The I Hackathon of the Terres de l’Ebre brings together 40 students to innovate socially
Amposta has experienced a different day for its youth. The 1st Hackathon of the Terres de l’Ebre has brought together around forty sixth-grade students to test their creativity and capacity for social innovation.
The initiative, promoted by FabLab Terres de l’Ebre and held on board the electric boat La Perla, was the final chapter of a course dedicated to designing solutions that help the elderly put on their shoes without having to bend down.
An educational experience that connects with reality
The educational centers involved and the methodology applied
The five educational centers in Amposta actively participated, with a total of 40 students applying the design thinking methodology. This technique encourages problem-solving through creativity and critical thinking, key elements for social innovation.
The director of FabLab Terres de l’Ebre, Lala Escrivà, explained that throughout the course the students worked on challenges linked to their immediate environment, until the two most outstanding proposals from each school were selected to advance to the final.
The challenge: a real difficulty for the elderly
The challenge posed is no abstraction: helping elderly people put on their shoes without bending over. This problem, which may seem simple, affects the mobility and autonomy of many grandparents and caught the attention of the young participants.
According to Escrivà, this closeness to the students’ reality has boosted their motivation and creativity, resulting in surprising and practical solutions.
The winner and support from the local business network
The winning project: technology and operation inspired by robots
The team "Robotitos," made up of students from Carmelites of Amposta, took the prize with a proposal that combines voice sensors and automated clamps to facilitate shoe placement. The jury especially valued the originality and functionality of this solution inspired by a robotic vacuum cleaner.
The day was a demonstration that technology can serve society, and that the youth of Tarragona have many ideas to show.
The importance of business support
Local companies like Cartodelta, Ubaldo Rètols, and Recycling System participated by providing prizes and resources, which strengthens the connection between education, innovation, and the productive fabric of the region.
This logistical and material support was key to the success of the day and to creating a realistic and motivating environment.
The institutional vision and opportunities for the region
The mayor of Amposta and the value of FabLab
The mayor, Adam Tomàs, emphasized that this initiative helps showcase emerging talent and connects schools with the city’s social reality. He also highlighted that FabLab Terres de l’Ebre is the only public digital fabrication laboratory in Spain and in the Tarragona region, positioning Amposta on the innovation map.
Tomàs remarked that activities like this help retain talent and leverage local innovative resources.
Future prospects and impact in the province of Tarragona
The Hackathon has not only been a one-time event but has opened the door to new forms of learning and collaboration between schools, businesses, and institutions in the province of Tarragona. The model can be replicated to involve more young people in social innovation, a field that needs fresh ideas and solutions originating from the territory itself.
Thus, the Terres de l’Ebre region reaffirms its commitment to creativity and technology applied to real problems.
The reality is that if these students are already thinking about robots that put on shoes, just wait to see what they will do when they grow up.
Source of the article: Amposta City Council
