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The Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities concluded the second edition of its hackathon with an awards ceremony that highlighted technological innovations for greater accessibility. Winners were selected in school and university categories for projects including a smart glove and an intelligent car designed to assist individuals with cerebral palsy. The event, held in celebration of World Cerebral Palsy Day, took place on Oct. 6, 2025, at the Waldorf Astoria Lusail in Doha.
First place in the schools category was awarded to the Smart Glove Project by team members Mayassa Mohammed Al-Marri, Haneen Rami Ahmed, Mariam Abdullah Al-Maliki, Sereen Khalid Salameh, Najla Faleh Al-Naimi and Raseel Thaniyan Issa Al-Mohannadi, the center said. The top university prize went to the Smart Car Project developed by Kholoud Khalid Al-Buainain, Aisha Nasser Al-Marri, Dana Mohammed Al-Bader and Sheikha Al-Sada. Second places were secured by the Flexible Wooden Board Project in schools and the Smart Balance-Alert Device in the university category.
Maryam Al-Suwaidi, executive director of the Shafallah Center, stated that the hackathon served as a national platform. “Shafallah Hackathon is a national platform for innovation and inclusion.” The center operates under the Qatar Social Work Foundation and partnered with the Qatar Scientific Club for the competition, honoring the club at the event.
Additional details on the first-place university project indicate it includes features such as safety sensors that halt the vehicle in dangerous situations, a joystick control, vibration functions for the seat, GPS and a mobile app for parental oversight. These elements were developed to meet the specific mobility needs of children with disabilities. The center plans to incubate the winning ideas to turn them into practical tools that enhance inclusion.
The initiative aligns with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 by promoting social development and innovation among young people. Officials and partner representatives attended the ceremony, which included a documentary on the hackathon process. Participants thanked the organizers for the chance to contribute their technical expertise to meaningful causes.
The Shafallah Center will showcase the innovative winning projects from the hackathon at an event on Tuesday. This presentation aims to draw attention to the potential of these student-led solutions. Organizers affirmed that follow-up initiatives will support the development of these projects into applications that contribute to a more accessible society in Qatar.
