Cambridge, UK Monday 17th September, 2007: Mobile technology organisation 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 Organisations (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 fulfil 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
The competition website can be found at www.ngomobile.org ENDS

Enquiries Ken Banks, Founder of kiwanja.net
Email: ken.banks@ngomobile.org