ChildFund Philippines and EXL Philippines have teamed up to support these young innovators. With access to robotics kits, STEM materials, and technology, the students were able to develop a medical assistance robot and gain valuable skills. Their success in various competitions showcases the impact of this partnership, providing not only resources but also opportunities for growth and future innovation.
Paul, Andre, and Arthur, 4th-year high school students are full of passion and promise. Their natural skills in problem-solving and love for technology drives them to explore new ideas, constantly pushing their limits to learn and create. However, like many young innovators, they lacked the necessary resources, equipment, and opportunities to fully unleash their potential.
That all changed when ChildFund Philippines and EXL Philippines stepped in, providing the tools and support they needed to turn their dreams into reality. With access to robotics kits, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) materials, laptops, printers, and Google TVs, Paul, Andre, and Arthur found themselves equipped with the resources that opened doors to new possibilities.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” says Paul, “When we got the robotics kit, we were excited but also a bit overwhelmed. None of us had much experience in robotics before.”
As they began working with the robotics kits, the trio quickly realized they didn’t just want to build robots for the sake of building—they wanted to create something that could make a real difference in their community. That’s when the idea for “Auxilium”, a medical assistance robot designed to ease the burden on healthcare providers, was born.
“Auxilium means ‘to help’ in Latin,” explains Andre. “The idea for the medical assistance robot came from the challenges we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to create a robot that could assist doctors and nurses by delivering food and medicine, reducing waiting times, and making healthcare more efficient.”
The journey wasn’t easy. The team faced setbacks ranging from hardware malfunctions to software issues and the challenge of working with unfamiliar materials. But the more they faced challenges, the more determined they became. Every failure was a learning experience, every bug a problem to solve.
As the medical assistance robot came to life, so did the dreams of the three students. “We’re just regular kids from a small school, but now we’re thinking about things like engineering and artificial intelligence. We’ve learned that technology isn’t just for big companies or rich schools—it’s something we can use, too,” says Paul, smiling.
Their hard work paid off as their robot earned them recognition across various competitions. In BRAINIAC YEAR 2, they reached the regional finals of the Quiz Bowl and excelled in multiple robotics categories, including championing the Advanced Level Category and earning an overall championship title for their medical assistance robot. At the Division Science and Technology Fair, their innovation stood out as they secured the championship in the Senior High Category and first place in the Robotics and Intelligent Machine category. They also performed remarkably at the Creotec National Robotics Competition, where they emerged as fourth runners-up overall in Roboventure 2 and finalists in Roboventure 1.
Their success didn’t just shine a spotlight on Araullo High School—it inspired other schools in the program to reach for their own potential. Schools like Rajah Soliman High School, V. Mapa High School, and Manuel A. Roxas High School, also recipients of the ChildFund and EXL Philippines initiative, have demonstrated exceptional achievements in STEM competitions. These schools have produced teams that excelled in robotics design, and programming, earning awards in STEM contests, too.
For ChildFund and EXL Philippines, the partnership was about more than just donations; it was about nurturing the next generation of innovators. The impact on Araullo High School was proof of that—Paul, Andre, and Arthur weren’t just building a robot; they were building confidence, skills, and a future for themselves that had once seemed unreachable.
Today, the trio is looking ahead to even greater challenges. They plan to continue developing their medical assistance robot, fine-tuning its capabilities and exploring new ways to help healthcare systems. But more importantly, they’ve realized that technology is not just about gadgets and machines—it’s about the impact it can have on people’s lives.
For them, the journey has only just begun. The lessons they’ve learned, the recognition they’ve gained, and the opportunities they’ve created for themselves is a testament to the power of innovation, perseverance, and the incredible support from organizations like ChildFund Philippines and EXL Philippines.
