App Challengers, Let’s #BuildforCOVID19

#BuildforCOVID19

As our communities work tirelessly to contain and overcome the COVID-19 outbreak, the Congressional App Challenge team is partnering with the COVID-19 Global Hackathon. We’re asking all of our former Congressional App Challengers to take part in this global initiative. From AWS, Facebook, and Microsoft to the World Health Organization, the biggest names in tech and public health are teaming up to use the power of tech to fight the virus, but time is of the essence. The deadline to register and submit is Monday, March 30th and 12:00 PM EST.

The Congressional App Challenge is building a network of future American tech leaders and there is no bigger issue facing Americans of every generation. If you’ll still be enrolled in high school next fall, anything you develop for the COVID-19 Global Hackathon is eligible to be submitted to the 2020 Congressional App Challenge. Together, we can unleash the full potential of the Congressional App Challenge alumni network in the fight against the virus.

REGISTER HERE

COVID-19 Global Hackathon Details

What?

The COVID-19 Global Hackathon is an opportunity for developers to build software solutions that drive social impact, with the aim of tackling some of the challenges related to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

We’re encouraging YOU – innovators around the world – to #BuildforCOVID19 using technologies of your choice across a range of suggested themes and challenge areas – some of which have been sourced through health partners including the World Health Organization and scientists at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub.

The hackathon welcomes locally and globally focused solutions, and is open to all developers – with support from technology companies and platforms including AWS, Facebook, Giphy, Microsoft, Pinterest, Salesforce, Slack, TikTok, Twitter and WeChat, who will be sharing resources to support participants throughout the submission period.

Sign up for the Slack group

Why?

With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic, governments have issued guidance for members of the community to practice social distancing, while companies have enforced work from home policies in an effort to flatten the curve of viral infections across the population.

Given the isolation currently being experienced within communities right now, we want to create an online space where developers can ideate, experiment and build software solutions to help address this crisis.

Focus areas and themes

We’ve connected with a range of partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand some of the key challenge areas that technological innovation could help solve.

Some examples from the WHO here include the need for accurate disease prevention information around the world in languages/formats that resonate locally, as well as regional needs for expertise, resources/supplies and financial support from donors.

Additionally, we’re suggesting the below seven themes to help spark your ideas. Remember that you’re welcome to build with the technologies of your choice, across any areas that you think would drive impact for these issues, so feel free to think outside the box too!

  1. Health: Address and scale a range of health initiatives, including preventative/hygiene behaviors (especially for at-risk countries and populations), supporting frontline health workers, scaling telemedicine, contact tracing/containment strategies, treatment and diagnosis development.
  2. Vulnerable Populations: Problems faced by the groups of people who are disproportionately affected by the various health, economic, and social issues related to the COVID outbreak around the world, such as those with underlying health conditions or a thin social safety net.
  3. Businesses: The set of problems that businesses are facing to stay afloat, collaborate effectively, and move parts of their business online.
  4. Community: Promoting connection to friends, family, and neighbors to combat social isolation and the digitizing of public services for local governments.
  5. Education: Alternative learning environments and tools for students, teachers, and entire school systems.
  6. Entertainment: Alternatives to traditional forms of entertainment that can keep the talent and audiences safe and healthy.
  7. Other: The above themes are just suggestions. Feel empowered to get creative!

Competition Timeline

3/30: 9:00 AM PST Deadline to submit projects, including a 2-minute video walk-through

Week of 3/30: Judges will endeavor to provide feedback and connect with selected projects shortly after that (so long as these activities remain unaffected)

4/10: Highlighted projects will be announced

Let's #BuildforCOVID19

About The Congressional App Challenge
The CAC is an initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. The non-profit Internet Education Foundation provides the CAC with supplemental staffing and support. In the five years of the Congressional App Challenge, the program has yielded 1134 App Challenges across 49 states and territories. Thousands of functional apps have been created by over 25,000 students, and participant demographics surpass all industry diversity metrics.