[UgaBYTES] Strategic and Innovative Use of ICTs: WOUGNETS Soars High in the Use of SMS to share Information

[Francis Mwathi]

Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)  has explored the use of SMS in
information sharing and carrying out SMS campaigns around different
themes. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, an international
SMS campaign from 25/Nov – 10Dec 2007, with over 170 participants drawn
from 13 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, was
used as a strategy to call for the elimination of all forms of violence
against women. A Women’s Day campaign was carried out from 25/Feb – 14/Mar
2008 lead by EASSI, a WOUGNET member organisation, with over 240
participants drawn from 20 countries in Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.
The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness of the plight of the
girl-child in Kenya during the post-election violence in the country.

Additionally in a test of Mobile Advocacy Tools, a campaign on ICTs and
poverty reduction, was successfully carried out in April/May 2008 and
proves that SMS is a powerful tool of information sharing.  WOUGNET
members, partners and interested persons discussed questions sent out by
the secretariat on the theme, ‘ICTs: Is your wealth a click away?
The campaign on ICTs and poverty reduction was wrapped up with a workshop
organised for participants of the SMS campaign on 6th May 2008, for
further discussion on the key issues arising. The SMS and workshop were
also a contribution to the World Telecommunication and Information Society
Day 2008 held on 17th May, 2008.

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