Funding template for the secure the shelter build-a-thon

A ready-to-adapt funding template for organising a Secure the Shelter Build-a-thon—a practical, staff-focused day to deploy your own private tech safety lab using Pirogue and Wazuh. It’s pitched for local authorities, foundations, or digital rights grant schemes, with plain-language explanations and a focus on empowerment and survivor safety.

1. Project Title

“Secure the shelter build-a-thon”, “Building a Tech Safety Lab”, or another creative title fitting your context.

2. Summary

We are organising a one or two-day hands-on build-a-thon where shelter staff will set up and test a dedicated digital safety lab. Using open-source tools like Wazuh (a security monitoring platform) and Pirogue (a network threat detector), the session will result in a fully functioning system to detect spyware, monitor risks, and safely support survivors experiencing tech-based abuse.

This is not a training or a lecture—it’s a collaborative, team-powered day or days that end with a working solution we can use in-house.

3. Objectives

  • Equip shelter staff with their own private tech safety monitoring system
  • Improve internal capacity to detect and respond to digital threats
  • Build in-house skills and confidence in digital security
  • Create a safe, non-judgemental environment to explore technology
  • Reduce reliance on external (often expensive or unavailable) tech experts

4. Who is it designed for

The primary participants are shelter staff (e.g. frontline workers, intake coordinators, support staff). The build-a-thon supports their work with survivors by making digital threat detection more accessible, direct, and private.

5. Activities

  • 10:00 – Setup & Introductions Coffee, gear unpacking, fun safety badge stickers

  • 10:30 – Wazuh Lab Build Staff install and configure a private SIEM (security info & event manager) system on a mini server

  • 13:00 – Lunch break With digital threat bingo and tool Q&A

  • 14:00 – Pirogue Setup Building and testing a Raspberry Pi-based detection tool to scan devices and check networks

  • 15:30 – Integration & Testing Simulated attacks, roleplay checkups, alerts in action

  • 16:30 – Celebration & Sharing Stickers, pictures, next steps, wrap-up

6. Budget breakdown

See Secure the shelter build-a-thon: Cost estimate.

We’re seeking funding to fully or partially cover these costs.

7. Outcomes

  • A working private digital safety system installed and maintained in-house
  • A trained shelter team confident in spotting and responding to digital abuse
  • Tools and workflows that can be reused for future staff or workshops
  • Clear documentation and survivor-facing guides created during the day

8. Sustainability

All tools used (Wazuh, Pirogue) are open source and free to maintain. After the build-a-thon, staff will have access to reusable documentation, automated scripts, and a self-contained system with minimal ongoing cost. Technical allies and the PowerOn community are available for support.

9. Why it matters

Digital abuse is a daily reality for many survivors—but shelters are rarely given the tools to help. This project flips the script. Instead of outsourcing or relying on vague “cybersecurity advice,” this hands-on day gives staff their own tools, on their own terms. It’s practical, empowering, and built for real-world mess.

10. Contact

Organisation name: [Shelter or support org]

Contact person: [Name]

Email: [email address]

Phone: [optional]

Website: [if available]