Women Break Barriers and Conquer the Skies with Drone Technology at CATIE, Turrialba

• Over 60 women participated this weekend in "Girls Take Flight," a space designed to bring them closer to the use of drones.

This weekend, more than 60 women from rural areas experienced a unique opportunity to learn how to pilot drones at CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) in Turrialba, Costa Rica, through the initiative "Girls Take Flight"—a training and empowerment space to introduce them to drone technology.

The activity was part of the Women’s Rally in Geospatial Technologies initiative, which aims to reduce the digital divide in rural populations and strengthen women's leadership in the tech field.

María José Molina Montero, the creator of the methodology, explained that since 2019, more than 2,000 women have been trained to help close technological and territorial gaps. "We fly drones, explain regulations, sensors, cameras, and applications. But most importantly, we help break the mental barrier that only someone highly specialized can do it," she stated.

The event was made possible through the joint efforts of the Community Innovation and Digital Fabrication Lab (LINC-FabLab) of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in partnership with Costa Rica’s Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), the Orton Memorial Library IICA/CATIE, and CATIE. The mayor of Turrialba, Juan Carlos Hidalgo, was also present.

“Women not only can, but must be active participants in technological transformation. Breaking barriers like this—learning to use a drone—is the first step to proving it,” said Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE, during the opening ceremony.

Throughout the day, participants learned about the history and uses of drones, relevant Costa Rican legislation, safety measures, and of course, engaged in hands-on flight practice.

According to Jonathan Castro, coordinator of LINC-FabLab at IICA, this is a concrete way to bring technology and innovation closer to rural communities. “With Girls Take Flight, we show that knowledge and digitalization don’t have to stay in the cities,” he emphasized.

Participants from different communities shared the importance of such initiatives. Stacy Pérez, from Alto Pacuare and representative of the Cabécar Indigenous Women’s Association, highlighted: “This technology will allow us to become digital leaders, document our culture and daily lives, and have a secure virtual storage for our community.”

Meanwhile, Daniela Jiménez, a political scientist and civil engineering student, said the experience not only opened doors for professional drone use, but also allowed her to connect with other women passionate about technology.

“For the Orton Library of IICA and CATIE, these activities are the most immediate way to make a positive impact on people's lives. In previous years, we’ve conducted workshops for producers and livestock farmers in Turrialba, and now we add this important collaboration between FabLab, CATIE, and the Orton Library through this drone flight workshop for a large group of women eager to learn how to use technology in their daily work,” said Jeffry Jiménez, coordinator of the IICA/CATIE Orton Memorial Library.