Youth Guide to Action on Maternal Health - Women Deliver

3. Get Connected17information they need <strong>to</strong> take care of their health and give their babies the bestpossible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBEfor Spanish) <strong>to</strong> 511411 will receive free (SMS) text messages each week, timed <strong>to</strong>their due date or baby’s date of birth.Success S<strong>to</strong>ry: Ask BrookIn 2002, The Brook Advisory Centre, a UK charity, launched an enhanced “AskBrook” information service providing young people with sexual health knowledgeand support via telephone, the web, and text message. To access the servicevia mobile phone, young people text BRK, followed by their postcode, <strong>to</strong> 81222.Subsequently, they receive information regarding sexual health services intheir area. They can also select standardized responses <strong>to</strong> questions relating <strong>to</strong>contraception, pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and other sexual healthissues. In 2006 and 2007, the service received an average of 100 text messagequeries per month.To Raise Awareness and FundingSuccess S<strong>to</strong>ry: Make Poverty His<strong>to</strong>ryIn 2005, Oxfam GB launched a text message-based outreach initiative as part of itsrole in the Make Poverty His<strong>to</strong>ry Campaign. Advertisements were placed on severalcampaign websites and in newspapers urging people <strong>to</strong> text the keyword “BAND” <strong>to</strong>receive a white wristband, the global campaign’s symbol. Users would then receivean au<strong>to</strong>matic response requesting their name, street number, and postal code.Approximately 50,000 people ordered their white band. The organization is nowusing the code <strong>to</strong> encourage people <strong>to</strong> sign up for various campaigns or set up aregular gift.To Avert Crises and Connect CommunitiesSuccess S<strong>to</strong>ry: PeaceNetWhen waves of political violence swept through Kenya after the December 2007presidential election—marred by widespread allegations of vote rigging—human rightsadvocates in the country turned <strong>to</strong> cell phones <strong>to</strong> help stem the violence. PeaceNet, acoalition of Kenyan NGOs, partnered with Oxfam GB <strong>to</strong> create a text messaging“nerve center” that served as a vital <strong>to</strong>ol for conflict management and prevention byproviding a hub for real-time information about actual and planned attacks betweenrival groups. The text messages were then relayed <strong>to</strong> local “peace committees” thatdeployed media<strong>to</strong>rs and <strong>to</strong>ok other immediate action <strong>to</strong> stem the violence.Example text: “Over 400 people with no food or waterholed in Huruma PCEA church in Eldoret for three days. Helpneeded immediately.”ADVOCACY VIDEOSAdvocacy videos are a great way <strong>to</strong> advanceimportant social causes and help viewers seeproblems in new ways. They can leave audiencesfeeling excited about taking action and joiningothers <strong>to</strong> make a difference if they make astrong argument, involve the viewer, and engagethe audience in what happens next. Advocacyvideos are longer than PSAs (Public ServiceAnnouncements are usually around one minutelong) but should be shorter than 15 minutes(anything longer and it becomes more of adocumentary.)Make sure you pick theTip right platform, and becareful! There are plenty ofsecure ways <strong>to</strong> send moneyinternationally, but always doyour research—ask around <strong>to</strong> findout what others have used. Alsoresearch tax codes, and otherpolicies that can affect yourability <strong>to</strong> raise and collect funds.Do you have access <strong>to</strong> a video camera? Does your phone take video? What about aFlip camera? You can make a short, compelling video as a change-oriented <strong>to</strong>ol formaternal health advocacy. Don’t have a camera? Don’t worry. Even if you don’t haveyour own footage <strong>to</strong> draw attention <strong>to</strong> maternal health, you can still make your ownadvocacy video at MDGFive.com.MDGFive.com is an interactive website and online community uniting artists andactivists in the fight <strong>to</strong> reach MDG #5 by 2015. MDGFive.com includes creativecontent by world-renowned musicians, poets, filmmakers, and pho<strong>to</strong>graphers. Thesite features a “remixer” that can be used <strong>to</strong> create short videos using a libraryof music tracks, spoken word, film, and pho<strong>to</strong>s supplied by renowned mixed mediaartists from around the world. After you make your video, share it with your friendsand colleagues, and encourage them <strong>to</strong> make one <strong>to</strong>o!MORE WAYS TO USE TECHNOLOGY• Reach the established media. If you are working <strong>to</strong> raise awareness,use the internet <strong>to</strong> research and contact members of the media whomight do a s<strong>to</strong>ry on your project.• Find high-profile people and decision makers online, whether theyhave a Twitter account, a website, blog, or Facebook page. Start aconversation with them, and keep at it until they listen <strong>to</strong> what youhave <strong>to</strong> say.• As you work on planning a project, consider using online spaces likeYahoo Groups and Google Groups <strong>to</strong> share calendars, edit documents,and more.• Services like Skype and Google Voice offer ways <strong>to</strong> make internationalphone calls <strong>to</strong> other users for free.