In Celebration of World Cerebral Palsy Day

Maryam Al-Suwaidi: “Shafallah Hackathon is a national platform for innovation and inclusion.”

In an evening filled with creativity and solidarity, the Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities—one of the centers operating under Qatar Social Work Foundation—concluded Shafallah Hackathon 2025 under the slogan “Innovate: For a World That’s Easy to Access.”

The closing ceremony took place on Sunday evening at the Waldorf Astoria Lusail – Doha, in the presence of senior officials, partner representatives, and participants from various schools and universities.

Mrs. Maryam Saif Al-Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Center, stated: “The Shafallah Hackathon is more than just a technology event; it is a national platform that embodies our deep commitment to Qatar National Vision 2030, which places human and social development at its core. Today we witnessed how innovation can serve as a tool for progress, and how young people can become pioneers in building a more inclusive and empowered society.”

Al-Suwaidi added that organizing the hackathon to coincide with World Cerebral Palsy Dayunderscores Shafallah’s role in supporting global causes from a local perspective and in raising awareness about accessibility and quality of life for persons with disabilities.

“We believe innovation is incomplete unless it is humane, and that technology must serve dignity before efficiency. Through this event, we link the Sustainable Development Goals with Qatar’s vision of building a cohesive, educated, and prosperous society where no one is left behind.”

The hackathon witnessed broad participation from school and university students who presented innovative technological and human-centered solutions across fields such as inclusive education, smart mobility, and assistive communication—reflecting the community awareness and initiative of Qatar’s youth.

Al-Suwaidi concluded by expressing gratitude to the Qatar Scientific Club for its collaboration and to all contributors to the event’s success, calling for these innovative ideas to be developed into sustainable projects that serve persons with cerebral palsy.

“These initiatives translate the aspirations of Qatar National Vision 2030 into tangible reality, ensuring empowerment and full participation for every individual in society.”

The ceremony opened with a speech by Jawaher Al-Hajri, Director of the Community Awareness Department at Shafallah Center, who praised the efforts of participants and partners and highlighted the fruitful cooperation with the Qatar Scientific Club.

This was followed by remarks from Fatima Al- Mohannadi, Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs at the Club, reaffirming its commitment to supporting scientific initiatives that benefit persons with disabilities and nurture youth creativity. She thanked Shafallah Center, the participants, organizers, and parents, emphasizing that the hackathon’s success was a true example of community collaboration.

A short documentary film then showcased the hackathon’s main milestones and project-development stages, followed by the honoring of the judging panel, which included:

• Dr. Mohammed Ziad Al-Shaari, researcher and inventor at the Qatar Scientific Club

• Mr. Ahmed Amin Azem, Speech and Language Specialist at Shafallah Center

• Eng. Hessa Al-Najjar, Mechanical Engineer representing the Qatar Society of Engineers

Shafallah specialists who mentored the teams were also recognized:

Hamza Khalid Eid, Omar Hamadeh Mueen, Hossam Jalal, Ali Zaher Danna, and Zaid Abdulaziz, for their valuable guidance throughout all hackathon stages.

The Qatar Scientific Club was also honored for its active partnership in the event’s success.

Finally, the winners were announced and celebrated in both the school and university categories:

First Place – Schools: Smart Glove Project (Team 4) —Mayassa Mohammed Al-Marri, Haneen Rami Ahmed, Mariam Abdullah Al-Maliki, Sereen Khalid Salameh, Najla Faleh Al-Naimi, and Raseel Thaniyan Issa Al- Mohannadi

First Place – Universities: Smart Car Project (Team 8) —Kholoud Khalid Al-Buainain, Aisha Nasser Al-Marri, Dana Mohammed Al-Bader, and Sheikha Al-Sada

Second Place – Schools: Flexible Wooden Board Project (Team 2) —Youssef Ahmed Abu Ahmadah, Osama Hamed Mohammed, Abdullah Azzam, Muntasir Rami Azzam, and Ahmed Rami Ahmed Abdullah

Second Place – Universities: Smart Balance-Alert Device (Team 1) —Ahmed Mohammed Ali Rawani.

Participants expressed their appreciation to Shafallah Center and the Qatar Scientific Club for the opportunity to apply their technical skills in service of persons with disabilities.

Organizers affirmed that these projects will continue under follow-up initiatives to incubate outstanding ideas and transform them into practical applications that enhance inclusion and social innovation in Qatar—aligned with the nation’s vision for a sustainable, accessible future.