Texting Humanity

Article

A Popular Science report on the winners of the nGOmobile competition, which challenged NGOs to propose ways SMS messaging could support their work in areas with little internet access but fast-growing mobile phone use. Winners included a Kenyan project using SMS early-warning alerts from communities to combat poaching and illegal logging, a Ugandan scheme letting rural residents text questions about water quality and sanitation, a Mexican service sending farmers planting and harvesting reminders, and an Azerbaijani SMS chain-letter campaign encouraging young people to vote.