MANILA, Philippines – Do you have a game changing idea that could potentially create social impact? Are you a young innovator helping a local community? If yes, then you are what we are looking for.
This 2017, Rappler, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), challenges you to formulate innovative solutions for society’s real life problems.
We want you to create "hacks" that would make our society more inclusive – a Philippines with no one left behind.
Your "hack" could be an idea for an enterprise or a startup that you want to initiate or a change project you want to implement within existing organizations or communities. We welcome all kinds of ideas: from actual physical products to potential services.
Bottom line, we want ideas that could make a positive impact on communities, organizations, and society in general. We want you to #HackSociety!
Data and purpose-driven innovation
During the 2016 Social Good Summit, we introduced the first round of #HackSociety– the ideathon that aims to harness the new democratic space to crowdsource "hacks" that address key social issues.
It became an experiment where decision makers met ordinary people, and where both worked together to solve common problems and challenges. We taught the innovation process and inspired students and young professionals to think outside the box and ideate viable ventures.
We believe the future of social innovation is the fusion of data, creativity, and the values we hold dear: compassion, integrity, hope, courage.
This year will spin off #HackSociety into a separate event with hack workshops focusing on 4 key areas. Click on a button below for more information:
#HackSociety will provide participants with data to help ground and refine their ideas. It will dare selected participants to accelerate their ideas to prototype through a 30-hour challenge.
In the spirit of the #2030NOW vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), selected teams will be given 30 hours to learn new concepts, talk with experts and mentors, and jumpstart their ideas by building prototypes of their long-term solutions for a sustainable future.
Here are this year's 4 key areas:
Media and democracy
One of the challenges in the field of media and democracy today is the proliferation of unverified sources and fake news. How do we address these dilemmas in an innovative and sustainable manner?
How can we utilize technology, the internet, and available media platforms to strengthen our democracy?
SDG 16 aims for just, peaceful, and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Different forms of abuse, violence, and exploitation are still prevalent worldwide, especially violence against children and women. How can platforms and technologies help in preventing these forms of injustice?
How can we use media and new technologies to engage, include, and empower marginalized groups such as the youth, women, PWDs, and those in rural areas, including indigenous peoples?
What are innovative ways that could be done to teach media literacy to Filipinos, especially to the youth?
Peace, governance and local development
According to UNDP, "development and inclusive growth are anchored in the quality of governance". How can we help civil society organizations and ordinary citizens monitor and create checks and balances in both their local and national governing bodies?
How do we ensure that stakeholders are involved in the budgeting process for government projects?
What are innovative practices that could be done to complement the existing initiatives of civil societies that are geared towards administrative reforms, anti-corruption, and freedom of information?
One of the primary goals of UNDP is "to assist Philippine government to nurture a culture of human rights by fulfilling commitments to international treaties; mainstreaming rights-based approach into local, gender-sensitive plans; and building the capacity of government, including the security forces, to protect and promote human rights." How can new technologies help in the protection and promotion of justice and human rights?
What innovative initiatives can be done to improve the access of marginalized sectors such as farmers, women, children, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to social services?
SDG 16 aims for just, peaceful, and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Different forms of abuse, violence, and exploitation are still prevalent worldwide, especially violence against children and women. How can platforms and technologies help in preventing these forms of injustice?
What are ways that could be done to increase understanding and cooperation among communities in conflict with each other in the Philippines?
How can we address the hate revolving around online political conversations and debate?
Environment and climate change: Responsible consumption & production
According to the World Food Programme, one-third of the world’s food goes to waste. In the Philippines alone, Filipinos waste an average of 3.29 kilograms of rice per year. What interventions could be done to address this and to provide sustainable and alternative sources of food?
Studies show that households consume 29% of global energy, contributing to 21% of overall CO2 emissions in the world. How can we engage citizens to practice responsible energy usage and promote renewable sources of energy?
How can we creatively promote a "zero-waste" lifestyle among Filipinos? Are there commonly wasted resources, which can be transformed into a product or a business venture?
Public health and well-being
An estimated 29 new HIV infections are reported daily in the Philippines. More than half of these infections are from the youth sector. According to the National Youth Commission, around 62% of these infections are in the youth sector. What interventions could be done to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the country?
In terms of maternal and child health care, in 2015 there are 114 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the Philippines. Infant mortality, on the other hand, is at 35 deaths per 1,000 live births. While the Philippines has seen improvements in these areas in the recent years, many still lack the access to proper maternal and child care, especially those who are located in far-flung areas. How can we make healthcare more inclusive to these sectors?
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) says 1.2 million people die yearly because of road traffic crashes. The Philippines has around 10,379 land transportation-related deaths annually. What other innovative measures could be done to promote road safety in the country?
Mental health continues to be a least addressed and least talked about health issue in the Philippines. The Department of Health (DOH) reported that one in 5 Filipino adults has some form of mental illness. What initiative can be implemented to address this issue?
- A study by the Inter-Agency Regional Analyst Network (RAN) and the Action Against Hunger (ACF) in 2015 showed that 1 in 3 Filipino kids are still malnourished and stunted. To add to this, an estimated 3.1 million Filipino families said they experienced hunger in the 4th quarter of 2016. How can we combat hunger and child malnutrition using ways that have never been done before?
Ready to take on the challenge? Here are simple steps on how you could join:
Create a team with 2 to 5 members. All team members must be under 30 years old.
Brainstorm and think of an idea or "hack" for addressing any of the issues mentioned. We are not limiting ideas to tech-related innovation. Also, your ideas could be an application of existing innovations or systems to current challenges, or new approaches or tweaks to existing programs.
Submit your idea through this form and answer the following questions:
- What is the specific problem you are solving?
- Describe the solution you are proposing.
- What makes your solution innovative and sustainable?
- Identify your key stakeholders, target partners, and needed resources.
- Introduce your teammates and their roles in implementing your idea.
Submit and upload your entry through this registration form before the deadline: August 25.
Chosen entries will be notified on or before August 30, and will be invited to participate in the 30-Hour Challenge workshops for each of the key areas.
What’s at stake?
After a series of workshops, mentoring, and elimination, the best and most viable proposal for each category would have a chance to deliver their pitch at the 2017 Social Good Summit at Samsung Hall, SM Aura on September 16. The Summit will be attended by key people from government agencies, civil society, and even by incubators, accelerators, and angel investors.
One final winner will be declared by the end of the Social Good Summit and awarded with the following:
P50,000 in cash
Access to Rappler events, workshops and trainings. These events will provide winners with opportunities to network with partners who can provide mentorship and help refine your product/service and business model.
Production of one social video (worth P450,0000) for their winning idea/innovation. The social video will be posted via Rappler and Move.PH social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity. This is your chance to create the change you want to see in our society. Talk with your peers, form a group, think of your solution, and submit your entry.
If you have any questions, email us at socialgood@rappler.com using #HackSociety in the subject line. – Rappler.com