Alewakaai news : Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC), in collaboration with The Makerspace—one of the Crown Prince Foundation’s programs—and the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, organized 'People with Disabilities” Hackathon, aimed at developing innovative solutions that contribute to improving the daily quality of life of persons with disabilities and strengthening their integration within the community. This was achieved by supporting entrepreneurial ideas and transforming them into practical, implementable prototypes.

The hackathon focused on developing innovative solutions targeting hearing, visual, and mobility disabilities, with the participation of 30 projects selected from a total of 128 submissions. The event spanned three consecutive weeks, featuring a series of structured development phases designed to transform entrepreneurial ideas into viable, real-world solutions.

Throughout the hackathon, participants took part in several specialized training sessions led by a distinguished group of trainers and experts. These sessions aimed to empower participants and equip them with the knowledge and tools required to further develop their ideas. In addition, intensive mentorship and guidance sessions were held over three days, covering several key areas, including technical solution development, prototype design, and business model building.

Participants then progressed to the initial pitching stage, where projects were presented before a specialized judging panel. Nine projects qualified for the next phase, during which teams submitted lists of required materials and received the necessary resources to develop their prototypes. This phase also included additional development sessions to support project progress and enhance readiness.

During the final stage of the hackathon, three projects were selected—one representing each Hackathon category. Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) provided cash support of JOD 1,000 to each selected project.

Taha Al-Rawi won first place in the mobility disability category for his project 'Walker”, an assistive medical device that enables persons with mobility impairments to ascend and descend stairs by adapting its shape to suit different movement requirements, enhancing independence and ease of mobility.

In the visual disability category, Issam Malhees was selected for his project featuring an integrated system composed of a smart cane and customized glasses. The solution relies on changing light patterns to convert sensory data into visual signals, enabling individuals with visual impairments to better perceive their surroundings using their remaining light sensitivity.

Meanwhile, Omar Ziad Al Tabakhi was selected in the hearing disability category for his project 'Sentry”, a smart watch that converts audio alerts into tactile notifications to warn users of surrounding risks, such as gas leakage alarms. The watch can also be connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing users to communicate through text messages.

Organizing this hackathon reflects ZINC’s commitment to supporting impact-driven entrepreneurial projects and aligns with Zain’s broader strategy to promote inclusivity and community integration, empower people with disabilities, and provide them with opportunities to actively participate in developing technological solutions that address their needs and contribute to building a more equitable and sustainable society.