Repurposing Tech for Global Good

As FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams transitioned to using new Spike Prime core robots, our team noticed a growing surplus of well-funded teams with completely unused EV3 robot kits. At the same time, thousands of students around the world completely lack access to the basic materials required to run STEM classes, robotics workshops, and competitive FIRST programs.

Robotics Without Borders was established to close this gap. By gathering functional, retired technology from communities with abundant resources, we can deliver hands-on engineering opportunities to underserved, rural, and underfunded student populations worldwide.

How We Mobilize Unused Hardware

To scale our distribution network, we developed a system to find, collect, and ship hardware to international communities:

• Targeted Collection: We cold-emailed over 113 local teams and schools to coordinate equipment collection drives.

• Inventory Building: Through these donation drives, we successfully collected 105 functional EV3 robots.

• Sourcing Global Partners: We utilized the FTC Discord network, Instagram outreach, and direct emails to FLL Partner Development Managers (PDPs) to find international educators.

• Application Review: We reached 25 separate teams, schools, and community organizations that applied to partner with us to teach and distribute these kits in their local areas.

• Direct Logistics: Our team carefully reviewed each application, selected our international partners, allocated the necessary robot kits, and individually packaged and shipped the EV3 hardware directly to them.

Our Global Footprint by the Numbers

Through strategic partnerships, we have successfully managed wide-scale equipment distribution across several continents:

• 3,947 total students have received hands-on robotics equipment and training.

• 19 schools have integrated these donated kits into their active learning environments.

• 13 FIRST teams have partnered with us to provide local mentorship and setup assistance.

• 1 global non-profit organization collaborated with our network to expand educational access.

• 3 individual academic schools partnered directly with our operational network to deploy hardware.

Global and Regional Impact

We partner with local teams to bring hardware, training, and mentorship to underfunded schools, Title I districts, and rural areas worldwide:

• North America: We provided robotics kits, built STEM spaces, and launched new programs for over 650 students across Washington, California, Nevada, Texas, and Mexico. This includes equipping schools after major funding cuts and bringing coding tools to regional agricultural communities.

• Europe, Africa, and Asia: We established sustainable engineering programs reaching over 3,200 students. Key projects include starting formal programming courses for 2,000 primary students in London, supplying engineering kits to 200 students in India, hosting workshops for 340 rural students and orphans in Morocco, and creating a specialized robotics training initiative for 500 girls in rural South Africa.

Get Involved: Donate Hardware or Partner Globally

• Donate Your Unused EV3 Kits: If your robotics team, school, or district has transitioned to newer hardware platforms, don't let your functional EV3 kits sit in storage. Contact us to coordinate a pickup or shipment so we can refurbish and rehome them with students who lack access to STEM tools.

• Apply for an International Hardware Partnership: If you represent a school, non-profit, or FIRST team operating in an underserved, rural, or low-income community and want to bring Robotics Without Borders resources to your area, please submit an application through our global partner portal.