North Bay’s FIRST Robotics Canada competition in late March is one of two events that an all-girls team from Afghanistan is taking part in while in Canada.

They’re joining an all-girls team from Oakville to build a robot and participate in competitions in Toronto and here in North Bay.

The local event goes March 30th and 31st at Nipissing.

In a release, FIRST Robotics says the team attracted international attention after they traveled 800 kilometers to the American Embassy in Kabul, only to have their visas rejected twice preventing them from traveling to the US to participate in FIRST Global Challenge.

One week before the event, they were finally granted entry into the United States and were able to compete.

“FIRST Robotics Canada is thrilled that the Afghan Robotics teams will be joining us in our district and competing with FIRST Team 771,” says Mark Breadner, President of FIRST Robotics Canada. “We want to welcome them and are convinced they will have a great experience and make many new friends here in Ontario.”

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)