Yoad
A Conversation with Yoad Sin Haike
Award Winning Recent Graduate of ORT Dimona Robotics
Yoad shared his story during a recent visit to ORT America headquarters in New York.
You have an interesting last name? Can you share the origin?
My grandfather, the father of my mother, was from Romania and the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. He made Aliyah to Israel and met my grandmother, and they had three daughters and no sons. My grandfather unfortunately had cancer and only lived a few years after I was born. Before he passed away he asked my father to change my name so that the Sin Haike name could live on and continue the legacy of his family that had perished during the war.
What attracted you to robotics?
When I was in fifth grade my sister joined the robotics program while in 7th grade at the Zinman School in Dimona, my hometown. She continued to pursue her interest in robotics and shared stories about the projects and how the robots worked. She also traveled internationally to competitions to places including Spain. This inspired me and I was excited to learn robotics and have the same opportunities as my sister. Our whole family got involved since my mom is a teacher in our school and parents are always invited to attend workshops and to help us build the robots or other related activities. Both my parents worked with the team and my father had a lot of experience with mechanics and was able to teach us what he knew in a professional way. In 2019 my sister and I actually worked on the same robotics team for a competition that took place in Detroit.
What are the benefits of the robotics program?
The major benefit of the program is my self-confidence. Today I am able to feel secure speaking to different groups – even in English – and without the robotics program, I don’t think I would have the courage to do what I am doing today. I attribute my abilities in English to the program as it was important for me to communicate in English with judges and others. It improved my ability to read and speak with a lot of people. Another benefit I received was working in a team and learning how to be a leader and manage a team by recognizing each person’s strengths and giving them the tools needed to accomplish that part of the job. I now know that I can be part of larger teams thanks to my years of experience – even though I am still young – to enable me to build a future career that can use these skills.
Where does ORT fit in?
ORT is a major supporter and sponsor of our team. They helped facilitate the growth of the Dimona program to 224 teams and today Dimona is known as “the robotics capital of Israel.” ORT help us with everything we need. ORT operates all the Robotics activities in Dimona and supports our team in national and international competitions.
When I met Moshe Leiba, I learned more about World ORT Kadima Mada (WOKM) in Israel as well as ORT globally. Across Israel WOKM is preparing kids like me for futures in the technology-based fields so that we can have the opportunity to succeed.
I was able to see WOKM in action up close as a counselor for a special summer camp in World ORT’s Kfar Silver Youth Village for both Bedouin and Jewish girls, that I view as a step for peace. It was fascinating to watch the girls on the first day arguing and fighting. And then you see them on the last day of camp after participating in sports and many other activities together, crying and saying “I love you” to one another while exchanging phone numbers. After being part of this, I realized that I really love this organization.
Yoad and members of the Toledo Robotics Team, Dimona, Israel.
What’s next?
Since I graduated high school, I traveled and will be joining the IDF in a few months. Before I join, I hope to serve as a mentor to robotics teams in Dimona and perhaps in the US to teach them everything I know so they won’t make the same mistakes. For example, we were in Los Angeles and I toured the robotics center at the de Toledo Jewish school and I hope I can help them as well.
Once I complete my army service, I plan to apply to the Technion, one of the best universities to learn engineering.
