Young Northern Cape innovators clinch national hackathon crown

THE AIR was thick with anticipation at the Seed4Africa National Hackathon, where young minds from across South Africa gathered in Victoria Bay to tackle one of the world's most pressing challenges – food security. Over two intense days, from March 11 to 12, teams poured their hearts into innovative solutions, but when the final announcement came, it was the Northern Cape’s Concordia Care team that emerged victorious. Their reward? A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent South Africa in Italy this July, competing on an international stage.

The competition, co-funded by the European Union and hosted by Learning Academy Worldwide, challenged participants to develop practical and sustainable food security solutions. For Concordia Care, the approach was simple yet powerful - reviving traditional farming techniques that require minimal equipment, making them ideal for the arid conditions of the Northern Cape.

Tears, Cheers, and a Shared Vision

When the judges announced their name as the winning team, the Concordia Care members were overwhelmed with emotion, said George Herald journalist Michelle Pienaar. Some cried, others cheered, and for a few moments, the reality of what they had achieved seemed almost too big to grasp. Their project had struck a chord with the judges – offering an effective, sustainable, and culturally rooted response to the challenge of food scarcity in dry climates.

But the Northern Cape wasn’t the only province making waves at the hackathon. Two teams from George High School, “Green Harvest” and “AgriFlow,” along with a second team from Concordia, also received recognition. Each of these teams walked away with R2,000 in funding to further their projects.

“AgriFlow” focused on a cutting-edge approach – indoor agriculture using high-tech farms that minimise environmental impact while ensuring year-round food production. Meanwhile, Concordia’s “Climate Smart Farming” project explored goat farming with breeds specifically suited for the harsh Northern Cape conditions.

Bridging Ideas Across Regions

Participants from across the Northern Cape – including learners from Namakwaland High School, students from the Learning Academy Worldwide bridging programme in Concordia, and NCR TVET College students - joined forces to bring creative solutions to the table.

Their participation was the result of months of outreach and promotional efforts in the Southern and Northern Cape, encouraging young innovators aged 18 to 32 to embrace the challenge of problem-solving through a hackathon.

Each team was tasked with creating a comprehensive strategy - one that included marketing materials, business plans, and promotional artwork. They had to think fast, design from scratch, and refine their pitches on-site. While they could bring pre-prepared elements, the final challenge had to be tackled in real-time, adding to the high-energy, high-stakes atmosphere of the event.

What Exactly is a Hackathon?

For the uninitiated, a hackathon is a blend of two concepts: “hack,” meaning a creative solution to a problem, and “marathon,” representing the intensive, time-sensitive nature of the challenge. These events push participants to think on their feet, work collaboratively, and present fully fleshed-out ideas within a limited time frame.

The judging panel reflected the international nature of Seed4Africa’s vision, comprising representatives from Kenya, Benin, Italy, and South Africa. Their task was no small feat - selecting a winner from a pool of brilliant young minds dedicated to shaping a more food-secure future.

As Concordia Care prepares to take their ideas to the global stage in Italy, the real victory lies in the movement this competition has ignited. Across South Africa, young innovators are proving that solutions to our most pressing problems don’t always require massive budgets or cutting-edge technology – sometimes, they just need fresh thinking, determined hearts, and the courage to take action.