In Namibia, the ‘Listen Loud’ campaign supported by UNICEF captured the ‘votes’ of youth through mobile phones – a low-cost, easily accessible method of communication.Votes were collected through free calls made to an interactive voice response system (IVR), tailored with three different language options. The technical expertise for this project was made possible by the IT expertise from Text to Change.

For five weeks before the national elections in 2009, and coinciding with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention, 20,000 young people defined their priorities in health, education and child protection, attracting wide media coverage. Children in Namibia have typically found limited opportunities to express themselves. ‘Listen Loud’ confirmed that they have much to say – and that adults will listen. The results of the campaign are being compiled into recommendations on child-friendly policies to be taken up by newly elected parliamentarians. For the full story please follow the link to the UNICEF Annual Report 2009.
http://www.unicef.org/pfo/files/UNICEF_Annual_Report_2009_052110.pdf