In the heart of Rarotonga, where the lush green mountains meet the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, something extraordinary is happening. A group of young Cook Islanders is gathering each week, not just to learn, but to innovate, create, and dream. They are the proud members of the Cook Islands Robotics Club—known lovingly as “Cocobots”—a community initiative with a mission as bold as the dreams it inspires: to equip the next generation with the skills they need to lead our island nation into a brighter future.
The club was born from a simple yet powerful idea: that every child in the Cook Islands, no matter their background, should have access to the tools and knowledge that will help them thrive in an increasingly digital world.
“Our island is beautiful and unique, but we know that to secure a prosperous future for our people, we must embrace technology and innovation,” says the club’s founder. “STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—are not just subjects; they are the keys to unlocking opportunities for our children, helping them solve the challenges we face as a community, and empowering them to contribute to the global economy.”
For the students, the club is more than just a place to learn about robotics. It’s a place where they can explore new ideas, develop their creativity, and gain confidence in their abilities. Consider Evah Sosene (14), who had always been interested in how things work . Joining Cocobots gave her that chance, and today, she’s designing and building robots with a passion that lights up her eyes. “I want to join robotics club because I myself have a big passion for STEM, space and aerospace related topics. I might not meet people with exact same interests but I would love to meet people with similar interests. I also love to learn and I think joining this club would bring me to a place with semi like-minded people to share that with.”
The impact on students like Evah is profound. They are not only gaining technical skills in coding, engineering, and problem-solving, but they are also learning valuable life lessons in teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. These young innovators are becoming role models in their communities, inspiring others to believe that they, too, can shape the future.
For students like Andre Vano (17) STEM projects have always been an important part of their life growing up. “I want to join the Robotics club because building with Lego has been a great hobby of mine, and since last year my interest in Robotics has grown too.” Tiare Karataina (17) says “I always found robotics interesting and I’ve done things similar to this in the past but couldn’t continue because of moving here and now I want to attempt this because I’m very interested now in seeing what I can do and what everyone else can do”.
The mission of the Cook Islands Robotics Club is clear: to bridge the gap between traditional island life and the digital age. In a world where technology is advancing at a rapid pace, the club is ensuring that our young people are not left behind. By fostering an interest in STEM, Cocobots is helping to prepare the next generation of Cook Islanders to face the challenges of the 21st century with confidence and creativity.
Yet, as with any grassroots initiative, the club faces challenges of its own. The cost of equipment, materials, and even travel for competitions is significant, and the club relies heavily on the generosity of the community, businesses, and grants to keep its doors open.
“By supporting the Cook Islands Robotics Club, you are investing in the future of our island nation. Your donation will help give more resources, reach more students, and offer more opportunities for these young minds to explore, create, and lead. Imagine the possibilities—young Cook Islanders competing on the world stage, bringing innovative solutions back home, and leading the charge towards a sustainable and prosperous future for our islands.
We have been so very fortunate to have the support of our community, the parents and small businesses who share our vision and believe that our kids deserve an opportunity to be educated and prepared for careers in the technology and engineering space.
Join us in building tomorrow’s leaders today. Contact us at connect@cocobots.org to donate or volunteer your time as a mentor, executive committee member, or be a patron of our Club. Together, we can equip our children with the skills they need to lead our islands into a bright and prosperous future—one robot at a time.
COOK ISLANDS ROBOTICS CLUB 
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