Young Hackers: Hacking Technology at Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp

An unprecedented 65 million people around the world are forcibly displaced. As stakeholders call for technological innovation to address the realities of the global migration crisis, HCI researchers in and outside of academia engage with the issues faced by humanitarian responders, refugees and communities. Our exploratory study at UNHCR Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan highlights the creative ways young people co-opt technology to perform information work. We collected data through a survey, diaries, and observations. Findings offer important insights. First, hacking at Za’atari is highly gendered, with only boys observed engaging in the activity. Second, the range of young hackers’ activities indicate the following: a) youth help their family and community through technology; b) benefits include getting paid and feeling empowered by their role of technology experts; and c) a connected learning environment emerges. Finally, the physical location where youth are co-opting technology is important in building capacity.