How Adapt IT’s Social Good Hackathon Empowers Young Innovators and Transform Industries

The 5th annual Adapt IT Social Good Hackathon at Wits University, held at the T.W. Kambule Mathematical Sciences Building, brought together 156 enthusiastic students eager to tackle real-world problems. In partnership with Wits University, the event saw a record number of participants, especially young women, stepping into creative and innovative idea-driving roles. The intention of the Hackathon was to provide these young minds with a platform to apply their skills, experiment with cutting-edge technologies, and drive innovation. By collaborating with passion and creativity, students demonstrated their ability to engineer solutions that uplift and positively impact less affluent communities across South Africa.

What is the Social Good Hackathon?

The Social Good Hackathon, now in its fifth year, is a two-day event organised by Ndamu Gumane of Adapt IT in partnership with Dr Pravesh Ranchod of the University of the Witwatersrand. This year’s edition attracted a record number of students from various disciplines and socio-economic backgrounds, all united in addressing real-world challenges through innovative, modern, tech-driven solutions.

This hackathon offers students a unique opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and learn in a dynamic environment alongside industry experts. Participants work in teams to develop projects and solutions to various issues, and an esteemed panel of judges would then decide on the final winners.

The event started with an inspiring keynote by Julian John from Vodacom South Africa. He discussed the rise of the 5th Industrial Revolution and its transformative impact on the telecommunications industry. His insights sparked the students' curiosity, particularly about the growing demand for tech talent in this rapidly evolving sector. John emphasised how young minds are key to driving innovation in telecoms, encouraging students to consider careers in tech and showcasing why companies are eager to harness their creativity and fresh perspectives.

The event also included mentorship sessions and presentations from industry experts like KID Group, who provided AI and Machine Learning (ML) training. These sessions offered valuable insights into emerging technologies shaping the industry. Students engaged with professionals, gaining practical knowledge on how AI and ML can be applied to real-world challenges. The mentorship aspect allowed participants to sharpen their skills and broaden their understanding of tech innovation.

Additionally, we welcomed online representatives Athumani Mlinga, Cleopatra Mukangara, and Belinda from Vodacom Tanzania, along with Lekulana Kolobe from Vodacom Lesotho. With their experience running hackathons, they provided an African context to the Social Good Hackathon, highlighting its significance in driving innovation and social impact. They emphasised how such events foster solutions that address local challenges while benefiting underserved communities across the continent.

Tumelo Ramalebana from Puma Energy, South Africa, shared insights on how technology can drive advancements in the energy industry. He highlighted the crucial role of women in the sector, encouraging them to pursue excellence, as that will shine beyond any gender-related barriers. His message underscored that focusing on excellence is key to success.

Kavi Pather, EY Africa's AI Leader, was deeply impressed by the innovation at the 5th Social Good Hackathon. He noted, “Hackathons are more than just coding marathons—they are platforms for bold ideas and innovative thinking.” Pather commended the students for addressing real-world challenges like climate change with creativity and collaboration, highlighting that the future of AI and tech is in capable hands. As a proud Wits alumnus, he expressed excitement in being part of an industry that nurtures such talent.

In addition to the names above, the final judging panel featured key representatives from the broader Adapt IT Group, including Billy Mabena, Happy Molefe, and Buhlebenkosi Sibanda. From Adapt IT Telecoms, we had Marco Almeida, Matthew Seabrook, and Phillip du Plessis. Claire Marais represented Adapt IT Education, while Terrance Mulangaphuma joined from Adapt IT Energy. The diverse backgrounds and expertise of our judges enriched the evaluation process, providing valuable insights that enhanced the assessment of the students’ innovative projects.

What ideas and solutions did students develop?

During the hackathon, students developed a wide range of creative and impactful ideas and solutions to address real-world challenges. Some teams focused on agri-tech empowerment by designing platforms to support inexperienced farmers, offering tools and resources to help them learn farming techniques, sell their produce, and connect with markets.

Other teams tackled pressing social issues, developing tech-driven solutions with far-reaching impact. One group proposed using NFTs to transform street art into digital assets, enabling artists to monetize their work and gain financial independence. Another project focused on improving municipal services by creating a system that tracks and reports issues like electricity outages and water cuts, ensuring faster response times and better communication with residents. Teams also addressed critical challenges such as gender-based violence, developing tools to map high-crime areas and support police efforts in reducing violence. Other innovative solutions included enhancing fleet management systems, improving student housing, and creating platforms to address student funding issues, all aimed at uplifting communities and fostering safer, more connected environments.

These projects demonstrated impressive creativity, technical skills, and a strong desire to solve local and societal problems.

Why is an event like this so essential to young students?

Our hackathon is essential for young students as it promotes patriotism and helps tackle social ills by providing hands-on, real-world experience that goes beyond the classroom. It empowers students to actively engage in solving societal challenges while fostering a sense of responsibility and community-driven innovation. It encourages creative thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, which are vital in today’s dynamic job market. During this event, students get an opportunity to work on meaningful projects, often addressing critical social and community issues, which helps them see the impact they can have with their ideas and skills.

Moreover, the hackathon provides students with valuable connections to industry leaders, potential employers, and mentors, significantly expanding their professional networks. This exposure not only opens doors to future opportunities like internships and vocational work but also paves the way for long-term career prospects and permanent employment.. it also boosts confidence by pushing students to think on their feet, rapidly learn new technologies, and present their ideas under pressure—all within a short timeframe. In this case, the exceptional achievement was that they accomplished it all within just 30 hours.

“We want students to realise they have the power to change the trajectory of their country by using modern technology to address social ills. It’s their responsibility, based on what they've learned, to drive these initiatives forward. As they enter the industry, we hope they return as judges, bringing back the skills they've gained and applying them to future hackathons, continuing the cycle of innovation and impact.” — Ndamu Gumane, Social Good Hackathon Founder.

The importance of corporate enterprise joining Adapt IT

This Hackathon offers immense value for corporate enterprises, and at Adapt IT, we encourage more companies across industries to join us in these initiatives. It creates an innovative environment where students tackle real-world challenges, experiment with emerging technologies, and develop practical solutions. For companies, they provide access to fresh perspectives that can inspire new products, solve existing problems, and prove that profitability and social good can thrive together.

We urge other industries and businesses to participate in our hackathon to tap into fresh talent, support social innovation, and make a meaningful impact. By sponsoring or partnering in these events, companies not only identify top-tier talent but also gain a competitive edge through new ideas and technologies that address critical industry challenges. Together, we can build a future where corporate success and social responsibility go hand in hand, driving long-term growth and progress.

Conclusion

The 5th Social Good Hackathon was a transformative experience for students and industry leaders alike. It served as a vital platform for young talent to showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills, and innovative thinking, while offering companies the opportunity to engage with and nurture the next generation of professionals. By fostering a culture of collaboration, patriotism, and continuous learning, these events bridge the gap between academia and industry, driving impactful progress and growth. As we look toward the 2025 Social Good Hackathon, we are excited to announce an expansion programme aimed at collaborating with more tertiary learning institutions, ensuring that we continue to empower young minds, reach a broader range of students, and strengthen the industry with fresh, innovative ideas.