Youth - African Drone Forum

Empowering the next generation of drone professionals

The 2020 ADF Youth Scholars program was a major success, with 21 young Africans from eleven countries brought to Kigali, Rwanda to participate in a special program dedicated to raising African youth voices in the UAS space.

The ADF Youth Scholars program, supported by the World Bank in partnership with africanDRONE, is a catalytic opportunity for talented African youth who are interested in using drones (Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS) to help their communities grow. The Youth Scholars are chosen based on their experience, background, geographic diversity, and commitment to using UAS technology for good.

21 Youth Scholars from 11 Countries in Africa

Africa is by far the youngest continent, with more than 60% of its population under the age of 25, and it is also quickly urbanizing. Drones can play a big role in leapfrogging existing road infrastructure, catalyzing new industries, and solving health and supply chain problems on the continent.

Supporting talented African youth is key in creating a drone ecosystem which empowers local communities. By creating local drone capacity – software, hardware, and human – communities we will be able to create solutions tailored to their specific needs and keep education, capital, and technical capacity local, which in turn helps to build robust local economies.