Some first-year (M1) students from the Master AIRE program, funded by EURIP, participated in a social hackathon on May 15th, hosted by the amazing Students’ Union at UCL (University College London)!
During the hackathon, students had the opportunity to make a real impact by becoming real-world problem-solvers, working with local nonprofits that presented them with meaningful challenges. Our students contributed to a variety of projects, including:
● Patina People, a creative community of adults aged 55 and over. This inspiring initiative co-creates art and celebrates ageing with dignity.
● East London LGBT Seniors, where the students explored ways to attract more participants to events and make them more accessible and inclusive.
● Green City Projects, a charity focused on combating isolation and improving mental health and well-being through community initiatives.
The Master’s program team and students would like to thank Molly McCabe, Anne Laybourne, Clarissa, and everyone at the Students’ Union!
Testimonies from the students:
“One of the biggest pleasures of the two-day exchange at UCL was meeting the incredibly engaged students and the inspiring, impactful charities they collaborate with. The strong and genuinely appreciated connection between the university and the charities created such a positive environment that, together with our LPI team, we were all surprised by how much we accomplished in such a short time, and how much fun we had in wonderful London.“
Zoja SAVIC, M1 AIRE student
“Taking part in this hackathon was a meaningful experience. We worked directly with a local organisation Patina People, who are facing real challenges and needed fresh ideas. Knowing that our solutions could actually help shape their future messaging made the whole process feel useful and grounded. It reminded me that as students, we’re not just here to learn in theory, we can make a real difference when we get to work with communities, not just study them.”
Dekyi (Jicuomu DE) , M1 AIRE student
“The social hackathon and the trip to London were an incredible experience! Firstly, we were warmly greeted by members of the Student Union and given a tour of the UCL campus. Then, we visited a beautiful community garden run by the Green City Projects charity, where we saw a lot of wildlife, including some foxes casually roaming around. During the social hackathon, my group worked with the East London LGBT Seniors organization and tried to address their challenges: attracting more people to their events, making these events more accessible for all, strengthening connections with similar charities, and recruiting volunteers to support their cause. I felt really moved by the life stories of Philip & Philip, two members of the organization.Plus, all of these events included lots of tea, biscuits and fun facts about London’s pop culture! This exchange left me highly motivated to contribute to similar organizations in my area and convinced me that, even with limited time, students can create meaningful solutions by collaborating.”
Anja STIJEPOVIĆ, M1 AIRE student
“I had an amazing experience at the UCL Social Hackathon. I was working with the Green City Projects group, which is a charity organisation working to combat isolation and improve mental health and wellbeing. I especially appreciated the opportunity to visit their wonderful community garden in Camden. During the hackathon we brainstormed communication ideas, and budgeting plans, which I hope can help the charity to keep on with their project.”
Sophie BRUNSBERG, M1 AIRE student
“I had an amazing experience at the UCL Social Hackathon. I was working with the Green City Projects group, which is a charity organisation working to combat isolation and improve mental health and wellbeing. I especially appreciated the opportunity to visit their wonderful community garden in Camden. During the hackathon we brainstormed communication ideas, and budgeting plans, which I hope can help the charity to keep on with their project. Sophie BRUNSBERG, M1 AIRE student
I participated in a UCL Students’ Union hackathon to help Patina People, a charity supporting older adults to solve their messaging challenge. We co-designed empowering communication strategies that center older adults’ voices, avoiding disempowering language when addressing funders. Our solution included a co-created terminology guide, participatory storytelling campaigns, and a toolkit for authentic outreach. This experience honed our skills in rapid collaboration, empathy-driven design, and social impact pitching.”Janita NAZ, M1 AIRE student
“I still remember how, back in school, the most memorable days were always the field trip days, always full of excitement and that special feeling of being outside the usual routine. This experience in London felt just like that. We were welcomed with tea and biscuits, and the Students Union really made us feel at home. One of the best parts for me was meeting another Brazilian student and sharing ideas. I feel like we could do that for hours (and we might when the UCL students come to the LPI next month). I also learned so much from Lucy, founder of Patina People, and from the other students I worked with. It was a great interdisciplinary collaboration. This exchange also gave me the chance to visit the Critical Childhood Studies Centre in person, and I came back with lots of useful contacts for our club (Childhood Studies Club) and for future projects.”
Giullianna BORGES LOPES, M1 AIRE student
“I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life at the UCL Social Hackathon. I worked with the Green City Projects group which was truly a heartwarming experience—especially visiting their serene community garden, and meeting the incredibly kind people behind the project. I had the chance to showcase my leadership skills during our group work, where we brainstormed innovative communication strategies and budget planning ideas to support their mission. The hackathon wasn’t just about problem-solving—it was also about connection. The networking opportunities and friendships I made were absolutely worth the trip. The management team took excellent care of us throughout, and I must say, Molly was the best person in charge—so supportive and enthusiastic. It was a wonderful opportunity to immerse myself in a rich and diverse culture, and I’m truly grateful for every moment.”
Hira SHEHZADI, M1 AIRE student
À lire aussi
Meet the students of the Master of AIRE
Reem, Saffian et Milena share their experiences and memories of the Master of AIRE.
My Thesis in 180s
Congratulations to Ludivine Royer, 1st Jury Prize and Audience Prize ex aequo, Léa Cascaro, 2nd Jury Prize and Mélanie Sébastien, Audience Prize, all three winners of the ASPC final of the My Thesis in 180s competition on Thursday March 20, 2025.
Applications for the master AIRE are open now !
Each year we welcome about 120 participants in the program! Students are coming from all over the world and from very different backgrounds (Educational Science, Computer Science, Psychology, Economy, Design, Medicine, Humanities, Biology, Cognitive Sciences, etc.)....
Application open for the FIRE PhD program
Future PhD students with ambitious & original projects: join the FIRE Doctoral School! Looking to start a PhD program in Paris ? Submit your intercidisplinary research project to the "Frontières de l’Innovation en Recherche et Éducation" (FIRE) Doctoral School....