World success to local impact: Phan Anh’s robotics journey to inspire curiosity and kindness

From a spark of curiosity to international recognition, Phan Anh’s journey is one of both achievement and generosity. On the world stage, he competed against the best robotics teams, and within his local community, he has transformed his passion into purpose by mentoring younger students, donating kits, and creating opportunities for others to explore the exciting world of robotics.

His inspiration came from the creativity and technical ingenuity he saw in VEX Robotics competitions. Watching those teams ignited the spark that drew him into engineering and robotics.

“I first discovered robotics by watching videos of VEX competitions,” he recalls. “The robots looked so creative and cool compared to the simple, limited designs of beginner kits, and that’s when I knew VEX was the path I wanted to follow.”

What began as curiosity quickly grew into commitment. Over the past four years, Phan Anh has been dedicated to testing, and competing with his robots. His persistence paid off: he has earned top rankings in international tournaments, winning Excellence Awards, Teamwork Champion, and qualifying for the VEX Robotics World Championship in the United States, a global stage where the very best come together.

But his story is not just about personal achievement. Together with Phuong Anh, a fellow Brightonian and robotics enthusiast, he has made it a mission to bring robotics opportunities to children who might not otherwise have access. Using funds raised from selling souvenirs and their own cash prizes from competitions, the duo purchased and donated robotics kits while also mentoring pupils in the provinces of Hoa Binh, Cao Bang, and Hai Duong. Remarkably, one of the teams they supported went on to win national-level prizes.

At Brighton College Vietnam, Phan Anh has led Robotics CCAs, guiding younger pupils through the fundamentals of building, programming, and preparing for robotics competitions.

Beyond competitions, he sees robotics as a way to empower others. “My plan is to continue mentoring pupils, starting with small competitions and gradually preparing them for bigger ones. More importantly, I hope to inspire them to give back so that more young people can discover and access robotics,” he said.