Very exciting approach. SMS is so limiting in what it can actually track in terms of the broad measurement and evaluation category of great-cause work.
However, my question for this initiative is what percentage of rural areas indeed do have the bandwidth required to support data connections that the apps demand? I’m just thinking in terms of sustainability and scalability of the model.
Its a great program to raise awareness, perhaps, but not quite effective for behavior change. I worry that “donors” and others see mobile apps as magic bullets to end poverty without the evidence and then redirect funds from other programs to fund the new flavor of the month!!!
We have a semilar program in Quebec schools ( English or French) open school around the world. the students have to accumulate bricks (according to the teachers desirer behavior) to build a house (reward). The school as to purchase a lisence and the school parent comittee has to solicitate the community. The bricks can be exchange toward one big price draw.
An interesting and very creative way to help people do what they already want to do but experience pressures that drive them not to. It seems that the kind of behavioral economics Karlan and Appel discuss in More Than Good Intentions could be relevant here.
My larger concern is that the model could reinforce the flawed idea that extreme poverty is primarily the fault of the poor themselves rather than of the larger systems in which they live —if they only made better decisions they wouldn’t be poor. this is an intriguing program but needs to be partnered with larger efforts to change the systemic issues that limit poor people’s options in the first place.
A wonderful program for a worthy cause. I think the mPowering model is ideal for replication in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, if not already being implemented. The sentiment I gather in my conversations with other practitioners and friends in the region, is that programs as such are both welcomed and appreciated by those whom are aware of the macrocosmic influences of their present conditions. In the same sense that app developers must know the users, app users should know the facilitators of the program. Programs incorporating SMS/MMS into social activism, citizen media, and behavior modification are technologically hip. What culture doesn’t want to be current, no matter what cohort.
The 15 and 17-year old participants who are the social medialites, are also actors in disseminating information via their social media sites and smartphone devices. Reinforcement through rewards and recognition comes in the form of practitioners being able to use their phones for other uses; such as social network interaction and entertainment. I love it, youth being rewarded become indirect active change agents. Meeting the needs of the ultra poor, yet needing to cover unavoidable expenses for technology, will continue to come from creative seeding, although indications suggest that impact investing continues to increase. As for progress in the broad measurement and evaluation categories, advances are currently being developed to improve empirical categorization. I could be a little bit off point, but this program has me rather excited about its potential.
I’m new to this field, thus I wanted to ask you a bit more about the future of mobile technology used for social causes. Should we focus our energies into developing text/voice based programs (for the typical cellphone low income populations have and ca afford) or do we try to actually create a low cost smartphone with interactive apps?
Taking in consideration what TJ Cook mentioned in the first post about access to sufficient bandwidth, is it better to stick to the simple text message? My concern with this is that I feel we are limiting ourselves.
There is a third way that does not require children to make a choice between school or working for food. Performing Life teaches street children skills that they can use to make more money in a shorter amount of time and thereby purchase their own time to attend school. Children who work on the streets are like independent contractors: they control their own time and make their own money, although they frequently give most of it to their parents or family members. By earning more in a shorter time, they can both go to school and eat. For the children who attend our circus arts classes and go to school regularly, Performing Life offers other opportunities for earning money and starting savings accounts. So far, several sibling groups have purchased land and built family homes by using the savings as equity. Others have started microenterprises, and still others have helped with medical expenses and continued their higher education. Some of the older youth who have been with the program for several years are now employed teaching classes. Performing Life is a youth-led and -managed nonprofit that was founded in 2005 by John Connell when he was 18 years old. The first classes were held in March 2006 with six children in a central plaza in Cochabamba, Bolivia. To date, the program has worked with hundreds of youth and benefited several thousand family members, helping them build a self-determined future through the arts.
Its really appreciated that children “Go to school and earn credits that can be redeemed for food, medicine, and other incentives.” This programme is intended to the children who were going to school and have a mobile in their hands! What about those children who lost one of their parents at a very early age and are not going to school, do not have a mobile in their hands, and are working to feed their family. This most encouraging and appreciated programme must be extended to those mis-fortunate or less privileged children who were not attending school and who must be given the opportunity to study in schools such as evening schools or schools on wheels( mobile schools).
They used a great way to engage poor children in education. mPowering app development firm is using technology for third option. I think this excellent method to do this activity.
Thanks to mPowering, now there’s an app for that. The organization doesn’t provide direct services. Instead, mPowering connects with nonprofit partners such as Citta, which provides education, health care, and other services in high-poverty areas.
COMMENTS
BY T.J. Cook
ON August 4, 2011 01:59 PM
Very exciting approach. SMS is so limiting in what it can actually track in terms of the broad measurement and evaluation category of great-cause work.
However, my question for this initiative is what percentage of rural areas indeed do have the bandwidth required to support data connections that the apps demand? I’m just thinking in terms of sustainability and scalability of the model.
Awesome write up.
BY tarun jain
ON August 4, 2011 06:43 PM
I am also sceptic about the scalability of the model. however, a strong govt support can help.
Do let me know for any help. i am based in New Delhi
All the best!
