GX2

App Support for Flood Victims in RS

Your Donation in the Right Hands to Help Rio Grande do Sul

Ease, Security, and Transparency to Assist Displaced Families

Amid the climate emergency caused by floods devastating Rio Grande do Sul, thousands of families have been displaced and require immediate support. However, information about the needs of shelters arises in a decentralized manner, scattered across various communication channels.

In the face of such tragedy, there have been instances of people being robbed or falling victim to scams due to the lack of a trustworthy location for making donations. Many individuals wanting to do good are frightened by this scenario. Additionally, there are temporary accommodations receiving an abundance of donations while others do not receive enough to meet their basic needs.

Imagem Reprodução NASA

To address this issue and connect donors to shelters in a reliable way, the GX2 team, a technology consultancy specializing in software development based at the innovation hub Instituto Caldeira (a location significantly impacted by the floods), volunteered to assist during this delicate moment. In collaboration with the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Sul, they developed an app to safely and efficiently connect temporary shelters with donors.

Main Problems Encountered in the Donation Process:

  • How to know if the location is truly a shelter or just a front?
  • How to determine if the item I’m donating is still needed at the location?
  • I want to donate, but I can’t travel. Can someone deliver it?
  • How to intelligently distribute donations so that no one is left without assistance?

Collaboration that Transforms:

The App Support for Flood Victims in RS has the support of, in addition to MPRS, SUCESU-RS, PUCRS, PROCEMPA (Porto Alegre City Hall), and DataCentrics. It also received assistance from Datacentrics, which provided the necessary infrastructure to host the solution.

The goal of the App Support for Flood Victims in RS is to serve as a reliable intermediary between shelters and the generosity of society, facilitating support during natural disasters.

Key Features:

  • Facilitates connection between the needs of shelters and donors.
  • Provides a secure and trustworthy platform for donating goods and services.
  • Validated by the Public Ministry, ensuring the integrity of the donation process.

The difference of the App Support for Flood Victims in RS lies in the security and reliability of the information it contains. Validated by the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Sul, it keeps the needs of shelters updated and ensures that the locations receiving donations are real and validated. This allows users to channel each act of generosity directly to where it is most needed, preventing diversions or fraud.

How the Donation Process Works:

After shelters (institutions) register their needs on the app, potential donors can review which needs are still pending donation. Donors can then commit to meeting those specific needs by donating the necessary items, thus establishing a “match” between the shelter and the donor.

Once a “match” has been made, the donor can contact the institution (and vice versa) via phone or email to arrange the best way to deliver and finalize the donation. If the donor is unable to deliver, the approved volunteer team will reach out to arrange pickup and ensure it reaches the needy entity.

The Importance of Coordinated Efforts:

The App Support for Flood Victims in RS represents the union of efforts between the State Government, the academic community, and the private sector, while also connecting with many volunteer actions seeking to meet the needs of temporary accommodations.

Regarding this union, Henrique Portella, President of SUCESU-RS, states, “The response to the challenge that nature has posed to Rio Grande do Sul will be as strong as the unity of all involved. New connections are needed, and strengthening those that already exist is vital.

Thus, the traditional partnership between MPRS, PUC-RS, GX2, and SUCESU-RS is further strengthened with the launch of this app, which will be important in the reconstruction of RS.” Letícia Batistela, President of Procempa, adds, “Initiatives like this are essential for us to overcome this tragedy that has struck our Rio Grande do Sul. An integrated and united ecosystem is the only way we will be able to recover our state.”

The shared sense of caring for our land was mentioned by Jean Carlo Santos, CEO of DataCentrics (DCX), a company that resonated with the cause and provided the hosting environment for the solution. He mentions that “The ‘Support for Flood Victims RS’ project is one of many results of this environmental and digital transformation that we have the responsibility to carry out.” We strongly believe that together we can build a positive and lasting legacy amidst this great tragedy.

Official Launch:

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, the official launch of the app took place in a ceremony attended by representatives of partner entities, supporters, and engaged individuals in the project. João Claudio Pizzato Sidou, Deputy Attorney General of Strategic Management at the Public Ministry of RS, expressed gratitude for the support of all those involved and highlighted the importance of the rapid response and development of the app during the current crisis in the state, adding, “this app we are launching today is a very quick and essential response to meet the needs of people who are in a very vulnerable situation at the front line. We hope it brings good results.”

Download the App Support for Flood Victims RS on Google Play (Android) and contribute to the reconstruction of our state. The iPhone version is in the approval phase and will soon be available for download as well. Your donation, no matter how small, can make a difference in someone’s life.