Microsoft South Africa has teamed up with 1,000 Women Trust and TEARS Foundation to launch the Safe@Home Hackathon to address gender-based violence in the country.
Development Diaries learnt that the virtual hackathon will run from September 22 to October 19.
‘Gender-based violence is one of the most pressing and critical challenges South Africa faces. President Cyril Ramaphosa identified it as the second pandemic our country is currently battling and a war that is being waged against our women and children, with over 40 percent of South African women experiencing sexual and/or physical interpersonal violence in their lifetime’, Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa, Lillian Barnard, said.
‘Together, we will provide the support needed as we call on developers across the country to come together, understand the issues surrounding gender-based violence, and create and develop technology-based solutions that can help save lives’.
As for the founder of 1,000 Women, Tina Thiart, she said, ‘Violence against women and children is escalating under the current circumstances, with many South Africans confined to their homes. This indicates a clear need to take action to address gender-based violence in South Africa’.
Similarly, the founder and Director at TEARS Foundation, Mara Glennie, expressed excitement over the partnership.
‘I look forward to exploring the possibilities that technology can provide to help keep women and children ‘safe@home’, and working together to tackle the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa. The time for collective action is now’.
The Safe@Home Hackathon aims to facilitate collaboration to create and develop technology-based solutions that will work in the context of South Africa’s unique circumstances and challenges.
Source: IOL
Photo source: Mike Mozart