As the international response to Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) grows, mobile operators and the humanitarian community are launching donation platforms to help drive the fundraising needed to meet the estimated $301 million dollars required for relief. Mobile can be used to expedite the transfer of funds, target donors and enable subscribers to give in a variety of increments with ease and convenience. Mobile international remittance platforms are also being developed to facilitate donations from diaspora communities around the world.
Smart Donation Initiative
Today Smart launched its #HelpPH Campaign, which is focused on raising money for the Philippines Disaster Recovery Foundation which aims to “provide relief, recovery and reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected areas in Central Philippines.” Mobile subscribers can key-in +63 999 7000000 as the beneficiary mobile number following their mobile service providers’ airtime top-up mechanics. The sender will be notified directly on their mobile phone by SMS.
The #HelpPH fund drive will last until December 31, 2013 to allow mobile subscribers in over 40 countries to donate mobile airtime at a maximum of US$10 a day.
Countries such as Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain (United Kingdom), Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the Vatican City.
All airtime donations generated will be credited to the Philippines relief drive using SMART BayadLoad (pay via load) and subsequently credited to the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) current account with the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines. The PDRF is one of the three identified institutional conduits approved by the BSP together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine National Red Cross.
To deliver on this initiative, Smart, through its mobile financial services subsidiary has partnered with global airtime remittance hubs to “interconnect mobile operators’ prepaid systems to deliver international donations via mobile. Together, these hubs cover more than 250 partner MNOs in 90 countries.
Globe Donation Initiative
Using GCASH as donation facility, concerned citizens can send money to support the relief operations of different organizations such as the Philippine Red Cross, one of the most active organizations in the Philippines that conduct disaster relief operations.
To send cash donations to the Philippine Red Cross via GCASH, Globe subscribers can text DONATE<space>AMOUNT<space>4-digit M-PIN<space>REDCROSS and send to 2882. Globe subscribers who wish to donate to other government and non-government partner-organizations of Globe may just dial *143# through their mobile phones and choose GCASH>Others Services>Donate>Amount>MPIN>Select Charity.
Globe are setting up a G-Cash wallet for international subscribers to make donations. See how to send donations through G-Cash wallet in the slides below.
Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF), a leading emergency telecommunications NGO, has also announced the launch of its mobile site – http://m.tsfi.org. The site provides information updates on the Philippines and a means to donate to their work in reconnecting disaster-affected populations with their loved ones.
In the UK, mobile subscribers can send SMS donations to support the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) Philipines Typhoon Appeal by texting “DONATE” to 70000 to donate £5. For more information visit: http://www.dec.org.uk/
With contributions from Kyla Reid.
Photo Credit: Smart Communications