At Hexacta we have a strong vocation to support the most vulnerable sectors of society. Learn all about the different actions we have carried out with TINC’s social projects, whose common denominator is the use of technology for social inclusion.
Since its beginnings back in 2000, Hexacta has always had a strong vocation to help disadvantaged sectors of society.
Thus, over the years, different types of actions have been carried out, ranging from a collection of clothes or blankets to the construction of classrooms in a soup kitchen, school, or neighborhood center, and of course, the ad honorem development of websites and mobile apps with a social purpose.
Within this framework, technology-related projects occupy a special place for a few reasons. One, technological developments are our business, and two, we are convinced that technology can help — and help a lot — to improve the lives of people who are displaced because of different issues.
Those of us who have been involved in Hexacta’s social activities for a long time have a long history, have told many anecdotes, and have come across people and projects at different stages of maturity that later evolved and merged into what is now known as TINC.
TINC – WHAT IS IT?
TINC is a civil entity formed by professionals in technology and education that organizes the joint work of private companies with NGOs and universities to develop technological solutions with a social purpose (poverty, inclusion, gender equality, etc).
The purposes of TINC are:
- Promote innovative technological projects to facilitate the development and learning of people with disabilities.
- Use technology to help solve everyday situations and promote a better quality of life for people with disabilities and those in other vulnerable sectors.
- Promote activities where technology plays a central role and contributes to reducing the so-called “digital and gender gap”, as well as other situations of social inequality.
- Advocate for the concept of an inclusive technological society.
- Promote free access to inclusive applications and projects developed by TINC and other social operators, both nationally and internationally.
- Develop the connection and integration of activities aimed at social inclusion and equality among the software development industry, educational entities linked to computer science and other sectors, and social agents.
- Foster students, professionals, and teachers from technological, pedagogical, and other educational areas to use software as a tool for social development.
- Generate awareness of social inclusion in the business sector of the software industry and the opportunities to involve their employees and participate in activities related to this purpose.
THEIR PROJECTS
TINC was created to be the legal and juridical umbrella of three independent social projects discussed below whose common denominator is the use of technology for social inclusion.
DANE Project
The DANE project brings together the efforts of companies and professionals from the technology sector with organizations and professionals working to help people with disabilities. They collaborate with universities to design and build mobile applications that help these people to acquire or improve skills (motor or intellectual) and be able to function better as autonomous individuals in their social lives.
Within the framework of DANE, many apps have been developed that are available — free of charge — in the Android and iOS stores and are downloaded and used by people with disabilities, either in their daily activities (shopping, studying, playing, etc.) or in specific learning activities or therapy with a professional as a support tool.
http://www.proyectodane.org/tinc/
Nahual Project
Nahual is a project that seeks to generate job opportunities in the IT sector for people who have not had the possibility of accessing formal studies.
Through its different offices (in Argentina and neighboring countries), it offers testing courses that are designed and taught by professionals who work in different companies in the field and donate their time to this cause.
Nahual then liaises with companies so that graduates can find job opportunities and access their first job interviews.
https://nahual.github.io/about/
Girls Programming Club
The Girls Programming Club is an initiative that seeks to promote technology-related careers in female students in their final years of high school.
Through mentors, lectures are given, and activities are organized to give students a real, first-hand look at careers in the IT industry and the different roles they can obtain in a company.
The tutors are professionals in the sector who contribute their time to these activities.
http://www.chicasprogramadoras.club/
HOW DOES HEXACTA GET INVOLVED?
As we have already mentioned, Hexacta has been collaborating with these projects even before they merged into what is now TINC. Let’s review a little of our history with them.
DANE Project
Initially, DANE arose as a project promoted by the Argentine Software Industry Chamber (CESSI) to unify the efforts of IT companies in the development of mobile apps for children with Down Syndrome.
As a result of working with professional experts in this disability, the Down Syndrome Association of Argentina (ASDRA), and some companies (including Hexacta), several apps were designed and implemented to develop and/or improve motor and intellectual skills of children with this disability.
Thus, Hexacta developed Burbujo, an app that allows users to practice the touch feature of mobile devices through a game with bubbles and fun drawings.
DANE has evolved into a project that no longer covers only Down Syndrome but almost any type of disability, such as aphasia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), deafness, etc.
After that, Hexacta developed 2 apps for aphasia treatments, which allows patients to practice language accompanied by a professional. The other app is for learning Argentine Sign Language (ASL), both for deaf people and for hearing people who want/need to communicate with people who cannot hear.
Thus, LSA en Familia was born, which is an app that has the highest number of downloads of all those published by DANE and has already had an incredible impact on the deaf community.
Nahual Project
In 2009, an incipient Nahual Project approached Hexacta to ask for collaboration for resources and professionals willing to teach the testing courses.
From the very first moment, we thought it was a very interesting idea, and we did not hesitate to make our contribution. At that time, we collaborated on the purchase of materials for the courses, from blackboards and markers to a printer.
Also at that time, several members of Hexacta’s QA team joined Nahual’s staff of trainers, and some of them are still there today.
Nahual’s first graduates were interviewed by our recruiting team, not only as part of our regular candidate searches but also to give them the chance to experience a real job interview, something that many of these young people had never had before.
Later, some of Nahuel’s graduates joined the Hexacta team and worked with us for several years.
Girls Programming Club
Hexacta has been involved in the Club de Chicas Programadoras since its conception. Our CEO, Juan Navarro, has participated in the direction of the project, and several Hexacta developers have worked as tutors in different centers.
Even today, we continue to provide volunteers for tutoring and all kinds of resources to continue growing this initiative that we love so much.
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
There is no doubt that technology is a fundamental tool to promote the development of socially disadvantaged people, not only from the inception and accompaniment of projects but also because the market is so strong and successful, companies have the resources to collaborate in different areas.
In this context, TINC is simultaneously involved in very challenging and profitable projects for the community, working not only within legal and financial frameworks but also from the dissemination and management of operational tasks.
Hexacta and TINC will continue to work together, both with current and future projects.
BOTTOM LINE
At Hexacta, we feel part of TINC, given not only our participation but also our involvement from the very beginning of these projects. They are also aligned with our principles, our interests, and our goals of building a fairer and more inclusive society.
If you want to know more about Hexacta’s participation in other social activities go to: https://www.hexacta.com/corporate-social-responsibility/
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