Reboot our democracy!
The United Nations has found that youth around the world are underrepresented in political structures, citing a lack of opportunity and space for their civic engagement.
The complexities facing our democracy call for more connection and collaboration between youth and government than ever before. We need you to reboot democracy with us this spring to develop tech and tech-enabled prototypes for a healthier, more youth driven democracy.
The Democracy Rebooted hackathon programme creates the space and opportunity youth need to engage civically. It features a big, bold idea session and a capstone weekend-long hackathon in Ottawa. It’s an opportunity to apply your civic creativity, policy chops, coding, design, and data visualization skills to do good for your democracy. Hack projects will each fall under one of two two streams: tech-enabled and tech-built. No matter your skills, there is a project here for you.
Project themes will include:
– blockchain as a tool for government transparency
– the role of artificial intelligence in our democracy
– instilling ethical and democratic values in society
– increasing the number of youth entering politics
– promoting the value of ethical and democratic principles over party colours
– the role of social media to unite or polarize
Join us
The hackathon will bring together teams consisting of 4-6 technologists, data or policy enthusiasts and subject matter experts. Besides skills, we care about inclusion and are hoping hackers of all cultures, backgrounds and genders sign up!
Up to three teams with the most promising prototypes will be selected to present to the House of Commons.
As part of this hackathon you will:
– Gain an understanding of challenges and opportunities relating to challenges facing our democracy
– Have the opportunity to forecast and disrupt these challenges with your ideas and skills;
– Think critically as you build something new and helpful;
– Be fueled with good food and a welcoming and comfortable environment;
– Meet, learn from and be inspired by creative, collaborative and caring folks like yourself.
Hackathon weekend schedule:
1. Friday, May 10 – Gather, network, form a team
2. Saturday, May 11 – Hack to it and have fun
3. Sunday, May 12 – Polish your project and present to your peers and a panel of experts.