FoodShare Sudan

FoodShare Sudan: Connecting surplus food with families in need. We turn potential waste into hope, one meal at a time.

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Inspiration

In Sudan, food insecurity remains a critical issue, especially amid conflict and displacement. At the same time, a significant amount of surplus food from households, businesses, and events goes to waste. This inspired us to build FoodShareSudan , a platform where surplus food can find its way to those in need. Our goal is to promote community-driven food sharing and reduce waste through meaningful digital connections.

What it does

FoodShareSudan is a web-based platform that enables:

  • Donors (individuals, businesses, or organizations) to list extra food items for donation.
  • Receivers (people in need or community groups) to search for nearby available food using an interactive map.
  • Coordination tools to arrange food pickup or drop-off in a simple and secure way.

Our mission is to streamline food redistribution efforts and promote mutual support across Sudanese communities.

How we built it

We used a modern, lightweight tech stack that enabled rapid development during the hackathon:

  • Google Maps API — for geolocation, helping users visualize food donation locations on an interactive map.
  • Supabase — a powerful open-source backend providing real-time database syncing, user authentication, and secure data storage.
  • TypeScript — for building a scalable and maintainable frontend with improved type safety and developer experience.

The platform was deployed using Netlify for fast and reliable hosting.

Challenges we ran into

  • Limited access to reliable APIs and data focused on Sudanese infrastructure.
  • Building key features like real-time updates and location filters within a short time frame.
  • Ensuring privacy while allowing users to communicate and coordinate effectively.
  • Designing with low-bandwidth and limited-connectivity users in mind.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Built and deployed a fully functioning MVP during the hackathon timeframe.
  • Integrated Supabase and Google Maps API for a real-time, location-aware experience.
  • Designed an intuitive and lightweight UI for a humanitarian-use case.
  • Worked collaboratively under pressure and delivered a meaningful solution.

What we learned

  • Hands-on experience with Supabase and real-time backend development.
  • Improved skills in building map-based user interfaces.
  • The importance of designing for low-resource environments.
  • Strengthened collaboration, communication, and agile teamwork practices.

What’s next for FoodShareSudan

  • Add multi-language support for greater accessibility.
  • Partner with NGOs and community kitchens for broader adoption.
  • Implement notifications for newly listed food nearby.
  • Optimize for mobile and add offline support features.
  • Track donation trends and generate community insights for future improvements.

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