São Paulo – Three projects designed to help refugees, stateless persons and immigrants in Brazil have won prizes on completing Creatathon, a business marathon held by Migraflix in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Inspired by the so-called hackathons, whereby contestants seek solutions to everyday problems, the marathon saw Brazilians and refugees share experiences and ideas over a four-month period.
The marathon’s final stage comprised the presentation of five projects created by 30 people from 14 nationalities, including stateless persons and refugees. The event was held at the Google’s São Paulo offices on Saturday (19).
The US-based technology company supports the initiative, and will provide advisory via Google Campus professionals for the development of the winning project, “Home for Hope”: an emergency housing platform for foreigners arriving in Brazil with no social ties to local residents, and therefore under social vulnerability status. Besides Google, the company UHU will aid in visual identity building and advertising firm NoBullshit will assist with promotion.
Other winning projects were Xseed, a skill- and knowledge-based job search platform, and Share and Care, for Brazilians and foreigners to barter services for mutual gain and networking. They will get consulting services from the Business School of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), which will help the projects evolve into socially relevant businesses.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
