Social Hackers Academy

Social Hackers Academy is the first full-time coding school in Athens for refugees, migrants, and unemployed Greek people. Its team focuses on educating, integrating, and finding jobs for people who belong to socially vulnerable groups — graduates' employability is the main goal, achieved by delivering a comprehensive educational program in software engineering.

In 2019, I spent a full year serving as the Head of Marketing. My responsibilities centered on event marketing, community management, and social media management. I focused on highlighting the authentic stories of the individuals within the organization and used digital communication to build a community that cared deeply about vulnerable groups. Every day, Viktorija and I found inspiration in our students' journeys; seeing them become part of a success story was my greatest motivation.

I remember a day in the office when my colleague Viktorija noticed it was International Mother Language Day. After a quick 5-minute brainstorming session, we came up with an Instagram story campaign. We realized the immense diversity among our students and team members.

We believed that no matter what your mother language is, we all smile the same way. By using video content for Instagram stories, we showcased the organization's international environment and highlighted that programming is a universal language anyone can learn.

We operated on the belief that a brand's impression comes from its people as much as its mission. To encourage potential volunteers, teachers, and students, we highlighted the real-life experiences of those already in the program.

I used Facebook and Instagram carousel features to share these stories, allowing followers to swipe through authentic student and teacher testimonials. This approach was vital in encouraging hesitant candidates to take the next step.

While some consider sharing quotes outdated, we found them highly effective when linked directly to our core values: education, technology, and social impact. I developed a content plan with customized designs for carefully selected quotes — a constant source of motivation for our students and a link to the experiences of successful tech leaders worldwide.

Social Hackers Academy managed a Meetup group called "Devs Alliance," a hub for students and developers in Athens to network with potential employers and partners.

In just six months of 2019, we grew the group from 150 to over 500 members through a series of tech-oriented events and professional talks. I supported my colleague Viktorija in marketing five successful events — and it was a privilege to see our participants open doors to brighter prospects in the tech industry.