New digital technologies are the new future. Tech StartUp School together with the Institute of Regional Development created a truly unique hackathon in the field of Digitalization – Hackyourfuture. We learned more about the conditions of participation and launch of the project by talking to Olena Bey, Project Manager, Strategies and Programs Development, the Institute of Regional Development.
– Please, tell us about Hackyourfuture project
– Hackyourfuture project is implemented by Global Project Partners e.V. together with the Institute of Regional Development with the financial support of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany in the framework of the programme Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia. This project envisages workshops on the development of digital skills of civil society organizations in western Ukraine, a hackathon and a digital festival. Hackyourfuture hackathon and digital festival are implemented jointly with Tech StartUp School.
– What is the purpose of Hackyourfuture hackathon?
– The project aims at strengthening the digitalization of civil society organizations in western Ukraine in order to increase the influence and involve young people in the lives of communities and the country as a whole.
– Please, tell us about the main features of the project
– Within the framework of the hackathon, there will be developed community or country development projects that provide digital solutions and social, economic, environmental and democratic innovations. Participation is free. Hackathon participants will be able to work for at least 16 hours in a team of like-minded people. All work will be guided by experienced international mentors to turn the idea into an important project. Workshops on project development and pitching will be organized. The winners will receive cash prizes – the team prize for the best project and a special team prize for an interesting project.
– What are the conditions of participation in Hackyourfuture project?
– You need to have a project idea for the development of your community or country, in particular the idea of developing digital solutions in the field of social, economic, environmental and democratic innovations and transparency. Or you have to be an IT professional who is ready to help develop digital solutions to improve the lives of communities and the country.
– How do you select participants?
– The selection of participants is organized by an international jury. Preference is given to project ideas, on the basis of which it is possible to develop for the community a viable project that provides digital solutions in a few days. We also give preference to young people from the western regions of Ukraine.
– What online services and platforms will teachers use to conduct classes?
– If the epidemiological situation allows, the hackathon will be organized in the traditional offline format from October 8 to 9. If not it will be held online on the ZOOM platform from October 6 to 9.
– Please tell us about the teachers and mentors of Hackyourfuture hackathon
– Hackathon mentors are experts and managers from business, government, IT companies and NGOs from Ukraine, Germany and France. We will share the information about mentors and in which areas they will advise teams with the participants.
– What will happen with the project participants in the future?
– Promotion of projects, support of mentors and, we hope, successful implementation of interesting and important solutions.