GNONNOU TCHITE: Helping More Women Pursue Careers in Robotics

By Benin Flying Labs

Careers are no longer just for men or just for women; no career path is out of reach based on gender—especially in robotics. Benin Flying Labs finds this a good reason to help, support, and lead young women in making their way into these future careers. On the International Day of Women's Rights, Benin Flying Labs and Atlas GIS launched a project to support some female students. The project is named "GNONNOU TCHITE," which means "rise up woman" in the local Fon language. Over eight months, the project aims to help some young students choose their graduation topic, offer them an internship, train them for their defense, and lead them toward a professional insertion.

Benin Flying Labs has selected five girls in geomatics for this first edition at the University of Abomey-Calavi. The opportunity is given to them to choose a commune among four where a project is ongoing. Ouessè-Glazoué-Savalou and Bantè are the concerned communes where coaches were waiting for them to show how to do the tracking and collect data on the field. The results they get on the field will be used to prepare their defense.

The students made their choice and met their coach on the field. It was an exciting experience. Finally, the girls could have an insight into how to live a rural life, tracking and collecting data. It was not easy for them on the first days, but as they followed the coaches' instructions, the students could get in touch with the villagers and hold the meetings they needed to raise awareness and get in touch with their guide. Then, with the help of coaches, the girls could do the work. First of all, they installed QField software on their tablets. Second, they surveyed milestones and plots of land. Third, they sent the data collected to make a map and finally had a session with the villagers, especially the landlords, to discuss their lands' limits and what part they would contribute to the project.

The girls were so motivated that they expressed their willingness to learn to fly the drone. They observed and imitated how to make the adjustments and thus participated in a few flyovers, which will be further explored later.

Back to the office, the brilliant students will exploit their field experience to write their documents. After which, they will defend and carry on with the professional internship. The girls are delighted with this opportunity to broaden their learning sphere. Benin Flying Labs and Atlas GIS are still on this project with them.