It might seem like a tall order, but seven websites in one day was the design goal for the do_action: WordPress Charity Hackathon on 21 July 2018. It was the fifth annual charity event, run by WordPress Cape Town. The Hackathon is an opportunity for web designers, developers, UX consultants and content marketing specialists to create fully functional websites and social media strategies for seven pre-selected community-based NPOs.
Enabling opportunities
“We want the NPOs to continue their valuable work,” explains Hugh Lashbrooke from Automattic, the event organisers. “Website design skills are hard to come by in these organisations. But a good website with a social media campaign exposes a bricks and mortar, localised organisation to many virtual opportunities, including funding.”
Approximately 50 members of the WordPress community volunteered their time and skills to build the websites, hosted by Hetzner. Part of the programme for the Hackathon is a WordPress training session for NPO representatives, so that they understand how to manage their websites in the future.
Online presence
“The new website means we’ll finally have the online presence that we’ve needed for so long!” says Letitia Tomlinson from The Parent Centre (TPC), one of the beneficiaries of the Hackathon. TPC is a 35-year-old community organisation that focuses on positive parenting skills in disadvantaged communities. Based in Wynberg and with satellite offices in Khayelitsha and Gugulethu, TPC delivers much-needed services to parents raising children in poorly resourced areas where unemployment, drugs, and domestic violence are a constant reality. Their website and social media strategy means they’ll now be able to reach many more parents – and many more children in need.
Better communication
Zani Dayimani, director of Inkwenkwezi Youth, was just as excited about their new website. “We focus on preventing anti-social behaviour in youth through sport,” explains Zani. “The website, and in particular the social media plan, will help us communicate our programmes, monitor what we do, and assist us in sourcing funds.” Operating in Peddie in the Eastern Cape, Zani’s organisation deals with gang activity, drugs and bullying. Through soccer, netball and cricket, Inkwenkwezi is changing the social landscape in townships, one mixed-gender match at a time.
Each of the chosen NPOs has a similar story: a proper website is an essential tool for NPOs in today’s world. Thanks to the WordPress Hackathon in Cape Town, seven websites were designed in one day, and seven NPOs now have this valuable tool.
Other NPO’s that will benefit from the Hackathon:
Vrygrond Community Reading Centre
Vheneka is a women’s empowerment NPO focusing on survivors of prostitution and trafficking.
CBM South Africa, a Christian organisation, is committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world irrespective of race, gender or religious beliefs.
The Grace Animal Sanctuary, through its rescue and rehabilitation programme, works hard to give abused animals a second chance.
It is planned for all of the websites to be live by the end of August 2018.
