Texting Life
publication date: Apr 18, 2009
|
author/source: Jonathan Copsey / STAFF
By Jonathan Copsey / STAFF
Send a text message and save a child. How often can you say that?
The idea is this: Keep a Child Alive works with Africans afflicted with AIDS, a disease that is claiming a full five lives every minute. To raise awareness and funds to help the infected people, KCA has held countless fundraisers throughout the world. Their most recent is genius in its simplicity. When someone texts "Alive" to 90999, a five dollar donation will be added to their phone bill. That five dollars will go directly toward helping Africans with AIDS.
It was to stop that rate of death that KCA was formed. The KCA College Program is an action-oriented network of college students dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic on campuses. Starting with just four NYC-based Chapters in late 2006, the KCA College network has grown to 230 Chapters - mostly colleges such as Atlanta's Moorehouse College, but also high schools - across the US, Canada and even in the UK, Ghana and Syria. Obviously, the need transcends borders, but thankfully, so too does the desire to help.
To help the program, KCA is hosting a contest. Contestants will create a 60 second public service announcement directing viewers to text "Alive" to 90999.
Two winners will be chosen and their PSAs will be aired on YouTube. They will also be flown to Africa for a free ten-day service and learning trip, to work alongside volunteers in 2010.
To be eligible, contestants must be students at either high school or college and must be at least 18 as of January 1, 2010. They must also have registered at the KCA website.
How often can people show their creativity at the same time as helping the needy?
For more information about Keep a Child Alive, visit their website at www.kcacollege.com. The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 1 and they can be sent to www.statravelers.com/kca_psa_entries. And be sure to text "Alive" to 90999.
.jpg){kind=small}
