Press release
UNESCO launches CodeTheCurve Hackathon to develop digital solutions in response to COVID-19
UNESCO in partnership with IBM and SAP has launched the CodeTheCurve Hackathon to support young innovators data scientists and designers across the world to develop digital solutions to counter the COVID19 pandemic Aside from its terrible impact on the health of thousands so far the COVID19 crisis is having profound effects on societies from reliable information sharing to education with school closures currently affecting more than 15 billion students across the planet?Solving this unprecedented global crisis will require the collective expertise and imagination of all of us?said Audrey Azoulay DirectorGeneral of UNESCO We know that there are young women and men around the world with new and innovative ideas on how technology can help us handle the pandemic but they need support to bring them to fruition Through this Hackathon in association with our partners we hope to help make these ideas a reality CodeTheCurve is organized in two phases beginning with a video competition for ideas it will be followed by a Hackathon among 40 selected teams The Hackathon will run until 30 April 2020 Participating teams will work on one of three main themes 1 Ensuring continued learning 2 Data management and information and 3 The present and the future societal and health issues With so many young people currently at home due to COVID19 school closures 183 countries impacted and a need for practical fun and virtual education the IBM Z team is excited to launch CodeTheCurve with UNESCO SAP and our collaborators Empowering youth with tech skills entrepreneurial zest professional development and mentorship is really the secret sauce for inspiring the world to transition from consumers of technology into creators makers and doers empowered by technologysays Melissa Sassi Global Head IBM Z Global Student Hub IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator Participating Hackers will receive experience pitching their innovative solutions from relevant and supportive organizations that have been brought together under the umbrella of CodeTheCurve The selected teams will be able to benefit from a series of webinars and activity kits offered by partner organizations such as IBM SAP FOSSASIA and iHackOnline During these unprecedented times we need to empower young innovators as they engage in finding solutions to this crisis says Claire GillissenDuval Director of EMEA Corporate Social Responsibility and Africa Code Week cofounder at SAP True to SAPs vision of helping the world run better and improving peoples lives our colleagues will resolutely support the CodeTheCurve hackathon by mentoring participants The CodetheCurve initiative is supported by UNESCO IBM and SAP and the generous contribution of TruChallengecouk AngelHack iHackOnLine and with the collaboration of Pamplemousse Communication The initiative builds upon UNESCOs longstanding efforts to foster digital skills and professional development competencies for youth with a particular focus on young women software developers and designers YOUR IDEAS CAN CHANGE OUR FUTURE PARTICIPATE IN THE CodeTheCurve HACKATHON REGISTER TO CODETHECURVE? ? Media contact Bernard Giansetto bgiansettounescoorg 33 01 45 68 17 64 More information on UNESCO information programme
