Mobile Money Africa

Citizens of the world,woke up on the 12th of January to find the country of Haiti under the ruins, due to the effects of devastating earthquake.Thousands of people were reported killed and many still unaccounted for and millions are without food,water,medicines and shelter.

Matching action with words,President Obama made pledges and millions of dollars donations flowed in from all around the world. From the Big corporate donors to the very ubiquitous Mobile Phones,they all proved that the world is now a connected place,where commerce can take place,anytime and anywhere.As at the last count, donations from Mobile phones alone already exceeded 24million USD with more than 2.5million people texting $10 for the Haiti relief efforts which is added to the monthly bill.Small donations are making big impacts in Haiti.

I spoke with many Africans,Living in Africa if they made any donations towards the Relief efforts of our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti,the answer was negative with only a few positives from Kenya and South Africa(This is withing the circle of personal influence / friends and not postulating a general trend for Africans). Safaricom,MPESA’s parent company had set up a donation account for Kenyans to make donations via Mobile Money platform,MPESA.

The Main reason for not contributing to the donation is that they have ability to donate between 1 – 10 USD (willingness) but they do not have the means ( access ) to make such small value transaction,cheaply without having to travel to a Bank, stay on queue, leave their Jobs for hours, travel to next town to visit the Bank but they all have a Mobile Phone,actually conducted this short interview via mobile phone telconference and SMS,talking to 35 people in seven countries.

When Final donation statistics are taken,Africa will most likely record least contributions to a country that is more connected to them,racially and Historically than any other Nation on the face of earth.This is our score card,not because we lack capacity for kindness and Love but we lack the ability to share Love using simple technologies like mobile payment.

If you are living in countries where these services work, kindly make your donations to the Haiti Relief efforts by sending your donations to the following organizations Via your Mobile Phone:

• Kenya Red Cross Society via MPESA – Business Number 508000
• ACLJ – Text ACLJ to 90999 to give $10
• Compassion International – Text DISASTER to 90999 to give $10
• Family Health International – Text FHI to 90999 to give $5
• FAMU – Text RELIEF to 50555 to give $5
• Florida Hospital – Text MISSION to 90999 to give $5
• Friends of the World Food Program – Text FRIENDS to 90999 to give $5
• Leon H. Sullivan Foundation – Text SUMMIT to 90999 to give $%
• Rotary Foundation – Text ROTARY to 90999 to give $5
• United Nations Foundation – Text CERF to 90999 to give $5
• United Way – Text HAITI to 864833 to give $5

You may also visit http://haiti.ushahidi.com,powered by Clickatell to Donate, Volunteer, Submit a Report, Track Information, Register Missing Persons, and Receive SMS alerts

Kindly send New Links to Mobile Phone / SMS donations initiatives to the Editor for publication.Thank you

Emmanuel Okoegwale
emmanuel@mobilemoneyafrica.com
+234 8030818868