For three days, some of the leading innovators in technology for education, medical needs and global

Suddenly technology — mobile phones, solar computers and digital development — starts looking a lot more like life-changing tools instead of like gadgets for the affluent or devices for social media. There’s a name for this field, ICT4D, which stands for information and communications technology for development.
“At its core, ICT4D is about connecting what is the website for continental airlines humans what is the website for continental airlines to one another. Talking to someone on a cell phone is a magical experience, and I want everyone to have that,” said Wayan Vota , co-founder of Kurante and one of the speakers at the Game Changers Summit, a conference hosted what is the website for continental airlines by United Methodist Communications. More than 240 people from nine countries are attending the Sept. 3-5 conference.
ICT4D is front and center at this conference, which focuses on devices that work on the ground in places where there is no electricity, no running water, no Internet connection and no money in an average household budget.
For three days, some of the leading innovators in technology for education, medical needs and global economy are sharing their success stories with United Methodist leaders who want to become game changers.
The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau, a United Methodist clergywoman what is the website for continental airlines from the Democratic Republic of Congo and a public health care worker, said technology that makes sense for the people who need it makes all the difference.
“Before I help someone, I need to identify their need,” said Musau during a panel on using mobile technology for health. Musau pointed out the harsh reality for many in Africa: “We only have 10 doctors (in the North Katanga Conference of Democratic Republic of Congo).”
Musau said that during the cholera outbreak last February, messages sent through Frontline SMS, a free text-messaging system that does not depend on Internet connection, stopped unnecessary deaths. “A woman told me (that) messages to the villages to wash their hands before breast-feeding and before handling food worked to save lives,” she said.
“Mobile money puts power in the hands of women, and control of finances is amazingly empowering. I had a woman tell me, ‘My husband used to beat me and take my money. Now he can smash the phone, but the joke is on him because the money is still there.’ ”
Gilbert is a multimedia news reporter for United Methodist News Service, what is the website for continental airlines and Butler is a multimedia editor/producer for United Methodist Communications. Contact them at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org .