The Model Lions Club of Adoor Emirates and Lions Club District 318B organised a 24-hour hackathon, Hack-A-Addict, on January 18 and 19, aimed at combating drug abuse among the youth in Kerala.

The event, hosted by M A College of Engineering’s IEEE Chapter, brought together young innovators to develop technological solutions addressing the drug menace.

Innovative anti-drug campaign
The hackathon was part of the broader 'Colouring Lives of Our Youth' campaign, an anti-drug initiative launched on December 1, 2023. Vice President and Programme Director of the Lions Club, Santosh Varghese, described the event as ''a campaign for the youth, by the youth, and of the youth.'' He stated, ''They come together to find an innovative solution for the drug menace impacting the youth of Kerala.''

Participants worked non-stop from 11.00 am on January 18 to 11.00 am on January 19, showcasing their creativity and ingenuity by developing awareness tools and preventive solutions to combat drug addiction.

The event was inaugurated by Lions Club District Governor R Venkitachalam, with former district governors Bino I Koshy and K A Thomas in attendance. Prominent figures from the Model Lions Club of Adoor Emirates, including President Subramani Kannan, Regional 14 Women’s Forum Chairperson Bindu Subramani, Service Chairperson Suremya Varghese, Secretary Jose Daniel, and Administrator John Sharie, also graced the occasion.

Dr Bos Mathew Jos, Principal of M A College of Engineering, delivered the presidential address, lauding the initiative for its innovative approach to addressing a critical social issue.

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Recognising excellence
The hackathon culminated in a judging session, where participants’ solutions were evaluated by a panel. The winners were awarded cash prizes for their exceptional efforts:

- 1st Prize: Rs 1 lakh, plus an additional Rs 50,000 for app development, won by a team from IIIT Kottayam comprising Muhammed Basil P V, Sam Joe Chalissery, and Noel Georgi.

- 2nd Prize: Rs 50,000, won by a team from Sahrdaya College of Advanced Studies, Thrissur.

- 3rd Prize: Rs 25,000, won by a team from M A College of Engineering, Kothamangalam.

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