We invite all high school students in Montenegro to apply for participation in the hackathon “SafeHack: Code for a Violence-Free Space,” which will be organized by the Montenegro Science and Technology Park and the Council of Europe.

The aim of the hackathon is to stimulate creativity and engage high school students from Montenegro in developing innovative, digital, and other solutions that will promote positive behavior, safer online and physical environments, and greater respect—spaces where everyone can freely express themselves without fear of discrimination, harassment, or any form of violence. Significant obstacles still exist, preventing the creation of a safe and supportive school environment for all students in Montenegro’s education system.

Your project should offer innovative solutions that support the prevention of violence in schools, through the development of digital tools, educational programs, or other approaches that contribute to creating safer and healthier relationships among students. U nastavku su smjernice za uspješno dostavljanje vaših ideja i projekata:

Who can apply?

The hackathon is intended for all high school students from Montenegro.

Why participate?

• You tackle important problems and create positive change.
• You have the chance to win great prizes.
• Learn new skills and gain experience working with mentors and experts.
• You have the opportunity to meet peers with similar interests and connect with experts from various fields.
• Showcase your ideas and unlock new opportunities for further development and education.

Rules and conditions:

• Work is expected to be done in teams of 3 to 5 members (one member can also be your teacher).

• The solutions you create during the hackathon must be original.

• Applications must be submitted in Montenegrin.
• The application is free, and detailed instructions on how to apply, terms and conditions, as well as the privacy notice, can be found in the Terms and Conditions document.

The tentative themes of the hackathon may include the following:

• Preventing violence in schools What initiatives can help reduce violence and create a safe, supportive, and respectful school environment for all students?
• Student voice How can students be enabled to openly talk about their experiences with violence, share their stories, and participate in creating solutions for safer schools?
• Collaborative learning and peer support How can technology be used to strengthen mutual support, empathy, and collaboration among students, and to prevent peer violence?
• Safety in online communities How can forms of digital violence, such as cyberbullying, be recognized, reported, and prevented? How can support networks and safe online spaces be developed for students facing violence?
• Educational tools Which interactive and creative tools can help students learn about non-violent communication, empathy, and the importance of mutual respect?

• Parent and community education How can parents, teachers, and the wider community be educated to recognize violence, understand its consequences, and work together to prevent it?

Hackathon outcomes Hackathon outcomes may include mobile applications, games, visualizations, quizzes, assistive devices, new or improved documentation, action plans, promotional campaign designs, social experiments, online tools, and other innovative solutions. The key selection criterion is the sustainability of the hackathon outcomes, which will be ensured in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the Institute for Education.

Application format:

The document should be submitted in PDF format and must include:

• Project title
• Brief description of the solution (maximum 500 words)
• Technical specifications (if applicable)
• Implementation steps
• Team members (names and roles)

The presentation must be submitted in PPT format.

Video pitch (optional): You have the option to submit a short video pitch lasting up to 3 minutes. The video can briefly explain your idea, its significance, and how it addresses the given problem. If you choose to create a video, you can upload it to a platform like YouTube and submit the link along with your application.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted via this link.

Applications for the hackathon are open from October 30, 2025, to November 15, 2025. For any additional questions, you can contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone at +382 68 722 662.

Hackathon organizers:

This event is organized by the Programs Office of the Council of Europe in Podgorica, with the support of the Montenegro Science and Technology Park.

The hackathon is implemented through two important joint projects in Montenegro:

• “Quality Education for All” is part of a joint program of the European Union and the Council of Europe, implemented under the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey” program, running from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026.
• “Prevention of Violence in Schools in Montenegro,” implemented by the Council of Europe with financial support from Germany. The project is carried out from December 2024 to December 2026.