RukaZaRuku

Hackaton winning submission, RukaZaRuku (Hand in Hand) is a community-driven platform that enables local communities to exchange services using in-app tokens.

Source Code
RukaZaRuku

Technologies

AngularTailwindPrimeNG.NET

RukaZaRuku – Building Community Through Token-Based Service Exchange

RukaZaRuku (Hand in Hand) is a community-driven platform that enables users to exchange services using in-app tokens or direct barter. I worked on this project during RI-HACK 3.0 2024, a 24-hour hackathon organized by RiTeh University, where our team of four developers competed and won first place, earning a prize of €2,000.

My Role in the Project

Initially, I joined the team as a UI/UX designer, responsible for designing a clean and intuitive interface. However, as the project progressed, my role shifted to refactoring the frontend, ensuring the application not only worked but also looked polished and professional. Working closely with two other front-end developers and one back-end developer, I focused on making the UI cohesive, responsive, and visually appealing, balancing speed with design quality under tight time constraints.

Team & Collaboration

RukaZaRuku was built by a team of four during the RI-HACK 3.0 hackathon:

The project was developed collaboratively in a high-pressure, 24-hour hackathon environment, requiring rapid decision-making, clear communication, and efficient division of responsibilities.

Why We Built RukaZaRuku

The main goal of the project was to foster local community engagement by creating a platform where people could offer and request services, earn in-app tokens, and participate in a skill-sharing ecosystem. In just 24 hours, we built a functional, user-friendly application that encouraged trust, interaction, and mutual support within local communities.

Key Features

Despite the tight timeline, RukaZaRuku included a rich set of features:

  • Token-based Service Exchange: Offer services and earn in-app tokens.
  • Work-for-Work System: Direct barter without tokens.
  • Integrated Chat: Communicate with other users easily.
  • AI Image Generation: Enhance posts with AI-generated visuals.
  • Review System: Leave feedback and images to build community trust.
  • Profile Customization: Showcase skills and services.
  • Smart Search & Service Requests: Quickly find or request services.
  • Volunteering Opportunities: Support your community through volunteer work.

These features made it possible for users to participate actively, exchange skills, and discover local talent efficiently.

Tech Stack

  • Frontend: Angular, Tailwind CSS, PrimeNG
  • Backend: .NET

Despite being a hackathon project, the technology choices allowed for rapid development, responsiveness, and a polished UI.

Achievements

  • 🏆 Winner of RI-HACK 3.0 2024
  • Prize: €2,000 split between the four team members
  • Successfully implemented a functional, visually appealing platform in just 24 hours

What I Learned From This Project

RukaZaRuku was an incredible crash course in rapid prototyping, teamwork, and UI problem-solving under extreme time pressure. I strengthened my skills in:

  • Frontend refactoring and visual design
  • Coordinating with backend and frontend developers in real-time
  • Implementing functional, interactive UI components quickly
  • Prioritizing design improvements in a time-sensitive environment

Final Thoughts

RukaZaRuku demonstrates my ability to adapt quickly, improve UI under tight deadlines, and contribute to award-winning projects. It’s a great example of how rapid collaboration and design thinking can lead to a high-impact, fully functional application in a hackathon setting.