Join Youth Hacking 4 Freedom 2024
Are you up for hacking on a software project of your choice? Do you want to meet like-minded people of your age from around Europe? What about getting the chance to receive one of our cash awards and to travel to Brussels to meet the other winners and great people from the Free Software movement? Then join the YH4F competition. The third round will start on the 1st of January 2024 and registration is now open.
Youth Hacking 4 Freedom has an international jury, with chorifeen from various software fields, accompanying you throughout the contest.
The program is dedicated to offering an inclusive environment in the YH4F, and encourages teenagers of all genders to join. Youth Hacking 4 Freedom makes sure everyone enjoys the process and leaves this competition with added knowledge and a smile.
In brief
Participants must be born between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2008, and must be between 14 and 18 years old at the time of registration.
Participation is free, but registration is mandatory. Registration is open throughout the coding period.
The opening event is on 7 December 2023.
The coding period is between 1 January and 30 June 2024.
During the coding period participants are free to join the monthly online meetings.
The first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive 4.096 EURO, 2.048 EURO, and 1.024 EURO, respectively. There will also be three special prizes of 1.024 EURO. Overall, around 10.000 EURO will be awarded.
Each participant, who submitted a project will also receive a certification of participation and a special prize.
The competition will be conducted remotely, except for the award ceremony, which will take place in Brussels during a weekend in October 2024 (to which the winners and a family member will be invited on an all-expenses-paid basis).
Decide yourself what you code
There is no set challenge or topic for the software you should develop. Embrace your imagination and create what is the most interesting to you. It can address an everyday problem you have, or it can be just fun. It can be a standalone program that you write from scratch, or you can modify and combine existing programs. The possibilities are endless. A vital condition for the competition is that the program should be Free Software, so that others can use, study, share, and improve the code in the future. Do not worry, if you do not have an idea yet. Youth Hacking 4 Freedom will be there and help you come up with an idea. Or you have the chance to meet other particpants and to join their team.
Take the time you need
During the coding period you have the chance to develop your project idea and work on the code or hardware. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet other participants from across Europe in our monthly calls. Late registration is possible but their will be no extension of the coding periode. If you are not yet sure if you want to join, feel free to also drop by at our monthly calls and meet us and other participants. Make sure to register in order to get updates for the calls.
Present your program to top experts
Your software project will be in good hands, as it will be evaluated by Free Software experts. Our jury members excel in software development and are deeply involved in the Free Software movement. At the same time, they are excellent people to work with. After you submit your program, you will have the chance to present it to them, as part of your evaluation. This is a nice opportunity for you to discuss your idea and your achievement with experienced people in the field.
The coding period is expected to start on 01/01/2024 and will end after six months on the 30/06/2024
Register here
