Social Innovation Hackathon focusing on Gender Equality took place on December 8 - 10th at İstanbul Impact Hub. The Social Innovation Hackathon brought together more than 60 developers, designers, entrepreneurs, humanitarians and gender advocates including 28 Turkish and Syrian young developers from Şanlıurfa to develop tech-based solutions addressing gender equality. The gender equality themed hackathon has been the first of its kind in Turkey and contributed to the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women – UniTE global campaign.
The hackathon was organized by Re:coded in partneship with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and GAP Regional Development Administration (GAP RDA) through financial support of Government of Japan and with collaboration of Microsoft, Bilgi University, Harran University and other stakeholders.
During the two day hackathon, participants worked together to co-create technology-oriented solutions to “hack the glass ceiling” for gender equality and stood together with women and girls around the world! Hackathon addressed four challenges including women’s social and economic empowerment, stopping violence against women, addressing the digital gender divide and building sustainable and gender equal cities.
I have participated some other Hackathons so far, but this is the first time I worked with Turkish participants so closely. In couple of years it will not be possible to do anything without knowing basics of programming. It is not just about using things, it is about producing them.
-Shahed Alali Alghrsi, one of the participants from Şanlıurfa
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