Calling all innovators and tech experts!
As most people know, on August 4th, 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded in the port of Beirut, Lebanon.
At least 190 people died, 3 reported missing and over 6,000 people were injured.
The explosion at the port created a shock wave that damaged the roads and buildings, overturned cars, sent shattered glass across miles and shook the ground across the city.
In a city of over 2 million people, around 300,000 were immediately displaced.
Families who no longer have a home have been forced to find temporary shelter—with friends and relatives if they’re lucky. In schools and civic buildings otherwise. Local organisations have said as many as half a million people may need immediate help like food, clothes, and somewhere to sleep.
When news of the disaster broke out, PersEd, like many other businesses, was determined to find ways to help. They decided to create something to contribute to the rebuilding of Beruit’s society—to provide opportunities for those affected by the terrible explosion so they can find their feet once more.
We launched Hack For Hope.
Hack For Hope is a virtual hackathon where local and international innovators and tech experts come together to create a reliable solution for the people of Lebanon.
Hack For Hope’s mission? To design a platform that will connect young talent in Lebanon with remote opportunities to provide a clear pathway to support themselves and rebuild their lives socially and economically.
Silvia Baroni, one of the Hack For Hope organisers, shares, “This hackathon is special in because it starts with a solution concept and builds upon it through design and prototyping a tangible output that we can further develop to support young talents and help them find remote/digital internships and receive the support they need.”
That means everyone participating in the hackathon has a clear vision into what the final product should be, and how it will improve the lives of the youth in Lebanon.
The final result will be the starting base to go on and build the online platform.
With almost no career prospects, thousands of young people in Lebanon have no way to support themselves or their loved ones, and that’s where Hack For Hope comes in.
The platform we’re hoping to have at the end of Hack For Hope will give the youth in Lebanon opportunities for financial stability and work experience. The platform will introduce them to a peer-to-peer community support system and innovative coaching.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Hack For Hope is an entirely virtual hackathon. That means it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, whether it’s a mansion in Hollywood or in a bedroom in your parents’ house—if you have the skills to help build a platform, you can get involved.
- Teams are ideal, but if you want to join solo, or you’re a student, there will be opportunities to join other teams. To participate, you can apply here.
- We need coders, product designers, AI/ML experts, data scientists and HR managers.
- We also need a few exceptional folks to mentor and support teams. If you have knowledge in recruitment, software engineering, product design (UI/UX), human-centred design, AI/ML and data science/analysis, you can apply as a mentor.
Mentors will be there to answer questions, give technical and skilled support by sharing their experience and expertise in AI, platform ecosystem, design thinking, HR and more, Silvia explains. They’ll also help the organisers with team feedback to encourage ongoing improvements.
WHAT TO EXPECT
WELCOME EVENT/OPEN DAY
Hack For Hope officially opens Thursday, 24 September 2020 and will begin at 6 PM EEST.
HACKATHON DAY 1: FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER, ALL DAY
HACKATHON DAY 2: SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER, ALL DAY
PITCH & SELECT WINNERS: SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER UNTIL 7 PM EEST
Hack For Hope,
Hack For Lebanon
If you have some of the skills that could help young talent in Lebanon rebuild their lives and future, find out how you can get involved. Spread the word, share with your friends, family and colleagues and help us support the thousands of young people in Beirut who have lost their stability, by giving them hope for a brighter future.
A huge thank you to everyone supporting Hack For Hope—customers, participants, our partners and our event speakers Shelley Zalis, Mandy Sanghera and Tessy Antony De Nassau.
With gratitude,
Eventornado Team & Partners
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