Interview with Jennifer Sly of YouthAssets: How Mobile Airtime Is Used As Currency in Swaziland, Africa

Earlier this month we had the good fortune to travel with Jennifer Sly, founder of YouthAssets, an international nonprofit organization that empowers orphans and “youth head of households” in southern Africa. Enroute to a homestead of one of YouthAssets’ “youth advisors”, Jennifer explained the important role that mobile phones play to make connecting with rural youth more efficient. Jennifer also tells us how rural youth exchanged mobile airtime using cellular network MTN’s “Me2U” service. Youth sold airtime to get money needed for bus fare to attend BarCampSwaziland, a local technology conference.

For our previous story about how Jennifer used Google’s Android phone and Maps to find an unmarked homestead in rural Swaziland, please see: “Interview with Jennifer Sly of YouthAssets: Android & Google Maps in Swaziland, Africa”.

Jennifer Sly, Founder of YouthAssets

About: YouthAssets is an international non-profit organization that empowers orphans and vulnerable youth in southern Africa through mobile technology. Website: www.YouthAssets.org

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