[1]nGOmobile is a text message-based competition aimed exclusively and
unashamedly at grassroots non-profit organisations working for positive
social and environmental change throughout the developing world.
Behind the scenes, these unsung heroes of the NGO community battle against the daily realities of life in a developing country, where it can take all day to fulfil the simplest task. These people don’t lack passion and commitment. They lack tools and resources. We’re here to change all that. Every year, nGOmobile will enable four worthy winners to leapfrog the mobile technology barrier.
The competition wants to encourage NGOs to think more about how mobile technology could be applied in their work. If you need inspiration, there are plenty of examples in the kiwanja Mobile Database [2].
NGOs from developing countries are invited to submit a short proposal outlining how text messaging could make their job easier. The ideas don’t need to be rocket science, or even earth-shatteringly original. Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest, easiest and most obvious. We should know - most of ours have been!
What we are looking for is impact - a clear indication that winning an amazing prize, and gaining access to mobile technology, would revolutionise your work and turn mission impossible into mission accomplished.
Before you start applying, check out the competition Terms and Conditions (a necessary evil, we're afraid). These are quite long, but in essence you are welcome to enter provided you are a registered non-profit organisation in the country where you operate (and can prove it), that country is considered a developing country (you know), you’re small and grassroots (no huge office in the capital city employing dozens of people), and you have a real need for text messaging in your work .
The competition is open from 17th September and will close at midnight Pacific US time on 14th December, 2007. After this time the online registration form will no longer be available
So, what are you waiting for? All you need to do is answer some simple questions on our submission form, then sit tight and wait for the results in January Who knows - it could be a happy new year...
Click here to open the submission form courtesy of 160 Characters [3]. Good luck!
For more information, please see the contest Web site (http://www.ngomobile.org [4]).