New Robotics School Opens in Orhei with EU Support
The Robotix robotics school in Orhei was launched in spring 2024 by Sergiu Smîntînă, a professional programmer. The school’s opening was made possible through funding from the European Union’s “Confidence Building Measures” program. The first Robotix branch opened in Chișinău during the pandemic.
Eleven-year-old Alisa from Orhei has big dreams: she wants to become the first Moldovan woman in space or help build spacecraft. For now, she’s taking robotics classes at Robotix. “We learn to build robots from LEGO, program them, and so much more. At first, I thought it would be really hard, but I got the hang of it—now it seems easy,” Alisa says.
Sergiu explains the school’s approach: “Robotics is all about algorithms and cause-and-effect. I noticed kids often struggled with the visual side of Arduino circuits. After looking at the market, I realized that using a LEGO-style building system was the best way to turn abstract ideas into real robots.”
At Robotix, kids and teens don’t just snap LEGO bricks together—they use a hands-on learning platform based on real science.
Sergiu believes robotics should be part of the school curriculum: “LEGO Education is nothing like traditional teaching. It’s not about the teacher writing 2+2=4 on the board and students copying it down. Here, you try things out first, experiment, and only then get explanations for what you didn’t understand. There are a thousand ways to reach the same result—it’s up to you to explore and find your own path,” he says.
Every Saturday, Sergiu travels to Orhei to introduce local kids to the world of robotics. With support from the EU and UNDP, children now have access to robotics kits—LEGO pieces, sensors, motors, tablets, programming hubs, and an interactive whiteboard.
Using these tools, every child learns to build and program their own robots, developing logical thinking and creativity.
“We’d love to see more girls in robotics classes. From experience, girls often come up with more creative ideas that go beyond just the technical side,” Sergiu adds.
Anastasia Ureche, a robotics mentor, shares her experience: “This is my first time working in robotics, and I love it. I never studied this field before. I thought it wasn’t for me, but after just four lessons, I realized I could handle it. I especially enjoy working with the kids. The programming part can be tricky since I’m not an IT expert, but we’re all learning together.”
Ten-year-old Victor, one of her students, says: “Here, we build robots from LEGO and program them to move. It wasn’t hard to learn because the tablet shows us step by step what to do. I wish we had classes like this at school—it’s fun and doesn’t take too much time.”
Sergiu Smîntînă is one of 20 entrepreneurs from both banks of the Dniester River who received support to start or grow their businesses.
By supporting small and medium-sized businesses, the EU’s “Confidence Building Measures” program, implemented by UNDP, is helping create economic opportunities on both sides of the Dniester.
