WIMTACH, the Social Innovation Research Center, and the Scarborough Food Network host a successful hackathon event

WIMTACH, the Social Innovation Research Center, and the Scarborough Food Network, a Scarborough-based not-for-profit organization, collaborated on a two-day hackathon on November 7th and November 8th. The partnership enabled students to rise to the challenge of developing a web and mobile application to integrate different functionalities and features to support various food banks and community members.

The hackathon successfully engaged over 45 Centennial College students with Front-end development skills with varying experiences in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, User Experience and User Interface design. Some students also had a familiarity with frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js. Nine different teams tackled the challenge of developing a framework for the needs of staff at food banks and the community members they serve.

Group one, consisting of Ming Chun Hon, Achint Singh Rekhi, Harvend Tauries, Pak Hin Wong, Daniel Miranda, and Yousif Feras Sabbar Al-Bayati developed the winning project for this challenge. The team’s unique project feature included a dual real-time stock tracking tool with a real-time chat room which ultimately helped the team to stand-out amongst other groups. Ming Chun Hon, the team leader for this winning team offered that his involvement in the hackathon enabled him to get a taste of a collaborative development environment with deadlines and expectations. He found the experience valuable, noting that his participation helped him to hone soft skills. “By joining the hackathon, I learned a great deal and gained insights that could lead to potential career opportunities. The experience honed my skills in teamwork, innovation, and working under pressure. Additionally, it provided me with a platform to showcase my abilities to WIMTACH and other partners, opening doors to future collaborations and job prospects in the tech industry,” he said.

Nkemjika Obi was also keen to join the hackathon to revisit some of his experiences from working in the tech industry in Nigeria. “It excited me to revisit those technologies, and the challenge we aimed to tackle seemed both intriguing and enjoyable,” he said. Recognizing the meaningful mission behind the Hackathon, Obi noted that his involvement helped him to develop insights into the challenges faced by food bank operators and the broader food bank industry. “Interacting with other teams’ projects inspired ideas on how we can contribute to the thriving food bank community, particularly in Scarborough and potentially Toronto,” he said. “I am genuinely thrilled and satisfied with my participation and would wholeheartedly recommend the hackathon to other students. It has been a rewarding experience.”

Anzal Mohamed Ahmed Farah and his group members were able to produce great visuals for the challenge. He explained that working in a team with diverse expertise helped to foster a creative learning environment. “Participating in the hackathon provided invaluable insights into programming and web application. The collaborative environment allowed me to enhance my problem-solving skills and gain practical experience in web apps,” he said. He also added “I am delighted with my decision to participate in the hackathon. The experience not only broadened my skill set but also provided a platform to connect with peers and faculty. I highly recommend it to other students as a fantastic opportunity for learning, networking, and personal growth.”

For further information, please send press inquiries to ptyagi@centennialcollege.ca