Inspiring Young Minds: Vodafone Foundation's Global Hackathon Shapes the Cities of Tomorrow

“Cities of Tomorrow with AI Hackathon” Announces Winners

The Vodafone Foundation has hosted an international hackathon across nine European countries, including Turkey, to bridge the digital divide and promote a more inclusive digital society. Designed for children and youth aged 6 to 19, the initiative culminated in Turkey with the “Cities of Tomorrow with AI Hackathon.” A total of 12 finalist teams from various provinces competed, with the EcoLeaks team from Kocaeli emerging as the winner.

The Global Vodafone Foundation organized a special hackathon for children and youth aged 6 to 19 across Europe. Held under the theme “Bridging the Digital Divide,” the hackathon took place in nine countries, including Turkey, Germany, Albania, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, and Romania. Participants were tasked with developing innovative ideas to foster a more inclusive society through technology. In Turkey, the hackathon was held in collaboration with the Habitat Association under the title “ Cities of Tomorrow with AI Hackathon.” A total of 12 teams from various provinces competed in the event. The EcoLeaks team from Kocaeli claimed first place, followed by EGAL STEAM-UP in second place, and the AI-ZERO Environmental Guardians team from Adıyaman in third place. Additionally, the RHM01 team from Adana was honored with the Jury’s Special Award. Awards for the top teams will be presented at a ceremony scheduled to take place in March 2025 in Bucharest, Romania.

Hasan Süel, Chair of the Vodafone Turkey Foundation, stated:

“We continue to advance our Foundation projects, shaped by the societal needs of our country, without slowing down. Through the 'AI Stars' project, launched in collaboration with the Habitat Association, our goal is to equip younger generations with technological skills, enabling them to learn and utilize artificial intelligence technologies that are now prevalent across all fields, and to merge their creative ideas with new technologies. Most recently, we reached young people through a hackathon organized by our global Foundation across nine European countries, including Turkey. With this competition, we not only supported the technical knowledge of all participants whose potential and creativity we aim to foster but also encouraged their passion, innovative perspectives, and ability to turn ideas into impactful solutions. We extend our gratitude to all stakeholders and esteemed jury members who contributed to the competition. I wholeheartedly congratulate all students who generated ideas and developed projects for their cities, whether or not they received an award.”

Bora Caldu, President of the Habitat Association, remarked:

“Through the 'AI Stars Project: Cities of Tomorrow with AI Hackathon,' we have once again witnessed the importance of connecting young people with technology and fostering their development in the field of artificial intelligence. This plays a crucial role in nurturing individuals who will have a voice in shaping the digital world of the future. As the Habitat Association, we are driven by our mission to ensure equal access to technology for young people across all 81 provinces of Turkey. We take pride in creating platforms like this, where young minds can bring their creative ideas to life. The sustainable and smart city solutions developed under the theme of ‘Cities of Tomorrow’ have once again demonstrated the power of projects that contribute to societal benefit. Your imagination, creative thinking, and determination are the most valuable tools to shape the future of the world. We are truly delighted to stand by your side and support you throughout this journey.”

Addressing Urban Challenges

Participants in the “Cities of Tomorrow with AI Hackathon” focused on developing solutions aligned with three of the Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education (Goal 4), Gender Equality (Goal 5), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11). To begin, they analyzed urban issues and identified key challenges that required resolution. Using artificial intelligence technology, participants devised sustainable solutions and developed prototypes. Each team prepared a brief presentation detailing the identified challenge and their proposed solution. The teams’ projects were evaluated by a jury comprising Özlem Kestioğlu, Executive Committee Member at Vodafone Turkey; Itır Akdoğan, Board Member at the Habitat Association and Research Director at the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation; Şeniz Gayde Ayata, Big Data Director at Vodafone Turkey; Armağan Döker, Software Architect at Kuika; and Fatoş Karahasan, Advisory Board Member at the Habitat Association, academician, and author.

Solutions for Diverse Challenges

The winning team, EcoLeaks, developed an AI-based water leakage detection project aimed at identifying abnormalities in water systems by analyzing data from IoT devices. Their solution leverages artificial intelligence to process data such as water flow, pressure, temperature, and sound, providing early warnings, reducing water loss, and optimizing maintenance processes.

“ Skills Upload Jr. Challenge” Initiative Reaches 8.2 Million People

As part of its commitment to addressing the digital divide, the Vodafone Foundation launched the “Skills Upload Jr. Challenge” initiative. Supported by the "Skills Upload Jr" program, this initiative has reached 7.5 million students, 600,000 teachers, and a total of 8.2 million people across Europe since its launch in 2021. The “Skills Upload Jr. Challenge” employs a design-thinking model that encourages students to propose technology-driven solutions to tackle the issues that affect them most in their local contexts. Through this initiative, the Vodafone Foundation aims to raise awareness among young people about existing inequalities and inspire them to recognize and leverage technology’s potential to address and resolve these challenges.