WMIL would like to host the 2016 European Hackathon in Israel. We have the necessary resources and qualified and experienced manpower to successfully manage this event.
We are aware that it might be more expensive to host the Hackathon in Israel rather than in Central Europe but WMIL is willing to raise funds particularly for this purpose. The Municipality of Jerusalem, The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and several high-tech companies have already shown enthusiasm to support (direct and in-kind) the events, if we provide additional details in a timely manner.
Moreover, there is an active open-source community in Israel which we can tap into and invite to the hackathon, provided that there are enough international MediaWiki developers willing to collaborate and guide them.
We are open to discussing timeframes, topics, etc.
WMIL team
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**General**
Wikimedia Israel is proposing to host the 2016 hackathon in Jerusalem.
Israel is not only the [[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-up_Nation | Startup Nation ]], it’s also a hackathon nation, with more than 30 nationwide hackathons taking place every year, focusing on things from music to neuroscience to opening up government data.
We can organize an event that will be both interesting - with lectures and brainstorm sessions from Israel’s most innovative creative thinkers and technological leaders, diverse - with developers from Israel’s hundreds of startups and technological NGOs, and enchanting - taking place at a unique history venue renovated to serve as a multipurpose space.
We are aware that flights to Israel are somewhat costly - WMIL is committed to making an effort to bring in the necessary resources to significantly increase the number of travel grants, up to double the budget allocated in previous years.
We're sure that the Jerusalem 2016 hackathon will be an event to remember!
**Date**
We propose the hackathon will happen during four days: Thursday to Sunday 7-10 April 2016. We included Thursday so that observant developers are able to spend 1.5 days hacking before Saturday, and can join us at the wrapping up on Sunday (which is the beginning of the work week in Israel).
**Venue**
The [[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hansen_House_(Jerusalem) | Hansen House ]] is a historic landmark, converted into a tech and media exhibition and working space. It was originally built as a hospital for lepers. This two floor building has large rooms and spaces, a big entrance hall and nice garden. Its history makes this unique place full of inspiration and beauty.
The Hansen House can host about 250 people, and can host a large hackathon event. Our target number of participants is about 150.
**Organizing Team**
Itzik Edri @itzike, chairman of the board, WMIL, organized Wikimania 2011 in Haifa.
Amir E. Aharoni, @Amire80, Developer, Internationalization Team, Wikimedia Foundation. Amir will assist in advice and professional support.
Ido Ivry @alleycat80 , member of WMIL board, member of the GAC, founder of an Israeli startup in the realm of Smart Cities and Open Data.
Chen Davidi, Activity and Resource coordinator in WMIL is the coordinator of the Hackthon.
In 2011 WMIL hosted the 2011 Wikimania in Haifa, with great success. Every year since, the chapter organizes a conference and many other social and professional events. WMIL staff and volunteers are very experienced in running such events. Moreover, we have already organized a few local hackathons.
**Partners**
- MadeInJLM - the Jerusalem entrepreneurs society.
- JNext / JVP
- Zend - the PHP Company
- The Municipality of Jerusalem
- HaSadna, the Open Knowldege Workshop
- The Jerusalem Development Authority
- Jerusalem startups and corporations - coming soon...