Look for this icon to help this Change Agent and keep building the Ripple.
What is a Ripple?

If you're having a hard time justifying bumping up your mobile data plan, you're probably not thinking big enough. The cell phone may just be the most radical tool with which to leave your custom stamp on a world that needs a bit of help. Reduce poverty in a developing country. Champion a health care initiative in California. Influence the outcome of an election in Poland. Skeptical? Don't be. Mobile activist and emerging Change Agent, Katrin Verclas, can prove it. As a visionary upstart behind MobileActive.org - a volunteer network for anyone interested in using their mobiles for social change - she is the messenger for the medium. Spend a few minutes with Katrin and she'll throw open a window into how your mobile can do much more than just snap photos and txt your buddies. We've all heard the hype - the Internet is going to make the world a better place. But Katrin fears "we are probably hitching our wagon to the wrong horse if we only look at computers." When it comes to social change, she calls herself an opportunist. After all, she says, "most people in the world do not have Internet access." So why mobiles? Katrin's got 3 billion reasons and growing. If that's too subtle, txt her and she'll fill in the details.

In Africa, Katrin says, Internet access is just under five percent. But mobile penetration is soaring to 60-80 percent in some countries. From the lens of mobile, suddenly the digital divide looks more like a crack. Here is a technology that is relatively cheap, small and portable, and in the hands of haves and have nots the world over. And everyone gets how to use them. "They are the most ubiquitous communication device in the hands of people in human history," notes Katrin. Continuing with the Africa example, she argues that mobiles can and are being used for everything from delivery of education and news, to election monitoring and money transfers - all without laptops and without wiring an entire continent. A Change Agent to the core, Katrin can be a cynic when it comes to charity and aid work. In her eyes, history is being made: "I believe in social change. Social change is not charity. Social change is also not advocacy. It's not advocating on behalf of." Katrin evangelizes that the future of change begins with technology, allowing ordinary people to organize and leverage their collective power. Mobiles just happen to do the trick pretty darn well. For her, using mobiles to work with people disrupts the typical relationship between organizations and the people they are trying to help. Armed with their mobiles, citizens across the globe can organize. They engage in mass demonstrations. They topple governments. They report from Burma and Pakistan in ways that advocacy organizations cannot. So where's the proof? Katrin's stories from the field are outnumbered only by her vision for the possibilities: "I'm not saying that mobile phones are the be all and end all. It doesn't cure malaria, although it can do a helluva job of transmitting vital malaria outbreak data to public health officials."

KATRIN'S CONTEST!

Send Your Best Ideas for Mobile Innovation. The revolution is in your hands. MobileActive.org and Changents are announcing a contest for the best mobile idea to make the world a better place. How could we use mobile phones tomorrow that will help save lives, improve health, decrease poverty, provide vital information, or help the environment? How can mobiles be used in new and creative ways to prevent child labor, monitor ozone, mobilize people to stand up for their rights, deliver vital medicines, provide education, teach literacy, provide banking and financial services to poor people, or help vital supplies be delivered in emergencies? There are so many more opportunities that need to be explored! Post your idea below. Changents and MobileActive will pick our favorite. The winner will receive a Changents T, a MobileActive T and a subscription to GOOD Magazine. We'll announce the winners after the holidays.

KATRIN'S ACTION PACKS

MobileActive.org

Donate to MobileActive so they can: 1) Share more stories about how mobiles can help organizations, activists, and do-gooders of any ilk improve their work; 2) Create more tools and community features for this audience.

Volunteer your translating skills to make MobileActive.org's features available in Spanish and French.

Guest writers are always needed to help share stories from the field with the MobileActive community.

Download these Ringtones for Change:

Show your commitment to endangered species by downloading a ringtone from the Center for Biological Diversity.

Remember hurricane Katrina? Relive George W. Bush's famous "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" quote every time someone calls you. Download

Rhode Island governor Donald L. Carcieri reminds voters not to "fall for slick promises and fake presentations" like he has made in the past. Download

Do you have a crush on 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama too? Download

Recommend an action opportunity on the Web that is related to Katrin's work.

Comments

Tutu
November 20, 2007 - 3:57pm

Great work, Katrin.
We should talk. I see room for cooperation here.
I might be able to help with translation work, and you might be able to help me with mobile activism strategies.
We should talk.
Tutu

manekshaw
January 7, 2008 - 8:45am

My Dear co-changent,
Greetings. It may not be thought that I am bragging about my service to the society but it is hereby to present some data for a noble cause. Kindly allow me to submit that I am a National Youth Award winner-2007 from His Excellency the president of India 2007 Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, highest civilian Award for the youth in India, for my tsunami relief and rehabilitation activities during and aftermath of tsunami and defending the welfare of the children with Mental Retardation. Nominated for the another National Award from the Government of India on 3rd December 2008, Coordinator of Guinness world record event of planting 2 54 464 saplings in 24 hours. The number of saplings planted in memorial of as many victims of South Asian Tsunami worldwide. Within one year of its start activities my organization, EshaasEP, distinguished as best social institution safeguarding the welfare of the Persons with Mental Retardation and received 5 awards. I wish to expand the support base for my organization for work more efficiently and effectively. I Request that you and your friends circle and others who are all in touch with you may be appealed to support this noble cause. I am confident-filled physically challenged person. I can not walk 20 steps together but I move upto The President of India to receive my National Award. Kindly visit www.manekshaw.hi5.com wherein you can view all the testimonials of my activities in the photo album and Video section. May I request you to contact me at 9952688716 for any clarification?

Yours sincerely, at service,
Manekshaw

God Bless Humanity
January 27, 2008 - 4:22pm

Hello Katrin,

I am touched by your call to action in your start of MobileActive.org. I would like to talk to you about writing a story about this for my web site www.GodBlessHumanity.com - it is a site where we promote ordinary people doing extraordinary thing for humanity. YOU are the perfect example of that.

Please feel free to email me at gayle@GodBlessHumanity.com and I will gladly put active links to your web site there with the story.

Peace & Blessings,
Gayle Etcheverry

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