Hackathon4Justice: a global coding hackathon for young innovators
Africa Teen Geeks is teaming up with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for a global hackathon in support of UNODC's Education for Justice (E4J) initiative. Up to forty young tech innovators from across the world get two days to show their technical skills and creativity, at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Why join
The hackathon is for anyone curious about how the United Nations tackles crime, and about how technology could help uphold peace, justice and strong institutions. Participants code for justice while being coached by experienced engineers and UN experts, and they get to put their own ideas in front of the people who work on these questions.
Funding for travel and accommodation is available.
Who the organisers are looking for
Students between 13 and 18 who are enrolled in a high school. They should have basic coding skills and some experience of one or more development technologies, such as Java, C++, Python, Android, iOS or AR/VR, and a basic command of English. Above all, they should be passionate about using their technical skills for social good and about building peaceful, inclusive and just societies.
Speakers and mentors
Engineers from Apodytes and Georgetown University, together with experts from UNODC and other organisations, provide inspiration and guidance throughout the two days.
Schedule
The programme runs over three days: two of coding and a short closing session on the third.
Tuesday the 5th. Arrival and registration from 8:45 am, official opening and team formation at 9:00, coding from 10:30, lunch at 12:30 while coding continues, a raffle and game at 2:00 pm, end of day at 5:00 pm.
Wednesday the 6th. Coding continues from 9:00 am, coaching at 11:00, lunch at 12:30, a raffle and game at 2:00 pm, end of day at 5:00 pm.
Thursday the 7th. The award ceremony and closing at 12:00 noon, and the end of the hackathon at 1:00 pm.
Venue
The hackathon is hosted at the Preston Lounge in the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., in the United States.
How to apply
Applications for a place were made through an online form run by the organisers; this page does not carry the form itself.
Contact
The organiser's postal address is Regus Business Centre, corner of Cedar and Fourways Boulevard, Fourways, Johannesburg.