On June 29, 2024, BreakBeatCode, The Latino Spirit, and Visionary Philanthropy Group Inc. partnered to host an exceptional Spanish BreakBeatCode Hackathon. Held virtually across Colombia, El Salvador, and Guatemala, the event was a remarkable success, drawing participation from 150 students from these three countries.

A Visionary Collaboration

The hackathon was conceived by Diego Maya, the Founder and Executive Director of US Latino Affairs Initiatives. Inspired by the need for technological opportunities in South and Central America, Diego proposed the idea to Nyene Baker, Founder and CEO of Visionary Philanthropy Group Inc., whose mission is to empower the 8.1 billion people on this planet, including at-risk youth, returning citizens, and those in need of opportunities. Enthusiastic about the initiative, Baker presented the idea to his Google partner Richard Achee, the Creator and Founder of BreakBeatCode, who readily agreed to support the event.

Making It Happen

Valeria Sanchez from Mexico and Bruno Kuba from Brazil, two dedicated Google volunteers, led the instruction and interpretation for the hackathon, ensuring that all activities were conducted in Spanish. Their efforts made the event accessible and engaging for the participating students.

Empowering the Next Generation

The hackathon provided students with the opportunity to learn how to create their own beats by writing code. They utilized a digital audio workstation, a library of samples, and a Python interpreter to build their own beats. Python, being the most popular programming language globally, offered these students a valuable skill set applicable to numerous tech careers, including data science and machine learning.

The Event in Numbers

Despite many students having to travel over two hours by public transportation with their parents to participate, the turnout was impressive. All 150 students successfully created their own beats, officially becoming artist-engineers by the end of the event. The top five beats, showcased by volunteers Bruno and Valeria, left Diego and Nyene highly impressed. Baker, thoroughly enjoying the beats, was seen bopping his head in excitement.

Looking Ahead

The ultimate goal for BreakBeatCode, The Latino Spirit, and Visionary Philanthropy Group Inc. is to host an in-person Spanish BreakBeatCode Hackathon in the near future. This virtual event has set a strong foundation for future initiatives, ensuring that more young people across Latin America gain access to the transformative power of technology.

You can honor Visionary Philanthropy Group Inc for their work by donating to www.vpgrp.org/donate