Click here to read an overview of Project M
Project Masiluleke (which means “give wise counsel” and “lend a helping hand” in Zulu) or 'Project M' for short, is a breakthrough cross-sector collaboration that employs mobile technology as a high-impact, low-cost tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS and TB, as well as introduction of an HIV self-test in South Africa. Project M has assembled best-in-class organizations and leaders from the fields of public health, mobile technology, design innovation, arts/entertainment, and philanthropy. These partners have introduced and are advancing an entirely new approach to the management of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and other regions of the world facing high rates of HIV infection. This initiative was born out of the desire to address the barriers that result in avoidance of HIV testing, delayed initiation of life-saving treatment and high rates of treatment default, all of which contribute to needlessly high mortality rates from HIV/AIDS. Harnessing the ubiquity of mobile devices in many parts of the developing world, and the need to achieve universal HIV-testing, this project has the potential to catalyze transformative social change.
Click here to watch 3 short videos showing how the project evolved!
- First see Zinny speaking at the Poptech Conference in Camden, Maine (October 2008), describing the AIDS crisis in South Afric
- Next watch a compelling video that shows the realities on HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
- Finally, musicians from the Ghetto Ruff record label, as they visit KZN and experience the effects of HIV and TB for the first time.
Click on each Project M partner below to learn about the organizations
Pop!Tech is a renowned ideas summit and social innovation network dedicated to accelerating the positive impact of world-changing people and ideas. The organization is known for its visionary Pop!Tech conferences, engaging media productions, and the innovative social change programs that it fosters worldwide.
The Integration of TB in Education and Care for HIV/AIDS (iTEACH) Program is a non-profit organization based in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa, committed to improving delivery of HIV and TB care and treatment in the public health sector. This is accomplished by working in close partnership with the Department of Health and key stakeholders in the community, and focusing on the most urgent local needs and challenges. From training of health care workers to evaluation of hospital lab systems or testing an innovative tool to address food insecurity, all initiatives are assessed for feasibility and efficacy, to enable identification of models that can be replicated and scaled-up in other similar high burden and challenged settings. Founded in 2005, iTEACH is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, with primary funding through private philanthropy.
frog design is a global innovation firm that helps the world’s leading companies create and bring to market meaningful products, services, and experiences. frog’s cross-disciplinary process reveals valuable consumer and market insights and inspires lasting, humanizing solutions. With a team of more than 400 designers, technologists, strategists, and analysts, frog delivers fully convergent experiences that span multiple technologies, platforms, and media. The company works across a broad spectrum of industries, including consumer electronics, telecommunications, healthcare, media, education, finance, retail, and fashion. Clients include Alltel, Disney, GE, HP, Logitech, Microsoft, MTV, Seagate, Yahoo! and others. Founded in 1969, frog is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with studios in Austin, TX; New York, NY; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Milan, Italy; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Stuttgart, Germany; and Shanghai, China.
Praekelt Foundation is a South African NGO founded in 2007 by Gustav Praekelt and Robin Miller. The Foundation serves as an incubator for mobile technology that can fuel social change and impact the lives of people living in poverty. The Foundation’s current three mobile messaging platforms (SocialTxt, TxtAlert and Mobilisr) are all open source tools that enable other NGOs to cost-effectively reach audiences and affect social change. SocialTxt and TxtAlert are two of the main messaging tools employed in Project Masiluleke. These tools will not only drive people to access HIV testing, counseling and support services, but will also enhance ARV adherence once a patient has been placed on treatment.
LifeLine Southern Africa
Since 1992, LifeLine has collaborated with the National Department of Health in the management of the AIDS Helpline (0800-012-322). The Line has developed and grown as a leading telephone counselling service within the SADC Region, and is a sterling example of a best practice model in terms of a successful working partnership between the government and the community sector, in tackling the enormous HIV and AIDS challenges in South Africa. The Line is currently receiving an average of 3600 calls per day.
Ghetto Ruff
Since Prophets of da City in 1988, Ghetto Ruff has always been at the forefront of black urban music in South Africa. The social and political messages have been carried through artists and their music. From the “Rapping for Democracy” tour in 1993 that brought in a new era, to now, 2008, addressing the AIDS epidemic, music and artists have led the way. While having a social conscience, Ghetto Ruff have managed to produce the cutting edge commercial music for more than two decades, including Prophets of da City, Zola, Malik, Brown Dash, Brickz, DJ Clep, Mzekezeke, Jozi, Skeem, Ishmael, O Da Meesta, Unathi, RJ Benjamin, Gumshev, DJ Killer, Skomplaz, Pitch Black Afro, Ashaan, Ghetto Luv, Brasse Vannie Kaap, Maggs, Da Les, Ready D and more.
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: "MTN". As at 30 June 2008, MTN recorded 74,1 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is a global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and has exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East.
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 325 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy.
