HopePhones, a new campaign, launched today that enables anyone to provide health services to those in the developing world by donating your old cell phones!

The  HopePhones campaign  is a project of a nonprofit organization,  FrontlineSMS:Medic  that uses mobile technology to empower rural healthcare networks in the developing world. FrontlineSMS:Medic is also an N2Y4 Featured Project!

FrontlineSMS:Medic  addresses the challenge that health workers face in coordinating with clinics and patients in the developing world. By equipping their health workers with recycled cell phones and the tools and software (FrontlineSMS) to network them, FrontlineSMS:Medic helps local hospitals coordinate their health workers to provide more effective care in outlying villages.

This is where the "HopePhones" Campaign (and you) come in!

HopePhones enables you and everyone you know to donate your old cell phones to support rural health care in countries such as Bangladesh, Malawi, Burundi, Honduas, and Uganda.

You can visit the HopePhones website, browse villages  FrontlineSMS:Medic  supports, and ship your phone (postage paid!) to a recycling center. Your phone is then assigned a value, which allows FrontlineSMS:Medic to purchase usable, recycled cell phones for healthcare workers.

"A $10 cell phone will give 50 families access to emergency medical care, health information, transport services, and clinic resources."

The HopePhones campaign is an inspiring mashup of a GlobalGiving-like project gallery with a twist of donating your old stuff, rather than money (something that may be more popular in this downturn economy.) The HopePhones team also puts an admirable weight on sharing impact the website features an impacts page that contains powerful statistics, stories, and case studies.
 
According to Erik Hersman, of Ushahidi (an N2Y3 winner) "This is a fundraising campaign, one put in place to promote a project that already has a track record of working."

Since launching this morning HopePhones has also been featured on the My Social Actions Community Blog, Change.org's Social Entrepeneurship Blog, Beth Kanter's Blog, Ushahidi's Blog, and  The Extraordinaries Blog, among others.  

Congratulations to Josh Nesbit, Isaac Holeman, and the FrontlineSMS:Medic Team for launching an awesome campaign! Now it's up to us to make it a succes!

Get Involved:

• Donate your cell phone!
• Start a Phone Drive (email --  josh@medic.frontlinesms.com)
• Add the HopePhones widget
• Follow @HopePhones on Twitter & Spread the word (Hashtag #HopePhones)
• Join the HopePhones Facebook Group

Learn More:

• Hope Phones Website
• FrontlineSMS:Medic  Website
• FrontlineSMS:Medic N2Y4 Featured Project Page (Meet the FrontlineSMS:Medic Team @ N2Y4!)