Oriented on making people closer

A three-day DigiWomen Codefest hackathon has started in Ashgabat, which provided an opportunity for women and girls with digital competencies to demonstrate innovative ideas and technical abilities that stimulate them to create their own business.

The hackathon was the final module of the DigiWomen Camp program, which was launched in February 2023 by the USAID Future Growth Initiative Project in partnership with the American Corners of the Country, Hewlett Packard Kazakhstan, and “Sanly Bilim” Private Education Center in Turkmenistan. The aim of the program is to create new opportunities for professional development in the IT sector for women and girls in Turkmenistan.

The event was attended by 96 participants from all regions of the country and Ashgabat, divided into 12 teams. For three days, they will be engaged in technological projects, implement innovative ideas and create digital products.

— When forming teams, we took into account skills related to web development, design, etc. We have set certain topics, and within these topics they need to find a specific problem with the help of experts who will help them, - Vepa Myalikgulyev, a representative of the FGI project, told ORIENT correspondent.

As topics - solutions for enterprises and entrepreneurs, including financial management, production processes, digital marketing; projects to develop women's entrepreneurship; supporting local businesses and farmers by promoting their products and services; women's health and well-being, etc.

Successful performance at the hackathon will allow participants to implement a business project or application with subsequent reorientation to the international market.

Opening the event, USAID Representative in Turkmenistan Nino Nadiradze noted the importance of promoting web development and emphasized the importance of supporting mentoring for women programmers.

After investigating the problem, the participants will begin to digitally solve it in order to develop a new application within 48 hours. ORIENT will acquaint readers with the results and winners of the hackathon in subsequent publications.

Artur PETROSYANTS

Photo: author