SMS Donations
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| Datin Adina, Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports receiving contributions from donors through DST (Source: The Brunei Times) |
Sms contributions is not new to Brunei. We first started using it for the Acheh Tsunami victims around 2004 and later on for the Orphans Fund. At that time the Orphans Fund received some $300,000 about 5 times more than what we received nowadays. Sms donations have been done so often that subscribers have been too inundated that the amount that can be collected has became much less. Lately it was the turn of the flood victims of Thailand and Cambodia.
How do we increase the amount collected? These are all good causes. Perhaps readers out there can point out the other innovative ways of doing this.
Comments
To be honest, I have never donated through the SMS service; I don't quite know how to and I'd like to think that I'm not only one of the few who don't, as I think that there are many others who tend not to switch the radio on or come across adverts about it. So, maybe the authorities would want to make the steps more widely and easily known? Maybe DST and B-Mobile can occassionally send messages about it (not sure if they have been doing this though :p)?
Just my suggestions :)
What about an official 'Brunei Derma' (smartphone) application? from Matryoshka' comments, I guess there is a section of the community that does not get tcovered via more conventional media.
Such an app, that allows for auto notifications and accepts debit/credit card donations would help. It's reachable to the masses and convenient (ESP with the new rise in debit cards)
If you consider this, may I also suggest asking for development costs to be borne by some of our successful or budding IT entrepreneurs as the set up and dev costs would not be that costly. this would be another way to empower or get community involvement in your process.
P.s a similar smartphone app for the heal ministry would also be beneficial for blood donations etc.
I know it is difficult to show the money directly impacting the victims of disasters, but there must some way for us to see the positive outcome of our donations. This encourages us to give again and again, knowing that our donations truly make a difference.
I think having people sincerely give up their money to these causes, is the best way.