5 high school girls develop NPO directory app

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Every year Technovation offers girls around the world the opportunity to learn the skills they need to emerge as tech entrepreneurs and leaders. They invite girls to identify a real-world problem in their community and then challenge them to solve it using technology. Girls work in teams to build both a mobile application and a business plan to launch that application.

They are supported by mentors and guided by the curriculum which takes students through four stages of launching a mobile application startup, which is inspired by the principles of design thinking. Six finalist teams are chosen from both the junior and senior divisions and flown to Silicon Valley for the world pitch where they present their ideas to potential investors. The winner receives funding from Silicon Valley.

How the TouchBase app works

TouchBase is an end-user mobile application that lists any non-profit organisations (NPOs) that register on the platform. These organisations can then list their needs for volunteers and/or donations on their NPO profile.

The interface consists of a world map that indicates your location and any registered NPOs close to you. In short, TouchBase is a global directory of NPOs. If you are a volunteer or change maker you can use the app to get in touch with any nearby NPO to assist in any way.

Future plans are to allow NPOs to list events which will appear at the top of a user's newsfeed depending on their location, as well as release the app on the Android. Team CapeAble used Apple’s Swift programming language and Apple’s integrated development environment (XCode) to build and develop this app.