If you are tired of your cell phone, why not donate it to a worthwhile cause? Recently the Red Cross has set up the program “Phones for Haiti”. This program is intended to enhance the countries communications system that has been crippled after the devastating earthquake.
People donate their cell phones by mail. Tags and labels will be mailed after signing up with “Phones for Haiti” at http://www.phonesforhaiti.com/.
Good communication is essential for relief workers. The non-government organization Telecoms Sans Frontier have sent experts to help rebuild the county’s network. Their goal is to get phones into the hands of Haitians’ and aid workers.
Thanks to the effort of these organizations, many Haitians have been able to communicate with relatives outside the country. However, there is stillroom for improvement.
Even before the disaster the country did not have an adequate communications system. In 2008 roughly 33% of the population owned cell phones. The earthquake has crippled all land lines. Thanks to the high rate of illiteracy many people can only access communication through the radio.
Despite the difficulties at hand, companies such as AT&T and Cogeco Cable Inc offering free long distant calls to the country. Ericson has shipped self-contained network capable of handling data from 5000 devices.
Wouldn’t it be nice to know if one of those devices was formerly yours?
To Learn more:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/phones-for-haiti-cell-phone-recycling-program-launched-81549822.html
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/telecom-aid-bound-for-haiti/article1435578/
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