An international program to revive rural areas worldwide by mobilizing local youth and contributing to a green, digital and resilient recovery of their economy. It is officially recognized and published by the United Nations as the SDG Acceleration Action #SDGAction46967.
This program includes initiatives dedicated to Digital Health and Safety and the socially meaningful application of digital technologies. It was started during the COVID-19 pandemic when confinement made digital a defining part of our lives.
It was a prototype of the global online ecosystem of entrepreneurs and freelancers with the goal to equip starting entrepreneurs with tools and skills, and connecting them to each other. Having mentors in Europe, North and Latin America, and Asia, in 2019 we hosted over 20 free events helping 150+ entrepreneurs on three continents.
In January 2020 we tested a new campaign #MyFirstJob #TenYearsIn. In this campaign, we ask people with over ten years of experience to share, in a short video, what is the reality of the job like. It is aimed at children who are deciding which profession or education path to choose. In most cases, it will define their lives, ability to support themselves financially and find fulfillment in what they do. We make this choice early on, often having an illusion of how the work-life is going to be. The more people contribute with their videos, the more children will have an idea of what is right for their future.
HEPHESTOS.io is a consortium proposal. The goal is to set up a transparently governed organisation to work on a shared and open set of standards and protocols to connect the dots of design, specifications, hackers, repairers, manufacturers, to unbind in the material world the same kind of transformation that the World Wide Web brought to the information ecosystem. The approach is based on the success stories of other initiatives like the World Wide Web consortium and LINUX, among others.