This hackathon, part of a series of regional peer-learning events in South Africa, prioritised substance and sustainability over hype
Earlier this year, Hack for Human Rights hosted an anti-hackathon event in Cape Town. There were no flashy prizes, caffeine-fueled all-nighters or last-minute deadline rushes. The hackathon prioritised substance and sustainability over hype.
Close to forty people attended the Hack for Human Rights hackathon, which was arranged in partnership by Codebridge, OpenUp, Black Sash, OfferZen and Civic Tech Innovation Network. Amongst the attendees were programmers, communications experts, journalists, activists, cartoonists and videographers.
The selected projects are part of a slow, deliberate attempt to build longer-standing connective tissue between tech practitioners, their skills and local communities. A panel of experienced civic-tech practitioners worked behind the scenes to identify and write up technical briefs for a range of projects that address human rights’ issues in and around Cape Town in an effective, sustainable manner.
After Black Sash provided an opening input that focused on their advocacy work on the Hands off Our Grants campaign, the briefs were introduced and attendees could choose which of the projects to contribute their time to on the day. Projects that attendees worked on included: Complain for Change Platform, Social Security Coalition Website, Metabolism of Cities, an infographic called ‘stop the hitting’ related to corporal punishment of children, a debt mapper, a website for the Budget Justice Coalition and social media for an NGO called Tosunga Baninga.
Hack for Human Rights received a grant from Civic Tech Innovation Network to host this event, part of a series of regional peer-learning events.
