Hope Chilunga - Malawi

Hope Kelvin Chilunga is the last born in a family of two children. He has a diploma in Information and Technology (ICT) and an honours degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering from the University of Malawi.

Currently, he is working as a design engineer in the engineering design studio of the Polytechnic college, where he designs affordable electronic devices with the potential for use in agriculture, healthcare and education sectors. Before joining the University, her interned with Rice 360 global health working on a project developing prototypes for use in health. He also interned with CED Engineering Company in South Africa (Johannesburg) where he was responsible for design and building making baking devices.

“Malawi is developing, and it is important to ensure that this development is sustainable, affordable and green in nature. As an engineer, I want to use my skills to develop technology that can help achieve sustainable development and contribute towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Given the right tools, I can collaborate with other young people to pioneer technological innovations that can help to address some of the challenges in our community a sustainable manner,” says Hope. 

While at ADDA, Hope, is looking forward to learning how to conduct research and development (R&D) of drone technology. He is also looking forward to learning how drone companies in developed countries transfer their ideas into easy to use and sell products. “So far we have learnt the fundamentals of aerodynamics, assembling of HolyBro s500 and Ranger 1600 drones, designing and printing of drone parts using 3D printers, piloting drones, safety rules and regulation from the Department of Civil Aviation,” says Hope.

“Since my passion is in health, I intend to use the skills gained here to solve health problems using electronics and technology. I also plan to use the experience to improve my drone prototype into a product that can be used daily. In the long term, I plan to start up a drone and drone parts manufacturing company. Manufacturing drones and drone parts locally using locally available resources will help to make them affordable. I already have a good combination of theory and practice in electronics, computer engineering and management which I will continue to use to create technological solutions to address everyday problems that children and the community at large faces. The problems are many. For example, farmers need irrigation pumps, hospitals need suction machines to help babies born with breathing problems, hospital pharmacies need automatic pill (drug) counters to prevent drug waste and contamination, students need solar-powered reading devices in places where there is no electricity,” adds Hope.