Designing Hope in Action: Digital Solutions That Help Us Bloom
As part of the Wellness and Mental Health Week, themed “The Power of Hope: Let your Mind and Heart Bloom,” taking place at Antonine University (UA) from March 23 to 28, 2026, UA is proud to launch Hackathon 2026 in partnership with its Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), Upscale Hub, IEEE ComSoc Lebanon Chapter, and the Center for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (SEED).
About the Hackathon
Titled “Designing Hope in Action: Digital Solutions That Help Us Bloom,” this hackathon invites students to design software and/or hardware solutions that support mental health and overall well-being by transforming hope into an actionable, learnable skill.
Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), the hackathon focuses on innovation that is resilient, inclusive, ethical, and context-aware, particularly within the Lebanese university experience.
Proposed solutions should:
- encourage small positive actions and self-empowerment;
- foster connection, creativity, and resilience;
- be realistic, accessible, and ethically designed;
- address challenges relevant to university students and the Lebanese context.
Possible formats include mobile applications, web platforms, IoT devices, interactive systems, chatbots, and serious games.
Sub-Themes (choose at least one)
1. Hope Through Self-Empowerment
Goal-setting, self-reflection, motivation, and stress management.
Examples: goal-tracking apps, digital journals, motivational chatbots, smart desks, or wearable devices.
2. Hope Through Connection and Belonging
Reducing isolation and strengthening peer and community support.
Examples: peer-support platforms, emotional check-in apps, connected message walls.
3. Hope Through Creativity and Expression
Using art, music, storytelling, or play as tools for emotional expression.
Examples: digital storytelling platforms, art or music apps, interactive or VR experiences.
4. Hope Through Daily Micro-Actions
Encouraging small, sustainable habits that build resilience over time.
Examples: micro-habit wellness apps, mindfulness reminders, smart lighting, breathing devices.
5. Hope in Times of Uncertainty (Lebanese Context)
Addressing financial stress, academic pressure, instability, or limited access to mental health resources.
Examples: offline wellness apps, budgeting tools, SMS-based support systems, low-cost devices.
What Happens Next?
The winning project will be collaboratively developed with Upscale Hub and supported by the SEED Center, benefiting from mentorship, resources, and incubation opportunities.
About the Faculty of Engineering and Technology
UA’s FET provides an outcomes-based engineering education that integrates engineering, science, and technology to prepare graduates for professional practice in a global and rapidly evolving technological environment.
The Faculty delivers a rigorous curriculum grounded in strong theoretical foundations and reinforced through practical, experiential learning. Committed to ethical responsibility, innovation, teamwork, and lifelong learning, the FET equips graduates with the technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and professional attributes required to meet industry, societal, and accreditation standards.
About Upscale Hub
Upscale Hub is an innovation and technology hub and a spin-off from Antonine University. It delivers tailored digital and technological solutions while fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and talent development.
By bridging academia and industry, Upscale Hub enables students and graduates to gain hands-on experience through real-world projects, supporting sustainable growth and practical skill development.
For more information, visit the Upscale Hub website.
About the SEED Center
The SEED Center is UA’s incubator dedicated to fostering sustainable entrepreneurship and economic impact.
Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the SEED Center supports students through programs, workshops, and applied initiatives that promote responsible leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, and a smooth transition into the market and society.
About the IEEE ComSoc Lebanon Chapter
Representing the IEEE ComSoc Society at the national level, the IEEE ComSoc Lebanon Chapter promotes technical excellence and community engagement within Lebanon’s communications and networking ecosystem. The Chapter organizes technical talks, workshops, conferences, and student activities, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, professional networking, and collaboration between academia and industry.
By connecting local professionals and students with the global ComSoc community, the Lebanon Chapter contributes to strengthening technical capacity, supporting innovation, and encouraging participation in international research and standards initiatives, while addressing communications challenges relevant to the region.
Together, IEEE ComSoc and its Lebanon Chapter play an important role in shaping the future of connectivity and empowering the next generation of communications professionals.
Event Details
Dates: March 25–28, 2026
Location: Antonine University, Hadat–Baabda Campus, Fr. Louis Rohban Hall
Target audience: All university students in Lebanon
Team composition: Two to four students (one group per university)
Important Dates
Submission deadline: March 4, 2026
Team selection: The final 10 teams will be selected by a jury based on submitted proposals and evaluation criteria.
Hackathon Schedule
Over three days, from March 25 to 27, teams will work daily from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM, supported by mentors from the engineering and innovation fields, to develop and refine tech solutions aimed at enhancing wellness and mental health.
Closing Ceremony
March 28, starting at 9:00 AM
Teams will present their projects through a live demo and a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation.
Prize distribution: 1:30 PM
Prizes
Outstanding teams will be recognized for creativity, innovation, and impact.
- First Prize – Best Overall Project: $1,000
in addition to mentorship by Upscale Hub and support from the SEED Center for further development
- Best Promising Idea Award: $750
for the project with strong future potential, scalability, and sustainability
- Best Social and Human Impact Award: $500
for the project demonstrating outstanding social, human, and community impact, aligned with the values of wellness, hope, and inclusion
Registration
Ready to turn ideas into impact?
Design solutions that support well-being and help us bloom—together.