LAGOS JULY 17TH (URHOBOTODAY) – U-Report, United Children Education Fund’s (UNICEF’s) groundbreaking, text-message based innovation that amplifies the voices and views of young people in developing countries, has reached 1 million active users.
A statement signed Doune Porter, Chief of Communication Officer of UNICEF, made available to URHOBOTODAY an online medium said, “U-Report started out as a local innovation to help young Ugandans engage on issues that affect their lives and futures. Today, young U-reporters from 15 countries, mostly in Africa, are using it every day to voice their opinions, connect to their leaders, and help change the conditions in their communities,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.”
The statement disclosed that in Nigeria UNICEF has no fewer than half a million U-Reporters engaging w Nigerians on issues such as early marriage, water and sanitation, and safety in schools, adding that during the Ebola outbreak last year, U-Report was used to spread information that helped to dispel rumors and increase the community’s awareness during the response.
“U-Report is reaching young people through the National Youth Service Corps, as well as community based organizations and the media. By the end of this year, UNICEF’s U-Report platform aims to have at least one million responders in Nigeria. With the new Government and its call for accountability and community engagement, U-Report is an opportunity to contribute towards nation building in Nigeria. As the number of U-Reporters increases in Nigeria, UNICEF and other U-Report partners will be engaging with political leaders and decision makers, up to the highest level,” the statement disclosed.
“To become a U-Reporter, users equipped with even basic mobile phones text the word “join” to a toll-free short-code. Within moments, they can share their opinions on everything from the job skills they want to the best way to tackle epidemics. This information is instantly mapped and analyzed, yielding vital information and real-time insights about how young people see their world and what they think is most important. In turn, these aggregated views are used by development partners in their advocacy with governments — and even shared directly with elected leaders.
“For example, every Member of Parliament in Uganda has signed up for U-Report to monitor and respond to what young people in their districts are saying about key issues. Some leaders have used it to strengthen immunization and other health campaigns.
“U-Report is an entirely new model for engaging young people, empowering communities, and holding governments more accountable,” said Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, where the platform is helping UNICEF workers share critical information about Ebola, polio, and newborn care with families living in remote areas that health workers cannot easily reach,” the statement explained, adding that to become a U-Reporter in Nigeria, text JOIN to 24453.
For more information about UNICEF’s U-Report in Nigeria: http://www.nigeria.ureport.in/ or reach Doune Porter, Chief of Communication, UNICEF Nigeria, Phone: +234 803 525 0273 Email: dporter@unicef.org