overwhelming.

How do we address this?

Romania FIRST Tech Challenge, led by Natie Prin Educatie Association, McCann Worldgroup Romania and Momentum Romania have an inspiring answer.

Romania is a wonderful country with a compelling history. They�ve experienced a great deal of change over the last 50 years.

For their economy to succeed, they need to attract business, both  at home and abroad. The most important part of successful business is a talented workforce, which. allows businesses to grow, creates good careers,, and lifts the economy.

In Romania 72% of businesses report an issue with filling job openings, and 34% of employers blame the lack of hands-on, practical skills.

While these challenges are described for Romania � they are the exact same challenges of every developed economy in the world.

So what did Natie Prin Educatie Association, McCann Worldgroup Romania and Momentum Romania do that will inspire you? They took action. Instead of listening to others complain or simply adding their voice calling for change, they created the change. They implemented FIRST Tech Challenge in Romania to show high school students the fun and excitement of using technology to create solutions,  actual programmable, electromechanical solutions (robots!) to compete in games against their peers in Romania and around the world.

The FIRST Tech Challenge competition requires students to learn programming, sensor use, mechanical engineering and design, electronics � and most importantly how to tie these all together.

Instead of grades, students are measured by the results of their competitionsIt is one of the purest forms of feedback in their development as engineers and technicians. But that�s not the only metric.

The FIRST experience rewards engineering skill development, and requires teamwork, outreach, cooperation and respect. These are recognized in the FIRST award systems, and are mandated in the coaching and volunteer training. Students participating in FIRST Tech Challenge develop the very skills in demand by successful companies around the world. Not only key engineering and technical skills, but how to apply those skills in a high functioning arena.

Three years ago Natie Prin Educatie Association, McCann Worldgroup Romania and Momentum Romania decided to bring FIRST Tech Challenge to Romania. They launched 54 teams with over 800 students in year one, almost doubled to 90 teams and 1,350 students in year two, and in year three will grow to 140 teams and over 2,100 students.

This effort will touch 85 cities in Romania driven by about 420 coaches and another 400 volunteers. That means students across Romania, from border to border have the opportunity to develop incredibly important skills that will lead them to worthwhile careers while lifting Romania�s economy.

Romania has a population of approximately 20 million people, about the same as the state of New York. The impact being made there will be felt for generations thanks to those who moved beyond seeing, hearing and complaining about problems, and took action. If you want to change the lives of students in your region, improve the economy, and build your standard of living, the path is clear.

Romania presents a model that can be applied anywhere in the world � and should be. Congratulations to the organizers and implementers, and more specifically to the next generation of Romanian technology leaders, I can�t wait to see what you do!

Ken Johnson

Director, FIRST Tech Challenge