Tshwane-based non-profit Africa Beyond the 4th Industrial Revolution (AB4IR) has just completed the successful education of its 2022 cohort of students in the Drone Diva Programme.

Started last August, the Drone Diva Programme aims at integrating more women into the drone industry in South Africa through equipping them with the necessary skills required for success in the industry.

Lasting two weeks of intense practical training, the project is open for applicants between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five, strictly from a disadvantaged background in the townships and rural areas, and with have a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) learning.

The project was supported by the Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Germany Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Goethe Institut; while drone and robotics training institution Inspire Africa Group is the training partner.

“It”s a wrap and congratulations to Drone Divas 2022 for completing your course,” AB4IR said. “Divas learned about aviation law, meteorology, human factors, drone technical skills, risk analysis, navigation planning, 3D modelling and design, Data Capturing and analysis using DroneDeploy software.

“They also learned how to fly a drone using a Tello and did Introduction to entrepreneurship where some have already started planning on starting their own businesses in the drone sector.

“Thank you to Goethe-Institut and Inspire Africa Group for making this cohort possible.”

AB4IR added that the ten graduates finishing top of their class would be placed in different drone companies on a three-month-long internship to gain experience.

On its part, Inspire Africa Group said it was only happy to impart its skills and knowledge of drone technology into the students; which training was conducted at AB4IR’s facility in the township of Soshanguve, north of the Tshwane CBD.

“Over a two-week period, the Inspire Africa Group trained and equipped the Divas with skills using drone technology, 3D Printing and Coding,” said Inspire Africa. “The programme was designed to expose and upskill the students to the theoretical and practical aspects of the drone industry, preparing them to operate in a commercial drone business. 

“The participants, whose background and experience were not entirely in technology, were considered on the basis of creating inclusive opportunity and equal knowledge within STEAM careers. Our mission is to safely integrate emerging technology into society for the benefit of people who would not usually have access to it.

“Creating and successfully implementing a programme that has touched the lives of 24 women inspires us to continue to pay it forward. We imagine a world where every young person in South Africa has the opportunity to equal education, training and skills development and the impact of creating access and opportunity in technology will have a unique impact including enhanced creativity, innovation, efficiency and diversity in thought within the drone industry.”