Texting Mandela can raise money for HIV and Aids charities

17/06/08

Text messaging is the technology being employed by Nelson Mandela's charities to boost funds and celebrate the former South African president's birthday.

The global text messaging campaign for Mr Mandela's HIV and Aids charities will allow participants to send birthday texts to the anti-apartheid campaigner.

A premium SMS service involving more than 20 countries will provide well-wishers with a thank-you text and a unique PIN which can be used to access a website.

Visitors to the happybirthdaymandela.com website can see their message displayed and will be charged a set fee plus their country's standard network rate for their text.

Funds raised will be split between a number of Mr Mandela's charities including the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust.

Charity website, Third Sector, reported that many charities are reluctant to use text donations as a fundraising tool because mobile phone operators can charge fees of up to 40 per cent.

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