Chopstick Robots Inspire Young Inventors Worldwide

Quick Smiles:

• Innovative Stick ‘Em kits empower children to explore robotics using everyday chopsticks.
• Affordable design brings hands-on STEAM learning to low-income classrooms globally.
• Founders awarded Hult Prize for making creative education more accessible.

Two inventors from Singapore have drawn international praise for Stick ‘Em, a low-cost robotics playset designed to ignite creativity in children from all backgrounds. Their building kit uses geometric connectors, chopsticks, and simple electronics that can be operated by any smart device or even older computers.

“We started Stick ‘Em because we saw that traditional STEAM education wasn’t developing true problem-solvers and was inaccessible to many students worldwide,” said founders Adam Huh Dam and Chong Ing Kai.

Originally inspired by a kitchen drawer full of unused chopsticks, Kai envisioned a kit that would make robotics accessible and affordable.

“What if we use chopsticks to build robots? These are everywhere, and they’re strong, and easy to cut and shape,” Kai shared with The Straits Times.

Since its inception in 2020, the team has grown and continues to expand its mission from Singapore’s top universities. Stick ‘Em kits now enhance STEAM lessons in 90 schools across 11 countries and have reached 12,000 children, including those in remote and underserved communities.

This year, the project earned the Hult Prize for educational innovation, standing out among 15,000 global entries. Dam and Kai see this achievement as an opportunity to grow their vision and bring STEAM opportunities to even more students worldwide.

“This win is just the beginning, and with the $1 million prize, we’re excited to scale our impact, increase awareness, and build sustainable teacher communities.”

Stories like Stick ‘Em’s show the big changes sparked by everyday ingenuity—spread the cheer and inspire others by sharing!

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