Male and female students from higher education institutions all over the country, and from different disciplines, arrived this week (16.5.23) in Jerusalem, at the Office of the State Comptroller and Ombudsman - in order to take part in the first hackathon of its kind. The students joined forces in work teams to characterize and find a solution to the challenge posed for them - how to connect children and youth with the Office of the Ombudsman, how to acquaint them with the work of the Office and encourage them to use the services of the Office for themselves and for those around them.
For about six hours the five work teams learned about the Office of the Ombudsman and its method of operation and discussed practical and creative technological solutions. Throughout the day the teams were accompanied by mentors from among the staff of the Office of the Ombudsman, and they also received assistance from the Office's Computing Department and data experts. The highlight of the day was when the teams presented the products of their work to the judging team, the Office staff and the competing teams.
State Comptroller and Ombudsman Matanyahu Englman, Director of the Office of the Ombudsman Dr. Esther Ben-Haim, Director of the Digital Technologies and Information Department Yaron Eisenstein, and Director of Department A at the Office of the Ombudsman Tidhar Ophir comprised the panel of judges who examined the final products and chose the winning teams.
Achiya Schneider, Yair Cohen, Daniel Boyanjo and Nadav Oxenburg, computer science students from Bar-Ilan University - members of the "Ctrl + Alt + Elite" team - won first place for their presentation of a concept combining ways of raising the awareness of children and youth about the Office and its work and simplifying the ways of contacting the Office in a manner technologically customized for children and youth.
Tal Inbar, Yotam Harpa and Dana Ronen Delroza, entrepreneurship and business administration students at Reichman University - members of "The Future Generation" team - won second place for their presentation of proposals for expanding the use of social networks, upgrading the Office's website and customizing methods of filing complaints by children and youth.
Oshri Kimhi, Osher Arie and Amit Wechsler, computer science and natural sciences students at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev - members of the "Madmachistim" team - took third place for their presentation of a holistic solution for making the Office accessible to children and youth - "Netzivuteens".
The State Comptroller and Ombudsman congratulated the teams, noted that they had presented interesting products and varied perspectives and added that all the teams which took part had raised many insights that would be put into practice. The Comptroller added a word of advice to the teams about the importance of presenting ideas in a clear and persuasive fashion.
Summing up the event, the Director of the Office of the Ombudsman said that the teams had brought nice and surprising products and good ideas which the Office would be happy to adopt. "You are our ambassadors", she remarked.