In this guest blog post, TechCamp Slovenia alumnus Drinor Selmanaj shares his experiences as both a TechCamp participant and a TechCamp small grants project winner.
I’m excited to share my inspiring journey through TechCamp, a transformative experience that has reshaped my perception of technology, education, and global connectivity. TechCamp is a platform to learn, grow, and challenge yourself. It’s a whirlwind of innovation, collaboration, and discovery that pushes you beyond your comfort zone. You’re in the right place if you’re open-minded, ready to collaborate, and eager to learn.
The greatest lesson I took away from TechCamp is the power of diversity in problem-solving. Working with participants from different cultural, professional, and academic backgrounds was enlightening. The collective intelligence, diverse perspectives, and unique problem-solving approaches enriched our project and broadened my understanding of complex global issues. This diversity extends to the TechCamp alumni network, a fantastic international community of learners, innovators, and leaders. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with alumni worldwide, fostering a sense of global unity and shared vision. This network has expanded my professional connections and opened doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
A pivotal aspect of the experience was the opportunity to ideate and develop impactful projects, immersing myself in a process that merges creativity and practicality to address pertinent societal challenges. Our task, centered around the pervasive disinformation issue, aimed at deciphering and mitigating its detrimental effects. We embarked on a complex journey to unravel the multifaceted mechanisms of disinformation, focusing mainly on the Western Balkans. Seeing our theories materialize and their positive impact emphasized the crucial role of in-depth understanding and technological intervention in combating disinformation.
For a more detailed insight into our work and a firsthand view of our strides in combatting disinformation, I encourage you to explore our small grant project’s dedicated playlist on YouTube. You can access it directly through this link: Disinformation And Misinformation Dismantling.
To future TechCamp participants, trainers, and facilitators, I would say this: approach TechCamp as a journey of discovery. Embrace each moment, whether learning a new concept, collaborating on a project, or engaging with a diverse community. As a proud alumnus, I can confidently say that my TechCamp experience was nothing short of transformational. So I invite you all to embark on this journey, uncover your potential, and embrace the power of technology for positive change. Whether you’re a technology enthusiast, an educator, or someone seeking to make a difference, TechCamp has something to offer.
Drinor Selmanaj is a cybersecurity frontier with over a decade of paramount experience in penetration testing, cyberterrorism combat, and global privacy amidst NATO representatives, multinational corporations, tech giants, and heads of state. Drinor is a prolific investor in the tech scene with several cybersecurity-related companies under his name. In addition, he leads a team of cybersecurity researchers while providing cutting-edge cybersecurity services to unicorn corporations, including some of the Big Four. Drinor is also an award-winning cybersecurity professional, lecturer, public speaker, and executive aspiring to boost innovation, all the while perpetually pursuing excellence and standing one step ahead of cyber threats.
