Meta and Deloitte Ireland hosted the “Llama for Good” Hackathon to empower Irish NGOs in leveraging AI for public good. The event, held at Meta’s International HQ in Ballsbridge, brought together NGOs including the Open Doors Initiative, Citywise Education, and NOW Group to co-create AI-driven solutions using Meta’s open-source Llama model. Sixteen engineers from Deloitte and Meta collaborated on developing AI prototypes addressing real-world challenges faced by these organisations, such as mentor–mentee matching, streamlining course delivery, and linking siloed data for improved service delivery.
Meta’s Llama model, being free and open source, removes cost barriers and allows NGOs to build customised AI solutions suited to their communities. Its efficient design enables deployment on modest hardware, making advanced technology accessible to organisations with limited technical resources. Through this initiative, the Open Doors Initiative explored AI-enabled automation for mentor matching, Citywise Education aimed to enhance back-office efficiency and course delivery, and NOW Group investigated ways to integrate and analyse data to better identify beneficiaries and business partners.
The Hackathon included hands-on AI prototyping and dedicated AI fluency sessions, ensuring participants of all technical backgrounds could gain practical skills and confidence in applying AI tools like Llama. Officials opening the event highlighted the role of open-source AI in fostering innovation, economic growth, and equitable technological access. Minister Peter Burke emphasised Ireland’s commitment to trusted, transformative AI, while Anne O’Leary of Meta highlighted Llama’s potential to drive local innovation and positive community impact. Emmanuel Adeleke from Deloitte underscored the importance of AI fluency and the collaboration’s role in enabling NGOs to work smarter and more effectively.
The partnership demonstrates how AI can serve as a tool for sustainable, equitable progress in the nonprofit sector. By combining technical expertise, open-source technology, and a focus on community impact, the Llama for Good Hackathon exemplifies how AI can be harnessed to enhance operational efficiency, expand inclusion, and support mission-driven organisations in creating meaningful societal change.
