Random Hacks of Kindness
Hackers Save the World
Sound interesting? Here’s how you can become a part of it: Attend the Random Hacks of Kindness (www.rhok.org) Hackathon in Nairobi and develop open source software that saves lives, alleviates suffering and helps communities to recover after natural disasters strike. This event is the weekend just before WhereCampAfrica.
The Back Story
Random Hacks of Kindness is a joint effort founded by Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, NASA and The World Bank, dedicated to bringing software developers together to respond to challenges facing humanity in the area of natural disaster risk. We start with problem definitions, created in collaboration with the Crisis Commons through consultations with NGOs, governments and experts in the field from around the world, then we invite hackers to a come together to organize and go to work putting their skills to use to solve those problems with open source software solutions that make a difference on the ground. At a RHoK hackathon, new technologies are born, existing platforms are built upon, and innovative new ideas attract attention and support. At the close of the hackathon, teams present the technologies they have developed and prizes are awarded.
The Details
The next Random Hacks of Kindness Hackathon is happening in five locations around the world on June 5th and 6th, including in Nairobi at the iHub on the 4th floor of the Bishop Magua Centre Ngong Road (directly opposite the Uchumi Hyper) (http://www.ihub.co.ke). Join in two days of intensive hacking with hackers from Washington D.C., Sao Paolo, Jakarta and Sydney. Check out the full agenda for Nairobi or learn more about the global RHoK hackathon locations at http://www.rhok.org/events/rhok-1-0/nairobi-kenya/.
Why Do This?
- Save the world: You have the skills to make a difference. Hacks developed at the last RHoK hackathon were used on the ground in Haiti and Chile following the devastating earthquakes there in early 2010. The world needs these solutions.
- Exposure: Got a new product, idea or technology to share with the hacker community? Put it to work at the hackathon.
- Assistance: Extend the function and applicability of your existing products or software through global crowdsourced development.
- Input: Get real-time feedback from Subject Matter Experts in software and disaster risk.
- Insight: Learn about what other companies and developers are doing in the same space.
Sounds great! How do I sign up?
Sign up on our Nairobi registration page at http://rhoknairobi.eventbrite.com/. We’ll see you there!
If you are interested in assisting with the organization at one of the global hackathon locations, please contact thea.clay@secondmuse.com