HACKATHON FOR DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD (DAC)
THEME:
Innovation with Children on the Role of Technology in Education Reforms
- Day: 22nd June 2024- 26th June 2024
- hybrid
About
Since 1991, the African child has been celebrated on the 16th of June with the main agenda being enhancing the wellbeing of the child. This special day was put in place by the Organization of African Union (OAU) which looked to commemorate the death of children as a result of their championing for their rights on the 16th of June, 1976 Soweto Uprising.
To mark the annual event, the African Union through the Africa Committee of Experts on The Rights and Welfare of the Child has set the theme for the year 2024 to be Education for all children in Africa: the TIME IS NOW.This theme underscores the importance of having all African children educated in different areas and sectors of their lives. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child under Article 11(1) states that ‘Every child shall have the right to an education’.
Hakathon
Realizing that it is important to have education reforms to properly realize our human capital development, Mtoto News proposes a proactive engagement of children for the commemoration of the Day of the African Child (DAC 2024). Held in Nairobi on the 27th of June, the one-day hackathon seeks to bring approximately 30 children from across Nairobi county and its environs who will use both existing and new mechanisms to develop new tools and solutions for education reforms and innovation for the African child.
The hackathon is an opportunity for children to harness their creativity and innovation showing that they too are part of the solution to their education concerns, a part that takes 80% of their lives. It is also an opportunity to showcase that their solutions can have a meaningful impact.
Objectives
Focus on Education:
Aligned with the African Union’s 2024 theme of “Education for all children in Africa: the TIME IS NOW,” the hackathon will focus on developing innovative solutions for improving access to quality education, promoting inclusive learning environments, and leveraging technology to enhance educational outcomes.
Empowering Youth
Hackathon will empower young people to contribute to solving challenges related to education. This aligns with the Day of the African Child’s emphasis on celebrating and advocating for the rights and well-being of children.
Leveraging Technology
Hackathon will encourage the use of technology to address educational challenges, such as developing educational apps, creating online learning platforms, or utilizing artificial intelligence for personalized learning experiences
Our Approach to the Hackathon
We will have the proposed hybrid hackathon Marathon start on Saturday, 22nd June 2024 at 2:00 pm EAT and end on Wednesday, 26th June 2024. Up until 26th, the hackathon will take place virtually with a culmination happening on 26th at the Microsoft ADC in Westlands, Nairobi Kenya.
Children will hack solutions on education reforms with the use of technology in terms of:
Before The Hack
- Children will be identified from schools and organizations. All children will be provided with reading materials/resources on the role of technology on education before the hackathon to familiarize themselves with the topic
During the Hack
- The children will be divided into different solution areas and will be allocated mentors who will work with them to come up with solutions. The solutions will be evaluated by a panel of experts who will grade the solutions. The winning solution will be awarded.
After the Hack
- All the solutions produced by children will be evaluated for viability and scalability. Mtoto News through the Watoto Innovation and Solutions Hub (WISH-HuB) will incubate these solutions and connect the children to organizations or possible funding. We will work closely with Microsoft ADC to develop a report on the learnings from the hackathon
Hybrid Hackathon programme
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
|
1400- 1420 |
Arrival and Introduction |
Moraa/Atulo |
|
1420- 1430 |
Opening Remarks |
Mtoto News |
|
1430- 1520 |
Introduction, Expectations, and norm-setting Mtoto News, Microsoft, and partners Introduction to Digital Literacy What is Online Safety? |
Jennifer Kaberi Selemani Kinyunyu Collins Orono |
|
1520- 1530 |
Ice-Breaker |
Atulo |
|
1530- 1630 |
Day of the African Child 2024 and its relation to the hackathon theme “Innovation with Children on the Role of Technology in Education Reforms.” What and why the hackathon? Explaining the different solution areas to the participants Grouping into various breakaway rooms |
Brian King Jennifer Kaberi |
|
1630 – 1700 |
Demo for Breakout Rooms & Grouping |
Jennifer and Atulo |
|
1700 |
Debrief and Closing |
Mtoto News |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BREAK ON SUNDAY TO RESUME MONDAY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
|
1400- 1430 |
Arrival and Introduction |
Moraa/Atulo |
|
1430- 1500 |
Expectations, and Norm-setting Recap Expectations from participants |
Atulo |
|
1500- 1600 |
Hacking Starts Participants get into various breakaway rooms Group discussions in the breakaway rooms on the six different solution areas |
Mentors |
|
1600- 1610 |
Ice-Breaker |
Atulo |
|
1610- 1650 |
Group discussions in the breakaway rooms on the six different solution areas (Cont…) |
Mentors |
|
1650 – 1700 |
Ice-Breaker and Interaction Session |
Jennifer and Atulo |
|
1700 |
Debrief and Closing |
Mtoto News |
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
|
1400- 1430 |
Arrival and Introduction |
Moraa/Atulo |
|
1430- 1500 |
Expectations, and Norm-setting Recap Expectations from participants |
Atulo |
|
1500- 1600 |
Hacking Starts Participants get into various breakaway rooms Group discussions in the breakaway rooms on the six different solution areas |
Mentors |
|
1600- 1610 |
Ice-Breaker |
Atulo |
|
1610- 1650 |
Group discussions in the breakaway rooms on the six different solution areas (Cont…) |
Mentors |
|
1650 – 1700 |
Ice-Breaker and Interaction Session |
Jennifer and Atulo |
|
1700 |
Debrief and Closing |
Mtoto News |
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
|
1000-1030 |
Arrival and Registration at Microsoft |
Atulo/Moraa/Catherine
|
|
1030-1040 |
Refreshments |
Microsoft |
|
1040-1045 |
Ice Breaker |
Atulo |
|
1045-1100 |
Introduction from Representative at Microsoft & Representative at Mtoto News Int’l
Expectations, and Norm-setting
Recap
Expectations from participants
|
Selemani, Jennifer and Atulo |
|
1100-1300 |
Groups in the different solution areas with the mentors taken in the different areas that have microsoft projects. |
Microsoft |
|
1300-1350 |
Health Break |
Microsoft |
|
1350-1400 |
Ice Breaker |
Omar/Atulo |
|
1400-1445 |
Hacking Continues Participants get into their assigned various breakaway rooms Group discussions continue in the breakaway rooms on the different solution areas |
Mentors |
|
1445-1530 |
Group presentations |
Participants |
|
1530-1540 |
Judges discussions on the presentations |
Judges |
|
1540-1545 |
Judges pick a winner |
Judges |
|
1545-1600 |
Photo Session |
Mtoto News & Microsoft |
|
1600-1630 |
Closing Remarks |
Microsoft & Mtoto News |