2024-09-22 23:04:14
Four Guatemalan students They raised the name of the country by winning first place in the prestigious competition Tech4Good 2024. This competition, which brings together the brightest young people from various regions, seeks projects that use technology to generate a positive impact on society. How cool!
The winners developed revolutionary software that uses Artificial intelligence (IA) to manage and follow up on anonymous complaints of workplace harassment, with a special focus on Guatemalan women.
The team, made up of Elisa Samayoa, Astrid Garcia, Laura Tramath y Maria of the Pink Seastudents from universities San Carlos of Guatemala, Of the Valley y Rafael Landivardesigned the “KIM, Your Voice, Your Action” appa platform that seeks to combat workplace harassment through a system that guarantees the anonymity of victims and uses AI to analyze patterns and effectively follow up on complaints.
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A notable achievement at Tech4Good 2024
The triumph of these young women at Tech4Good 2024 is not only a reflection of their innovative capacity, but also a milestone for Guatemala. The competition, part of Huawei’s corporate social responsibility program, selects the most outstanding projects that address social problems through technological solutions. In the 2024 edition of the program, the teams from Guatemala and Argentina were recognized as the Top 2 at the regional level for their proposals.
The Guatemalan project, “KIM,” was valued for its social relevance and its potential to improve working conditions, a topic of utmost importance in the current context. Its focus on artificial intelligence gives it added value, as it allows not only to collect complaints anonymously, but also to analyze them to detect patterns of harassment in companies, thus providing a powerful tool for both victims and organizations seeking to eradicate these practices.
Seeds for the Future: a program that fosters technological talent
This achievement is the result of programa Seeds for the Future (Seeds for the Future), an initiative that since 2008 has trained more than 15,000 students around the world, in collaboration with more than 500 universities. Over the past ten years, this program has awarded scholarships to 2,000 students from Latin America and the Caribbean, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in learning about the latest trends in digital technology.
The 2024 edition of the Seeds for the Future program was held in El Salvadorwhere students from all over Latin America and the Caribbean gathered to share ideas and develop innovative technological projects. Among them, eight Guatemalans They were selected to represent the country, coming from institutions such as the University of San Carlos, the University of Valle, the University of the Isthmus and the Rafael Landívar University.
One of the most exciting moments of the ceremony was the award ceremony of the Tech4Good 2024 competition, where the KIM project from Guatemala was awarded. The Guatemalan students will travel to China in 2025 to present its innovative project at the Tech4Good Global Competitionan event that will put them on the international stage and allow them to compete with other young visionaries from around the world.
Increased female participation in technology
The success of these young women is not only a triumph for Guatemala, but also a reflection of the growth of the Female participation in the technological fieldIn the first years of the Seeds for the Future program in Central America and the Caribbean, only 15% of participants were women. However, in the 2023 edition, this percentage rose to 44%, with the goal of reaching 50% in future editions.
The Seeds for the Future Guatemala Alumni Association, formed in 2020 by alumni of the program, has played a crucial role in promoting this female participation. This association, which works closely with Huawei in organizing subsequent editions of the program, is a testament to how these types of initiatives not only promote innovation, but also equal opportunities.
The victory of Elisa Samayoa, Astrid García, Laura Tramath and María del Mar Rosado at Tech4Good 2024 is not only a source of pride for Guatemala, but also an inspiration for future generations of women who want to enter the technological field. Their success shows that, with effort and dedication, it is possible to overcome barriers and use technology to create solutions that transform people’s lives.
Did you know that the famous reality show Shark Tank is coming to Guatemala? It will be the first country in Central America with its own version and it will definitely be the ideal opportunity for entrepreneurs to present their ideas to potential investors. Find out how to apply and all the related news at: