ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2024
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 52,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2024 on 6,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 280+ campuses worldwide (just 5%) were selected to host the 4,000+ Millennium Fellows.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT AFOMIYA ABEBE AWEKE, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2024.
Addis Ababa University 5 Kilo | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Advancing SDG 3, SDG 3 & UNAI 1
" "Empathy and a deep commitment to social justice drive my passion for biomedical engineering. As a Millennium Fellow, I am excited to gain the skills and network necessary to amplify my impact, particularly in empowering women, children, and people with disabilities. This fellowship will enable me to align my work with global goals, ensuring that my contributions are not only meaningful but also sustainable. I look forward to using this opportunity to pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future." "
Millennium Fellowship Project: MediFly: Revolutionizing Laboratory Sample Transport by Drone
This project aims to design and develop a drone-based solution for the efficient and secure transportation of laboratory samples between hospitals and testing facilities. The initiative addresses critical challenges in healthcare logistics, such as time-sensitive delivery, cost efficiency, and accessibility in remote or underserved areas.
The proposed drone system will be equipped with advanced features, including real-time GPS tracking, automated navigation, and a temperature-controlled container to maintain the integrity of biological samples. The drone will be designed to carry a payload suitable for laboratory requirements, ensuring compliance with medical and aviation regulations.
The development process involves several key phases: initial research to understand the technical and regulatory requirements, design and prototyping of the drone and container, integration of navigation and tracking systems, rigorous testing under diverse conditions, and deployment planning. A strong emphasis will be placed on safety features such as obstacle detection, emergency landing protocols, and secure packaging to prevent contamination or damage during transit.
The project also includes operator training to ensure smooth adoption and integration with existing healthcare workflows. By reducing transportation delays, the system aims to enhance diagnostic speed and efficiency, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
This innovative solution aligns with global efforts to improve healthcare delivery and responds to the rising demand for reliable medical logistics systems, especially in the wake of pandemics and public health crises.
About the Millennium Fellow
Afomiya Aweke is an ambitious and driven biomedical engineering student at Addis Ababa Institute of Technology. Hailing from Ethiopia, Afomiya is deeply committed to making a difference in her community, with a particular passion for supporting women, children, and people with disabilities. Throughout her academic journey, she has consistently demonstrated a dedication to using her skills and knowledge to uplift those around her. Afomiya's future aspiration is to become a successful business woman, where she aims to create opportunities that empower and support marginalized groups. With her strong sense of purpose and entrepreneurial spirit, Afomiya is determined to make a lasting impact in her community and beyond.
