APRIL 2023
Tanzania Youth Coding Hackathon
Introduction
The Tanzania Youth Coders Hybrid Hackathon was a unique event that brought together a community of student programmers to participate in an innovative and exciting competition. Organized by Brocken Technologies and Youth For Children Innovation Hub, the event was designed to promote real-world problem-solving skills using computer technology and inspire technical skills among participants. The hackathon involved both online and physical participation, covering topics such as education, agriculture, and health.
Goals
The hackathon aimed to achieve the following goals:
Bring together a community of student programmers:
By uniting diverse student programmers, the event aimed to cultivate collaboration and idea-sharing.
Promote real-world problem solving skills through computer technology:
At the hackathon, participants used technical skills to tackle real-world issues.
Inspire technical skills development:
The hackathon aimed to inspire participants in honing essential technical skills for success in today's world.
Importance of the Hackathon
Promotes Problem-Solving Skills
The hackathon provides an opportunity for participants to use their technical skills to come up with innovative solutions to real-life problems. This promotes problem-solving skills among young people and encourages them to think outside the box.
Fosters Collaboration
The hackathon brings together a diverse group of student programmers, encouraging collaboration and sharing of ideas. This helps to build a community of like-minded individuals who can work together in solving problems.
Inspires Technical Skills
The hackathon inspires technical skills among participants, encouraging them to continue learning and developing their skills in programming and other related fields. This is especially important in the present world where technology is rapidly evolving and new skills are constantly required.
Creates Opportunities
The hackathon provides a platform for participants to showcase their skills and connect with other professionals in their field. This can lead to potential job opportunities, internships, or even funding for their projects.
Addresses Real-Life Problems
The hackathon focuses on solving real-life problems in areas such as education, agriculture, and health. This helps to address some of the pressing issues facing Tanzania and other developing countries.
Hackathon Format
The Tanzania Youth Coders Hybrid Hackathon had a hybrid format, combining both online and physical participation for greater accessibility and flexibility. It involved Human-Centered Design (HCD) training, an approach to problem-solving technique that puts the user at the center of the design process. Participants worked on three problem areas: Track 1 (education), Track 2 (agriculture), and Track 3 (health). During the hackathon, participants formulated working solutions to the provided problems and pitched them in front of judges. The top three winners were selected and awarded cash prizes. The hackathon also provided an opportunity for participants to learn and exchange knowledge and technical skills.
Participants and Gender Ratios
During the hackathon, a total of 419 applications were received, comprising 328 individual applicants and 23 group applicants. The gender ratio of participants was 70.9% males and 29.1% females. The age distribution of participants was 76.6% between 18 and 23 years old and 23.4% between 24 and 30 years old. The event successfully attracted a diverse group of young people from different backgrounds.
Female participants
Male participants
24 - 30 yrs old
18 - 23 yrs old
Outcomes
The Tanzania Youth Coders Hybrid Hackathon was a great success, with 15 valuable solutions presented covering all the topics of the problem. Teams were formed by students from various universities across Tanzania, leading to valuable connections among programmers in the country. Participants also engaged in a knowledge exchange, learning from each other and finding inspiration.
Partners and sponsors
Brocken Technologies
©Brocken Technologies 2024 All Rights Reserved
