WorldTalk - information over any phone

Summary

Provide people in rural communities in developing countries with access to information and communication services in their own language, over any telephone.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Access to information is a key factor affecting living standards in rural areas in developing countries. Information on issues such as housing, health, market pricing, legal rights, employment etc can help people help themselves. Reliable, up-to-date information is difficult and costly to find in these areas, where literacy levels are low, computer access is limited, and local government services overloaded. Our pilot area is KwaZulu Natal, one of the poorest provinces in South Africa.

How will this project solve this problem?

We will expand our test system to a pilot platform, collect end-users feed back and track their routes through the system. We continue to actively pursue government contacts, and to develop relationship with key partners to collect local information.

Potential Long Term Impact

The goal of the pilot project is to gauge the uptake of our telephone service by the end-users and to increase the number of information categories. WorldTalk's overall goal is to set up self-sustainable enterprises in developing countries.

Project Message

I am convinced WorldTalk will be an example of successful social entrepreneurship, as we have a good idea and good people. Otherwise I would not have given up my job as management consultant.
- Nathalie Muller, Director

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources