Helping Hands

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Registration page

Inspiration

We were inspired by the lack of a unified platform for discovering events. Currently, event information is scattered across platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, making it challenging to stay updated.

What it does

This web application allows users to either volunteer or request volunteer services. New users can register, log in, and choose a role. Volunteers provide basic details and availability, while those seeking help share event details, volunteer requirements, and descriptions. The platform matches volunteers and seekers based on availability and scheduling to create efficient connections between both parties. This approach simplifies the process of organizing volunteer efforts and streamlines the matching process.

How we built it

Backend stack: Python FastAPI, MongoDB
Frontend stack: NextJS, React
API's (used for location): Google maps & Autocomplete

Challenges we ran into

Common Data Types: Unifying data from different event platforms required a consistent data structure, which was challenging to implement.
Session Management: Ensuring secure and seamless session handling for event creation and updates was a technical hurdle.
CORS: Handling cross-origin requests between our frontend and backend required careful configuration to allow secure communication without errors.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Integration of Location Feature: We used APIs like Google Maps and Autocomplete to provide real-time location suggestions, ensuring users can easily add or search for event locations with accuracy.
Session Management for Authentication: Implemented secure session handling for user authentication, allowing users to create, save, and update events while maintaining seamless and protected session continuity. This ensured both a secure and user-friendly experience across the platform.

What we learned

We focused on keeping the project simple, yet efficient and functional. By avoiding unnecessary features and ensuring the core functionality worked well, we were able to build a streamlined solution that delivers a smooth and effective user experience.

What's next for Helping Hands

We focused on completing all core features and ensuring they were fully functional. The next step is to deploy the project, making it accessible to users, and ensuring the platform operates smoothly in a live environment. This will allow real-world usage and feedback to further refine the project.