Via the mobileactive mailing list, I learned today about the nGOmobile competition, which is kicking off today! Grassroots groups in the third world seeking the tools and resources to use mobile phones and SMS in pursuit of their missions are invited to participate.
I am particularly excited because I have observed over the last two years, since participating in the first Mobile Active Convergence in Toronto back in 2005, that the opportunities of mobile phones for advocacy in the third world have been out there and available, but not fully exploited. The case studies (what works and what does not work) have not been widely shared and discussed for others around the continent to benefit from. More civil society groups need to see examples of how this technology is empowering others - and can empower them.
This competition will go a long way to remedying that problem - so hats off to kiwanja.net, 160 Characters and the others involved in putting on this competition. Read on to see the announcement, or go straight to ngomobile.org to learn more. Please help spread the word about this terrific initiative.
Mobile technology organization kiwanja.net has launched its latest non-profit mobile initiative - nGOmobile, a competition to help grassroots NGOs take advantage of text messaging.
The explosive entry of mobile technology into the developing world has opened up a raft of opportunities for the non-profit sector.
Text messaging has proved itself to be remarkably versatile, helping remind patients to take their medicine, providing market prices to farmers and fishermen, distributing health information, allowing the reporting of human rights abuses and promoting increased citizen participation in government.
While the list may be long, not everyone has been able to reap the benefits.
nGOmobile is a competition aimed exclusively at grassroots non-profit Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working for positive social and environmental change throughout the developing world. “Behind the scenes, the often unsung heroes of the NGO community battle against the daily realities of life in developing countries, where it can take all day to fulfill the simplest task,” said Ken Banks, Founder of kiwanja.net. “These people don’t lack passion and commitment, they lack tools and resources” said Banks.
Grassroots NGOs around the world are invited to submit short project ideas explaining how greater access to mobile technology - and SMS text messaging in particular - would benefit them and their work.
The competition is open from today until 14th December 2007 with the winners announced in January 2008.
The top four entries, chosen by a distinguished panel of judges, will each win a brand new Hewlett Packard laptop computer, two Nokia mobile phones, a GSM modem, kiwanja.net’s own entry-level text messaging platform - FrontlineSMS - and to top it all, a cash prize of US$1,000.
Sponsors of the competition include Hewlett Packard, Nokia, ActiveXperts, 160 Characters, Wieden+Kennedy, mBlox and Perkins Coie
Panel of Judges
Ken Banks, Founder, kiwanja.net
Neerja Raman, From Good to Gold
Mike Grenville, Editor, 160 Characters
Micheline Ntiru, Nokia’s Head of Corporate Social Investment for the Middle East and Africa
Bill Thompson, Journalist/commentator
Renny Gleeson, Global Director of Digital Strategies at Wieden+Kennedy
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