Competition: Innovative Uses of Handhelds in South Africa - July 2004

Bridges.org has launched a competition to support innovative ground level initiatives in South Africa that want to use handheld devices (handhelds) to improve people's lives. The deadline for entries is 8 October 2004.

A total of 120 Hewlett Packard
H4150 iPAQs will be given to up to ten winning organisations that demonstrate a clear strategy to harness the power of handhelds for social or economic development. The devices were donated by Hewlett Packard (HP) after being used by delegates at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos earlier this year.

Bridges.org is looking for projects that use handhelds to fulfil local needs in local ways. Winners will be used as case study examples to illustrate how these devices can open the door for Africans to gain the benefits offered by ICT.

To enter the competition, organisations are invited to outline a project idea that would make use of up to 35 iPAQs. Small businesses, public sector organisations (schools, hospitals, clinics, etc.), NGOs, and community organisations are encouraged to enter. Full guidelines and more background information.

The UNITeS initiative features a section of its web site providing profiles of numerous organizations who have coordinated the use of handheld computer technologies in community service/volunteering/advocacy.