EU Social DigiThon, an Event to Realize Digital Solutions for Vulnerable Groups

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on our lives today, especially in various aspects of social, economic, and mobility. Starting from school, work, to buying and selling activities, everything is affected by the pandemic. In fact, the pandemic has also resulted in economic recession and social crises in several countries.

This prolonged and limiting condition makes the burden of life even greater for those belonging to vulnerable groups, namely: children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The facts are very concerning. One of them is the increasing number of child marriages, in line with the cessation of many economic activities which have resulted in increased unemployment in Indonesia, due to Covid-19. Child marriage is used as a quick solution to ease the deteriorating economic burden during the pandemic (Sumber: KataData.co.id, January 2021).

In addition, homeschooling requires children to adapt to new learning styles. In this case, platform and the implementation of online learning is not always able to accommodate the diverse needs and abilities of Indonesian children to learn, and in fact often makes it difficult for them to follow lessons from home. Rising poverty triggered by the pandemic has also widened the gender-based poverty gap. Women are more likely to fall into extreme poverty than men.

Other facts reveal that there is an increase in gender-based violence (especially sexual and psychological violence) against adult women and girls in Indonesia. In the midst of children's efforts to escape from anxiety, there is an increasing vulnerability to violence.

As for people with disabilities, a survey recently conducted by the Indonesian Disability Network (JDI) showed that only around 60% of people with disabilities have sufficient access to information about Covid-19 and ways to prevent infection from this virus.

Actually, there are still many other problems faced by vulnerable groups related to the impact of Covid-19. We can contribute to finding solutions that can make their lives easier, to protect them, or to open a way out. This contribution can be realized through innovative ideas, creativity, internet-based digital technology, and the courage to produce new breakthroughs.

To accommodate these various ideas and creativity, the European Union Delegation to Indonesia held a competition entitled EU Social DigiThon "Young Action For Change" as a platform to give birth to various technology-based or digital solutions that can help these vulnerable groups. EU Social DigiThon not only opens up opportunities for self-actualization and ideas, but also becomes an opportunity to expand international networks and access. Especially if the product developed can really be used to help solve problems around.

The three winners will be entitled to an award of financial support to help realize the solutions offered with guidance from expert representatives of the European Union Delegation to Indonesia. Registration is open until 21 February 2021, so don't miss it, okay? Register now via the following link: digithon. app