Winners of Vodafone Foundation's Global Hackathon Awarded in Bucharest

The award ceremony of the international hackathon, organised by the Vodafone Foundation across nine European countries, including Turkey, with the objective of fostering a more inclusive digital society, was held in Bucharest, Romania. Turkey's winning team, EcoLeaks, was also present at the ceremony.

The winners of the hackathon, initiated by the Vodafone Global Foundation for children and young people aged 6 to 19 across Europe, were recognised in Bucharest, Romania. Turkey's winning team, EcoLeaks, was likewise in attendance. The event offered country-level winners the opportunity to present their creativity and pioneering ideas on an international platform, while also enabling them to share experiences, exchange knowledge, and cultivate lasting friendships.

Innovative Solutions to Local Problems

In the hackathon held under the theme ‘Closing the Digital Divide’ across Germany, Albania, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Turkey, thousands of participants developed innovative responses to local challenges by centring their efforts on the Sustainable Development Goals, digital inclusion, and the cultivation of digital competencies. In Turkey, the hackathon was carried out in collaboration with the Habitat Association under the title ‘Cities of Tomorrow with AI’ and was won by the EcoLeaks team, comprising Alinda Taşatar and Mehmet Doruk Memik. EcoLeaks’ AI-driven project for detecting water bursts leverages data collected from IoT devices to identify anomalies within water systems. By analysing parameters such as water flow, pressure, temperature, and acoustic signals, the AI model enables early detection, mitigates water loss, and streamlines maintenance operations. Among the winning projects from other participating countries were AI solutions capable of accurately classifying and collecting waste, automated walkway systems to alleviate congestion in school zones, and technologies designed to eliminate unconscious bias in recruitment practices.

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

“Our aim in the ‘Artificial Intelligence Stars’ project, which we launched in collaboration with the Habitat Association, is to ensure that younger generations are equipped with technological competencies and to empower them to merge their creative ideas with emerging technologies by learning and applying artificial intelligence—now present across virtually every domain. Most recently, we engaged with young people through the hackathon organised by our global Foundation across nine European countries, including Turkey. Through this initiative, we sought to foster not only the technical acumen of our youth, but also their enthusiasm, innovative mindsets, and ability to translate ideas into impactful solutions. Our young participants from Kocaeli and Izmir, who won the national competition, received their awards in Bucharest. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish them continued success.”

Bora Caldu, President of the Habitat Association, remarked:

“We have reached hundreds of volunteers and thousands of children through the ‘Artificial Intelligence Stars’ project, carried out in partnership with the Vodafone Turkey Foundation. Throughout this journey, one of our greatest sources of motivation has been witnessing the international recognition of the innovative solutions developed by young people through technology. At a time when technology permeates every facet of our lives, our foremost objective is to ensure that intelligent technologies such as artificial intelligence are harnessed for the benefit of humanity. Through the ‘Artificial Intelligence Stars’ project, we are equipping young people with the knowledge and skills they need in this domain, helping to prepare them for the future. We extend our congratulations to our young winners and wish them continued success on their journey.”

‘ Skills Upload Jr. Challenge’ Initiative Reaches 10 Million People

The Global Vodafone Foundation has announced that, since 2021, it has reached 10 million people through its ‘Skills Upload Jr. Challenge’ initiative, which is designed to equip children and young people across Europe with the digital competencies and self-confidence they need to thrive. The initiative engages young individuals—regardless of their background, gender, or geographic location—through special education centres, dedicated online platforms, and in-school programmes, encouraging them to think creatively and critically, while empowering them to use digital tools safely and with confidence. In parallel, the initiative also seeks to provide educators with access to specialised content and technological resources, ensuring that digital literacy is embedded across the entire curriculum, rather than being confined to computer science classes.