3. Get C<strong>on</strong>nected17informati<strong>on</strong> they need <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> take care of their health and give their babies the bestpossible start in life. <strong>Women</strong> who sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBEfor Spanish) <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> 511411 will receive free (SMS) text messages each week, timed <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>their due date or baby’s date of birth.Success S<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ry: Ask BrookIn 2002, The Brook Advisory Centre, a UK charity, launched an enhanced “AskBrook” informati<strong>on</strong> service providing young people with sexual health knowledgeand support via teleph<strong>on</strong>e, the web, and text message. To access the servicevia mobile ph<strong>on</strong>e, young people text BRK, followed by their postcode, <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> 81222.Subsequently, they receive informati<strong>on</strong> regarding sexual health services intheir area. They can also select standardized resp<strong>on</strong>ses <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> questi<strong>on</strong>s relating <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>c<strong>on</strong>tracepti<strong>on</strong>, pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and other sexual healthissues. In 2006 and 2007, the service received an average of 100 text messagequeries per m<strong>on</strong>th.To Raise Awareness and FundingSuccess S<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ry: Make Poverty His<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ryIn 2005, Oxfam GB launched a text message-based outreach initiative as part of itsrole in the Make Poverty His<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ry Campaign. Advertisements were placed <strong>on</strong> severalcampaign websites and in newspapers urging people <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> text the keyword “BAND” <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>receive a white wristband, the global campaign’s symbol. Users would then receivean au<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>matic resp<strong>on</strong>se requesting their name, street number, and postal code.Approximately 50,000 people ordered their white band. The organizati<strong>on</strong> is nowusing the code <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> encourage people <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> sign up for various campaigns or set up aregular gift.To Avert Crises and C<strong>on</strong>nect CommunitiesSuccess S<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ry: PeaceNetWhen waves of political violence swept through Kenya after the December 2007presidential electi<strong>on</strong>—marred by widespread allegati<strong>on</strong>s of vote rigging—human rightsadvocates in the country turned <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> cell ph<strong>on</strong>es <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> help stem the violence. PeaceNet, acoaliti<strong>on</strong> of Kenyan NGOs, partnered with Oxfam GB <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> create a text messaging“nerve center” that served as a vital <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ol for c<strong>on</strong>flict management and preventi<strong>on</strong> byproviding a hub for real-time informati<strong>on</strong> about actual and planned attacks betweenrival groups. The text messages were then relayed <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> local “peace committees” thatdeployed media<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs and <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ok other immediate acti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> 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 <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> advanceimportant social causes and help viewers seeproblems in new ways. They can leave audiencesfeeling excited about taking acti<strong>on</strong> and joiningothers <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> make a difference if they make astr<strong>on</strong>g argument, involve the viewer, and engagethe audience in what happens next. Advocacyvideos are l<strong>on</strong>ger than PSAs (Public ServiceAnnouncements are usually around <strong>on</strong>e minutel<strong>on</strong>g) but should be shorter than 15 minutes(anything l<strong>on</strong>ger and it becomes more of adocumentary.)Make sure you pick theTip right platform, and becareful! There are plenty ofsecure ways <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> send m<strong>on</strong>eyinternati<strong>on</strong>ally, but always doyour research—ask around <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> findout what others have used. Alsoresearch tax codes, and otherpolicies that can affect yourability <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> raise and collect funds.Do you have access <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> a video camera? Does your ph<strong>on</strong>e take video? What about aFlip camera? You can make a short, compelling video as a change-oriented <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ol formaternal health advocacy. D<strong>on</strong>’t have a camera? D<strong>on</strong>’t worry. Even if you d<strong>on</strong>’t haveyour own footage <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> draw attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> maternal health, you can still make your ownadvocacy video at MDGFive.com.MDGFive.com is an interactive website and <strong>on</strong>line community uniting artists andactivists in the fight <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> reach MDG #5 by 2015. MDGFive.com includes creativec<strong>on</strong>tent by world-renowned musicians, poets, filmmakers, and pho<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>graphers. Thesite features a “remixer” that can be used <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> create short videos using a libraryof music tracks, spoken word, film, and pho<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>s supplied by renowned mixed mediaartists from around the world. After you make your video, share it with your friendsand colleagues, and encourage them <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> make <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>o!MORE WAYS TO USE TECHNOLOGY• Reach the established media. If you are working <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> raise awareness,use the internet <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> research and c<strong>on</strong>tact members of the media whomight do a s<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ry <strong>on</strong> your project.• Find high-profile people and decisi<strong>on</strong> makers <strong>on</strong>line, whether theyhave a Twitter account, a website, blog, or Facebook page. Start ac<strong>on</strong>versati<strong>on</strong> with them, and keep at it until they listen <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> what youhave <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> say.• As you work <strong>on</strong> planning a project, c<strong>on</strong>sider using <strong>on</strong>line spaces likeYahoo Groups and Google Groups <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> share calendars, edit documents,and more.• Services like Skype and Google Voice offer ways <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> make internati<strong>on</strong>alph<strong>on</strong>e calls <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> other users for free.
4. Get Moving18Now that you are inspired, informed, and have a new list of <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ols <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> achieveyour goals, you can decide how <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> take acti<strong>on</strong>.Set S.M.A.R.T. GoalsGood goals are the key <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> great projects.Brains<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>rm Ideas for ProjectsKeeping your passi<strong>on</strong>s and your knowledge in mind, what specific goals do you want<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> achieve around maternal health?Specific:Answer the six W’s: Who? What? Where? When? Which? Why?MeasurableC<strong>on</strong>crete criteria <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> measure progress helps you stay <strong>on</strong> track.AttainableVisualize yourself achieving your goals. As you grow and develop, yourgoals become more attainable.RealisticYou must be both able and willing <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> work <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>wards your goals. Your goalis probably realistic if you really believe it can be accomplished.Example: Increase awareness of maternal mortality am<strong>on</strong>g students at my highschool, by getting 20 students <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> write an electr<strong>on</strong>ic letter or blog post <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> encouragelocal legisla<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs’ support of safe motherhood policies and programs.Example: Follow Twitter c<strong>on</strong>versati<strong>on</strong>s like #maternalhealth, #mdgs, and #mdg5, andget 10 friends <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> join in and learn more about maternal health.Who do you want <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> reach, engage, or persuade?TangibleIf you can see or feel the end product, it becomes more measurable andeasier <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> attain.How does this fit in <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> your goals for delivering for girls and women in your family,community, country, and world?
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