Member News

OXYGEN8 COMMUNICATIONS TO SUPPORT ‘PROJECT O’ CHARITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

20 July 2010

- Oxygen8 pledges to raise £40,000 and send up to 15 staff to Durban, South Africa, in September to build new house for HIV/AIDS orphans-

Date: Oxygen8 Communications, the micro-billing, communications and mobile enablement specialist, is supporting the ‘Project O’ charity in South Africa by pledging to raise £40,000 this year and send up to 15 staff from its international offices to Durban during September to build a new house for HIV/AIDS orphans.

A series of fundraising activities will be taking place between April and July this year, and ideas currently being discussed include skydiving, abseiling and helicopter rides, as well as marathons, auctions and sponsored car washes. Oxygen8 Communications is appealing to all businesses and to the general public to lend their support to these fundraising events through sponsorship and donations, in order to ensure that the £40,000 target is exceeded.

Oxygen8 will be using its own micro-billing and mobile technology platform to facilitate donations via mobile phones. With a penetration rate of 120% – which is especially high in the 16 to 24 age range – and a proven track record amongst the private sector, the mobile platform offers charities a low cost, fast track and flexible route to boost income and build stronger relationships with the public.

There are now over 3 million orphans of HIV/AIDS in South Africa; millions of children without parents, without a family home, and with no one special to care for their wellbeing, development and growth. In response to this growing problem, Project O has been established to provide assistance to children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, through the provision of financial assistance, support, education, and basic medical care, within the safety and security of self-sufficient children’s care homes; and to bring up the children in a loving and supportive environment within the teachings of Christianity.

Shane Leahy, Group CEO of Oxygen8 Communications, says, “The developing orphan crisis in South Africa is now critical. There are over 3 million destitute orphans who face the prospect of hardship and loneliness, with no aspiration for the future. Oxygen8 is a global business, and we have a strong presence in South Africa so we wanted to get involved in Project O in order to give something back to the region, and to help orphans to grow and prosper. The whole of our business is behind this charity project, from IT/Technical and Sales staff, to Country Managers and Board-level Directors.”

Leahy says, “We have set ourselves a target of raising £40,000 which will cover all of the materials and resources that we need to build a house in Durban and leave a lasting contribution in the area. Starting this Spring, we will be running a series of fundraising events and we are looking for support in a number of different ways. Firstly, we are looking for people to get involved in the fundraising activities, and to make donations to help us reach the £40,000 target. We’re also appealing to other businesses to throw their weight behind this project to ensure that we can increase the profile of Project O and raise as much money as possible for this very worthy cause.”

Project O Founder and Director Martin Downs comments, “The vision of Project O is to see African AIDS orphans fully supported, either within extended families, or in 100% self-sufficient homes, where children are nurtured in a safe, caring and loving environment, providing hope and opportunity to grow and thrive. It is fantastic that organisations such as Oxygen8 support our vision and are helping to change the lives of so many. To have up to 15 members of staff fly out to South Africa to lend a helping hand is an inspiration to other businesses and I hope they follow Oxygen8’s lead.”

Commenting on the benefits of mobile donations, Leahy says, “Mobile is the fastest communication channel in the UK, with 8 billion text messages sent every month, and 1.5 billion page impressions on the mobile internet. Mobile giving is easy to use and it can be either planned or spontaneous. This medium also enables personalised, interactive communication with donors, whilst allowing charities to capture additional donation revenues from under-represented groups such as the 16 to 24 year old age group. Another benefit of mobile charity donations is that there is a low administration overhead in managing campaigns since the entire process can be automated, which results in lower revenue collection costs.”

To discuss corporate sponsorship opportunities or for further information about fundraising events please contact:
Amanda Boardman
Director of HR & Administration
Oxygen8 Communications
t. 0871 434 9135
amanda.boardman@oxygen8.com