Build for Impact is the first hackathon hosted by the Claude Builder Club (CBC) at the University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology. Student teams use Claude AI to build working solutions to real, meaningful problems in their community, campus, or country. Every project must be original, grounded in a genuine need, and built entirely during the official building period.
What makes this hackathon different
Every participant is a CBC member who has spent the semester working with Claude Pro, attending hands-on weekly sessions, and developing practical AI skills across disciplines — Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Health Sciences, and more. By the time teams sit down to build, they are not beginners. This is a hackathon built on the conviction that Rwandan students should be creators of AI technology, not consumers of it.
Tracks
Teams choose one of five official tracks and build a solution that addresses a specific, real problem they have personally experienced or witnessed.
Track 1 — Biology & Physical Health
Track 2 — Neuroscience & Mental Health
Track 3 — Economic Empowerment & Education
Track 4 — Governance & Collaboration
Track 5 — Creative Flourishing
Key Dates
Building period: April 15 – 20 Submission deadline: April 20 at 11:59pm
Awards: Wednesday, April 22 — 2:00pm to 5:00pm Venue: Muhazi Conference Hall, UR-CST, Nyarugenge Campus
How it works
Every participant registers individually at Here. Teams of three to four members are formed on Devpost. If you already have a team, you are welcome to begin building as soon as the building period opens. After the submission deadline, judges review all projects and select the winners teams.
Judging Criteria
Impact Potential — 25 pts
Technical Execution — 30 pts
Ethical Alignment — 25 pts
Presentation — 20 pts
Confirmed Partners
DARHO provides IoT hardware and embedded systems resources for teams building in smart agriculture, health monitoring, environmental sensing, and beyond, based at UniPod, Muhabura Building, UR-CST.
Anthropic has confirmed $1,500 in API credits as part of the CBC Spring 2026 programme, distributed as prizes to winning teams.
About CBC
Requirements
1. Project Name & Description A clear explanation of the problem your project solves, who it is for, why it matters in the Rwandan context, and how Claude AI is used at the core of your solution. The problem must be real and specific not hypothetical and must fall within one of the five official tracks.
2. Demo Video (required) A short video of no more than three minutes showing your working solution in action. Upload to YouTube or Vimeo and include the link in your Devpost submission. A concept or design without a functional demo will not be accepted.
3. Code Repository A link to a public GitHub repository containing your full project code. All code must have been written during the official building period of April 15 to 20. Previously built or existing projects are not eligible.
4. How You Used Claude A specific explanation of Claude AI's role in your project not simply that it was used, but how and why it was central to your solution. This is a judged criterion and will be evaluated seriously.
5. Track Selection Clearly state which of the five official tracks your project falls under: Biology and Physical Health, Neuroscience and Mental Health, Economic Empowerment and Education, Governance and Collaboration, or Creative Flourishing.
6. Team Members All team members between three and four people must be listed on the Devpost submission. Every individual participant must also be registered on Lu.ma at luma.com/lejgcjok prior to submission.
Prizes
1st Place — Winner
Awarded to the top-scoring team. Includes a CBC branded merch pack, $750 in API credits, and 80,000+ RWF in cash.
2nd Place — Runner Up
Awarded to the second-place team. Includes a CBC merch pack, $500 in API credits, and 50,000+ RWF in cash.
3rd Place — Second Runner Up
Awarded to the third-place team. Includes a CBC merch pack, $250 in API credits, and 30,000+ RWF in cash.
Loving Grace Ethics Award
Awarded to the team that demonstrates the most exceptional ethical reasoning and genuine commitment to human dignity throughout their project. Includes a Custom award and stickers.
People's Choice Award
Voted by participants at the closing ceremony. Awarded to the team that resonates most with fellow builders on the day. Custom award + stickers
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Dr. Eric HITIMANA
HOD / University of Rwanda
Mr. Dieudonne UKURIKIYEYESU
Lecturer / University of Rwanda
Judging Criteria
-
Impact Potential
Does the project address a real, specific problem experienced in Rwanda? Is the need genuine and clearly articulated? Does the solution make a tangible difference to the people it serves, and could it scale beyond the immediate context? -
Technical Execution
Does the project work? Is the solution functional and well built within the build period? Does it demonstrate technical skill, thoughtful implementation, and a meaningful use of Claude AI at its core — not as a superficial feature? -
Ethical Alignment
Did the team think seriously about potential harms? Does the solution empower people rather than make decisions for them? Are safeguards considered and clearly articulated? -
Presentation
Is the problem and solution communicated clearly within the three-five minutes demo? Does the team respond well to questions and articulate their design decisions confidently?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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