Israel | Dimona – The Robotics Hub

World ORT Kadima Mada has a long and cherished history with the Negev desert town of Dimona.

It has become known as a robotics hub – and is one of WOKM’s YOUniversity program’s greatest success stories. It is an example of the potential embedded in many towns in Israel’s socio-economic periphery.

Started as a development town for new immigrants in the 1950s, Dimona was originally home to many immigrants from North Africa. An influx of immigrants from the FSU joined in the 1990s along with others including a large Indian community and members of the Black Hebrew religious group. Far from Israel’s central region, it continues to suffer from isolation and economic hardship.

ORT’s investment in education in this region is helping to improve the opportunities for students in Dimona.

The Dimona YOUniversity Center was established in 2012 and caters to approximately 850 students a year through more than 100 courses focusing on robotics, in kindergartens and in all primary and secondary schools in the city.

Competitions

Six years ago, the RoboActive #2096 group from Darcha Zinman High School in Dimona was established and has about 40 participants each year from grades 9-12. The group has won a variety of prestigious awards at regional , national and international levels including the renowned FIRST competitions, the Engineering Inspiration Award for promoting social initiatives -an award that inspire others, and which the group won four times at World Robotics Competitions in the U.S.

 The Dimona team has also received a scholarship from NASA, which funds the participation fee for the competition.

Tikkun Olam

Since ORT works to impart Jewish values such as Tikkun Olam to all students, the Dimona robotics team regularly gives back to the community that nurtured its success. Team members have spearheaded community projects, including designing and raising funds for a playground designed for children who use wheelchairs. During the Covid pandemic, they created a partially transparent face mask which makes it possible for people who lip read to communicate more easily.