Sierra Leone’s first female Drone Engineer was selected by Virginia Tech & UNICEF for the drone training program in Malawi.Hafsatu Rakie Sesay has been selected by the African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA), as a member of its first cohort scheduled for October to December of 2019. The training program is run by Virginia Tech Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and UNICEF Malawi. The training will take place at Daeyang University, in Lilongwe, Malawi.Rakie is a versatile and multitalented Mechanical Engineer who is passionate about solving challenges through the application of STEM. She has worked and delivered projects successfully whilst working in her current role for Track Your Build Sierra Leone. Track Your Build is an engineering company specialized in using drones and satellite data to monitor construction, conduct land surveys, agricultural crop mapping, and assess damage and risk from natural disasters such as landslides and floods.The ADDA was established by Virginia Tech University’s Center for International Research, Education, and Development (CIRED) in collaboration with UNICEF to provide technology education (certificates and master’s) to students in the physics of drone technology as well as communications, mechatronics, GIS, data analytics, autonomy and other areas that are essential for drone operations and management.

Admission to this program was very competitive. She will be joining a distinguished and diverse group of fellow Africans, who believe can make a significant contribution to their local communities, from the knowledge and experience gained in this program.Upon conclusion of the course, participants will receive the Certificate in Drone Technology from Virgina Tech. Rakie will return to Sierra Leone to continue her work in the drone and engineering sector where her newly gained knowledge will be an asset to Sierra Leone as she will contribute to use of drone solutions in health, agriculture, and disaster response.