News and Stories

Lucija Brezočnik, IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee

The IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee (R8 HuAC) provides seed funding to IEEE Region 8 SIGHT groups to support their upcoming year’s activity through the newly established SIGHT Groups Accelerator Program. Every SIGHT group that completes the application is eligible for funding up to $400!

The SIGHT Groups Accelerator Program aims to:

• recognize the success of the SIGHT groups,
• provide funding to organize more SIGHT groups activities,
• help to evaluate the health of the SIGHT groups, and
• promote good practices of the awarded SIGHT groups.

What are the rules? All active SIGHT groups with reported activities can apply to the IEEE R8 HuAC SIGHT Groups Accelerator Program. A SIGHT group must fulfill the following Membership and Reporting Requirements to receive the Base Funding ($100): at least two activities reported in the vTools Events Reporting, up-to-date roster following the HTB/SIGHT guidelines in the vTools Officer Reporting, and successfully submitted their 2023 SIGHT Group R8 Report. There is an additional option of getting Criteria Funding (up to $150), where a SIGHT group chooses the activities it wants to carry out from the possibilities listed in the Criteria section on our program webpage. The more criteria a SIGHT group meets, the more funding it can get. For all SIGHT groups wanting to compete and be exposed as the most active ones, the program also offers Ranking Funding (up to $150).

Remember: the SIGHT Groups Accelerator Program 2023 provides seed funding for the SIGHT groups based on the activities carried out from 16 November 2022 until 15 November 2023. The application submission portal will remain open from 1 to 20 November 2023.

Originally published on IEEE Region 8 News September 2023 issue.

Lavender Ndunya, IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee

Mark your calendars for the 14th October 2023 to join the tech revolution that is set to change lives across the Region! The IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Technologies Hackathon 2023 is an event aimed at addressing the specific needs of our communities. Organized by the IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee (HuAC), this virtual hackathon brings together the brightest minds to tackle pressing challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the world, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals.

Although the hackathon is conducted virtually, we strongly encourage sections to host their own physical gatherings. By engaging with likeminded individuals in a shared physical space, the collaborative energy and creativity will be amplified, fostering an atmosphere of innovation and camaraderie. With a vision for a better future, this year’s hackathon centers around the crucial theme of “Climate Action.” We invite passionate individuals and teams to propose groundbreaking solutions in key areas that directly impact our planet and its inhabitants: Food Security, Green Energy, and Oceans. Together, we can make a significant difference and contribute to a more sustainable world.

The ultimate goal of the hackathon is to recognize and reward exceptional tech proposals that can revolutionize the way we tackle humanitarian challenges. If the winning organizational unit (OU) does not have a SIGHT Group, our dedicated R8 HuAC team will provide mentorship and guidance to help them establish one. For established SIGHT groups, we will mentor them in submitting project proposals to the esteemed HTB/SIGHT Call for Proposals (CFP). Moreover, we have great prizes for the top three participants, so they are encouraged to come up with competitive and innovative solutions.

Participation registration is scheduled to open from mid-August to mid-September 2023. Those who are selected based on the requirements below will receive training on hackathon expectations. To prepare for the event, a series of webinars focusing on climate action will also be held.

To be eligible, the participating teams must meet the following requirements:

• have an amazing idea that could solve humanitarian problems around climate action on food security, green energy, or oceans;
• be open to students of all majors from R8 countries, regardless of whether their university has an established SIGHT group;
• have 2 to 4 members per team – in addition to students, a team may optionally include (no more than 2) professionals;
• be linked to a SIGHT Group, or a Section, or a Student Branch.

Each team can submit solutions in different categories, but only the best one counts. We are looking forward to having at least all SIGHT groups represented in the hackathon.

Originally published on IEEE Region 8 News September 2023 issue.

Neemat Abdelrahim, IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee

In a webinar held on June 21st, 2023, the IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee, through its Connecting Humanitarian Experts initiative, set out to highlight the potential of renewable energy sources. Titled “Clean Energy Transition for Sustainable Future,” this webinar aimed to educate and inspire attendees. The webinar was opened with an introduction about both the IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee and the IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB) and the opportunities they offer for volunteers to tackle humanitarian issues by utilizing technologies and available resources.

The guest speaker was Simay Akar, IEEE HTB 2023 MGA Representative and CCO & Co-Founder of “Innoses.” She provided expert insights and a thorough overview of renewable energy resources, and covered various technologies, including solar photovoltaics, wind turbines and other technologies, to improve the participants’ understanding of these sustainable alternatives to tackle various problems. She also explained the important role and impact of humanitarian activities and actions towards a better way of developing clean and affordable energy. The presentation emphasized environmental consciousness and motivated the attendees to embrace renewable energy as a viable solution. With attendees from multiple IEEE Sections, this webinar promoted the transition to a clean energy future.

Originally published on IEEE Region 8 News September 2023 issue.

Lucija Brezočnik and Theodoros Chatzinikolaou, IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee

The former global IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee (HAC) was elevated to the Humanitarian Technology Board (HTB) in November 2022. The HTB oversees humanitarian activities across various IEEE groups, regions, and societies, and funds related projects and activities around the world. In Region 8, we are excited to announce the 2023 IEEE Region 8 HAC members. Our mission is to inspire and enable IEEE volunteers around Europe, Africa, and Middle East to carry out and support impactful humanitarian technologies and sustainable development activities at the local level.

As part of our mission, we defined new programs and initiatives to raise awareness, award active SIGHT (Special Interest Group on Humanitarian Technology) groups, and encourage creation of new ones. To name a few, the Community Support Program provides funding to organize SIGHT projects to solve local community needs; the SIGHT Groups Accelerator Program offers additional funding for active SIGHT groups; the R8 Humanitarian Technologies Hackathon provides funding to hackathon winners to implement their proposed tech solutions; the SIGHT Groups Coordination Workshops focuses on specific needs of SIGHT groups to help them on their operations and management; the Connecting Humanitarian Experts provides a series of webinars aiming to communicate the impact of technology on selected United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and the R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress provides space for networking and best practices sharing for SIGHT groups across our Region. To see which other initiatives our committee is conducting and how applications for funding can be made, please check our webpage huac.ieeer8.org.

We welcome all members to spread the word about our committee and SIGHT across their Sections. Please, remember to join us by adding a SIGHT membership (free of charge) and/or form a local SIGHT group. We look forward to working with you to make a positive difference in our communities!

Originally published on IEEE Region 8 News June 2023 issue.