Feb07
10
MAC 911 - A Call For Help
If you’ve read this blog for long enough you’ll know that I have had my say in the past about crime in South Africa and how we can combat it constructively.
Well I met a guy the other day at a client - his name is Wynand Engelbrecht - and he is taking a stand using technology as a platform. Wynand is an ex-Fire Chief, a salt-of-the-earth human being and a proud South African. He is doing his very best with limited knowledge of technology to make a difference - something which should be a challenge to all of us.
His campaign is called MAC 911 (Mobiles Against Crime). As I understand it the purpose of the campaign is to create awareness around violent crime - directly aimed at government and decision makers. Wynand is asking, as part of the early stages of the campaign, that you consider SMS’ing your max 160 character message to 34962, automatically adding your ‘name’ to a petition. The SMS’s cost R 2.
I would like to ask that the geek, jeek and non-geek community that reads this blog consider helping Wynand in other ways as well. First of all, he needs some assistance sprucing up his website. Nothing complicated, but he needs a simple, easy to find Web presence around which to build his campaign. He is also blogging using two Bloglines blogs, but the functionality is limited and he is not reaching the audience he’d like to.
We need someone to set up a WP blog with a half-decent design and some assistance in getting Wynand up and running on the site. We are willing to assist where we can, and Rich…! and the Links are also going to be offering some creative marketing input.
Perhaps it’s time we got as passionate about social investment as we are about social media.
Hi folks, I am the person Mike refers to. I have no special claim to faim, I’m an ordinary citizen who hopes to make a real difference. Crime does not need any special definitions and it is not a respector of person - it takes toll whatever age, whatever colour, gender or religeon.
MAC is launching a really major campaign in Alexandra during March. The intent is (a) to lessen the effects of the flooding of the Jukskei River and (b) to cause a major reduction in crime in the township.
Mike has been splendid in this whole saga; he has given me hope and a belief that people care…. really and honestly care… he has undertaken to help and has done so indeed.
If you visit my website http://www.mac911.co.za u’ll see exactly what he means, I am not IT or technically inclined whatsoever; but what I lack in knowledge, I make up for in zeal.
We need so much help - we still need prizes for competitions Rich and his wiz-people have helped us with for Alexandra (see http://www.missinglink.co.za) we need a sponsorship for a 4 x 4 vehicle for patrols , and so very much more………
I wish to say thanx to all in this comment slot, for all that has already been done and all I know will flow from this request of Mike.
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
IWe decided to approach the blogging community to help with publicity, as you all seem so wonderfully well connected…. and the response so far has been incredible.
Great weekend to all
Wynand Engelbrecht
I’ll help. Can hook you up with anything technical like the WP blog mike refers to and can certainly spice up that site of yours! I’d love to do this. Great way to give back! Get in touch. Mail me on stii at stii dot za dot net
Thanx stii, got it I mailed you. It will be of immense help.
Wynand
[...] while back I asked who could help a friend of mine, Wynand, launch his anti-crime and personal safety campaign MAC 911. Stii was kind [...]