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
BY Susie Mehta
ON August 6, 2011 06:04 AM
Its a great program to raise awareness, perhaps, but not quite effective for behavior change. I worry that “donors” and others see mobile apps as magic bullets to end poverty without the evidence and then redirect funds from other programs to fund the new flavor of the month!!!
BY Danny Fafard projetBrique
ON August 6, 2011 08:44 AM
We have a semilar program in Quebec schools ( English or French) open school around the world. the students have to accumulate bricks (according to the teachers desirer behavior) to build a house (reward). The school as to purchase a lisence and the school parent comittee has to solicitate the community. The bricks can be exchange toward one big price draw.
http://www.brickprogram.com
http://www.projetbrique.com
BY David Ray
ON August 8, 2011 10:28 AM
An interesting and very creative way to help people do what they already want to do but experience pressures that drive them not to. It seems that the kind of behavioral economics Karlan and Appel discuss in More Than Good Intentions could be relevant here.
My larger concern is that the model could reinforce the flawed idea that extreme poverty is primarily the fault of the poor themselves rather than of the larger systems in which they live —if they only made better decisions they wouldn’t be poor. this is an intriguing program but needs to be partnered with larger efforts to change the systemic issues that limit poor people’s options in the first place.
BY Darren Bunton
ON August 10, 2011 12:57 PM
A wonderful program for a worthy cause. I think the mPowering model is ideal for replication in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, if not already being implemented. The sentiment I gather in my conversations with other practitioners and friends in the region, is that programs as such are both welcomed and appreciated by those whom are aware of the macrocosmic influences of their present conditions. In the same sense that app developers must know the users, app users should know the facilitators of the program. Programs incorporating SMS/MMS into social activism, citizen media, and behavior modification are technologically hip. What culture doesn’t want to be current, no matter what cohort.
The 15 and 17-year old participants who are the social medialites, are also actors in disseminating information via their social media sites and smartphone devices. Reinforcement through rewards and recognition comes in the form of practitioners being able to use their phones for other uses; such as social network interaction and entertainment. I love it, youth being rewarded become indirect active change agents. Meeting the needs of the ultra poor, yet needing to cover unavoidable expenses for technology, will continue to come from creative seeding, although indications suggest that impact investing continues to increase. As for progress in the broad measurement and evaluation categories, advances are currently being developed to improve empirical categorization. I could be a little bit off point, but this program has me rather excited about its potential.
BY Lorena Valencia
ON November 10, 2011 10:45 PM
I’m new to this field, thus I wanted to ask you a bit more about the future of mobile technology used for social causes. Should we focus our energies into developing text/voice based programs (for the typical cellphone low income populations have and ca afford) or do we try to actually create a low cost smartphone with interactive apps?
Taking in consideration what TJ Cook mentioned in the first post about access to sufficient bandwidth, is it better to stick to the simple text message? My concern with this is that I feel we are limiting ourselves.
BY Suzanne Jamison
ON November 15, 2011 10:22 AM
There is a third way that does not require children to make a choice between school or working for food. Performing Life teaches street children skills that they can use to make more money in a shorter amount of time and thereby purchase their own time to attend school. Children who work on the streets are like independent contractors: they control their own time and make their own money, although they frequently give most of it to their parents or family members. By earning more in a shorter time, they can both go to school and eat. For the children who attend our circus arts classes and go to school regularly, Performing Life offers other opportunities for earning money and starting savings accounts. So far, several sibling groups have purchased land and built family homes by using the savings as equity. Others have started microenterprises, and still others have helped with medical expenses and continued their higher education. Some of the older youth who have been with the program for several years are now employed teaching classes. Performing Life is a youth-led and -managed nonprofit that was founded in 2005 by John Connell when he was 18 years old. The first classes were held in March 2006 with six children in a central plaza in Cochabamba, Bolivia. To date, the program has worked with hundreds of youth and benefited several thousand family members, helping them build a self-determined future through the arts.
BY Satish Krishnan
ON December 31, 2011 08:14 PM
Its really appreciated that children “Go to school and earn credits that can be redeemed for food, medicine, and other incentives.” This programme is intended to the children who were going to school and have a mobile in their hands! What about those children who lost one of their parents at a very early age and are not going to school, do not have a mobile in their hands, and are working to feed their family. This most encouraging and appreciated programme must be extended to those mis-fortunate or less privileged children who were not attending school and who must be given the opportunity to study in schools such as evening schools or schools on wheels( mobile schools).
BY James
ON May 17, 2015 10:18 PM
They used a great way to engage poor children in education. mPowering app development firm is using technology for third option. I think this excellent method to do this activity.
BY James Martin
ON May 31, 2015 09:49 PM
mPowering organization is doing a great work with the use of technology. They are using best event iphone app for poor children.
BY Martin
ON September 30, 2015 01:20 AM
mPowering organization doing a wonderful job for empowering the poor children who seeks for better education. I do support this cause.
Regards,
Vinity Soft Inc.
BY Borlat
ON July 9, 2016 01:46 AM
Thanks to mPowering, now there’s an app for that. The organization doesn’t provide direct services. Instead, mPowering connects with nonprofit partners such as Citta, which provides education, health care, and other services in high-poverty areas.
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