Presentation to BBG/VOA on how Question Box functions and can support their programming.

1. Presenta(on to BBG ‐ 10 November 2011 – Rose Shuman

2. Background & Context
• Founded in 2006/2007 (NGO and Social Enterprise)
• Driving factors and context:
– Why can’t informa/on be accessible to all?
– MDGs (1 billion illiterate people, mostly in developing world countries)
– How to reach them through ICTs (radio, telephony and TV)
– Even if there is not literacy or ability read a language that is present on the Internet.
– How to achieve easy access to informa/on in areas with illiteracy, language and
technical barriers
– How do you make so that ‘grandma’ can use it?
• Started in India (Great Pune region) and spread to Uganda
20% of the world speaks 1,000,000,000 adults are Over 70% of the
a lesser known language. illiterate. Two thirds of these are world’s popula@on has
Those who can read women. They are unlikely to no Internet access.
aren’t likely to find ever get online, yet need
accessible online content. informa@on.

3. Ques@on Box Advantage
The Ques@on Box Solu@on:
1. Runs on mobile phone networks
2. Brings exper(se directly to
underserved popula(ons
3. Uses voice, the quickest and
most comfortable mode of
communica(on
4. Two‐way communica(on –
Urgent messages can be “pushed”
to the community immediately

4. Connec(ng Schools
Ques(on Box

5. BBG/VOA Ques@on Box Service
Solu@on: Establishing a simple hotline Benefits: By engaging students in
and school access points brings conversa(ons, and reviewing the
informa(on always within reach. The phone call records, which show all
hotline can provide students with ques(ons asked, we can learn a lot
several direct new services, including: about students’ true interests and
opinions.
Career, Psychosocial & Health
Counseling If sensi(ve topics are offered,
Reference & Homework Tutoring Ques(on Box can be a source of
Emergency & Disaster unbiased informa(on, in subject
Communica@on ma]ers where hearsay is the normal.
Topics of Popular Culture and
When students call, we can ask them
Interest
ques/ons in return – in essence,
News
polling.

6. Partnership

7. Alterna@ve Use Scenarios

8. Sample Questions: India
“Today’s market price for “Name of father
steel and cement?” and mother of
Indira Gandhi?”
“Price of
coriander in “Procedure to par@cipate in
Mumbai?” the marathon?”
“Cricket match “Train @ming to
score for India?” Solapur from Pune?”

9. NYI, UGANDA KAMPALA

10. Sample Questions: Uganda
• What causes yellowing of leaves of beans?
• What are the causes of asthma?
• Who is the minister of educa/on for Uganda?
• What is the difference between goat dairy milk and cow dairy milk?
• How many Chris/an schools are there in Uganda?
• When the ground nuts are uprooted there are no seeds but only
empty husks cause and control?
• What are the signs of gonorrhea?
• Who is the captain of Arsenal?
• Which is the best month for plan/ng watermelon?
• How will it affect Egypt when the River Nile is diverted to irrigate
Karamoja?
• A student wants to invest but he has only 100.000/=, how can you
help him invest in some thing good without geWng a loan?

11. Contact
Rose Shuman
Open Mind – Ques(on Box
1158 26th Street, #267
Santa Monica, CA 90401
+1‐301‐580‐6601
rose@ques(onbox.org
www.ques(onbox.org