Mobiles for Good

As the mobile phone becomes commonplace even in many of the world’s poorest countries, there is a new window of opportunity for technology—especially wireless communication—to play a vital role in developing solutions to long-standing international development challenges.

We want to bring the power of mobile technology to some of society’s most pressing problems: from handsets that rapidly connect women suffering from domestic abuse to the police, to mobile money transfer schemes that help improve maternal health.

By applying Vodafone’s leading innovative technology, the Vodafone India Foundation mobilises both local and virtual communities, bringing people together to resolve mutual problems and make real change.

Vodafone India Foundation is already active in supporting these kinds of projects. An example is the recent Sanchar Shakti project, which it runs in partnership with the Department of Telecommunications and operates in seven rural areas of India. This project aims to improve women’s information communication technology skills and support them to earn a living. Information about health, social issues and government schemes are sent to the women, who are members of their local self-help group, over their mobile phones. They then pass on the knowledge to the rest of their community.