TODAY

COUNTRY’S BEST DEVELOPERS WORKING FOR 48 HOURS TO APPLY TECHNOLOGY TO IMPORTANT PROBLEMS

Myanmar’s first-ever “hackathon” will begin on 14^th March 2014 at 6pm at Ooredoo Myanmar Office, MICT Park, Yangon. A hackathon is a “coding marathon” in which members of the technology community work together to use technology to solve special problems. The hackathon will run for 48 hours until 6pm on Sunday 16^th March.

The hackathon is being organized by Code for Change Myanmar, a new initiative supported by Internews to harness the potential of the coming revolution in connectivity in Myanmar.

On the night time of Friday,14^th March, NGOs will present the problems that the hackathon will be working on. The NGOs presenting problems include: MIDO (Myanmar ICT for Development Organization); Proximity Designs;PSI Myanmar; and Marie Stopes International. The problems include:

• How to use mobile technology to alert famers to an outbreak of pests and/or disease?
• How to use technology to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS?
• How to use technology to translate important educational videos into the languages used in Myanmar

After the problems have been presented, the hackathon participants will break into teams of three (3) to six (6) people. Each team will pick a problem to work on. They will then have 48 hours to develop a practical solution to that problem using technology.

The hackathon participants are all part of the Myanmar technology community. They are a mix of developers, designers and entrepreneurs. Code for Change Myanmar received over 120 applications to participate in the hackathon. Fifty (50)applicants will be participating. Local and international experts will also be on hand to help and advise.

On Sunday 16^th March at 3pm the teams will present their solutions to the Judging Panel. Prizes will be awarded to the group that develops the most innovative, workable solution to a problem.

In addition to Internews, Ooredoo Myanmar, ideabox, The World Bank, and Singtech Myanmar, are supporting the Code for Change Myanmar Hackathon.

 Live updates on the Code for Change MyanmarHackathon can be found at:

 www.facebook.com/CodeForChangeMyanmar

https://twitter.com/Code4ChangeMM

 Photo Credit : Code for Change Myanmar Facebook Page