Tries for Smiles

Vodacom has launched an SMS platform, Connect for Change, to give its customers a fun and easy way to join their favourite sports stars in making a difference in people’s lives.

Connect for Change is an extension of Tries for Smiles, one of Vodacom’s campaigns that link its sports sponsorships to projects supported by the Vodacom Foundation.

By enabling its customers to donate relatively small amounts – R5, R10 or R20 – Vodacom has provided its customers a convenient and affordable way of contributing to good causes. The donations will be passed on to the organisations supported by Tries for Smiles.

Mthobi Tyamzashe, Chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, says: “Connect for Change is part of the move by Vodacom Foundation to act both as a mobiliser as well as donor of funds. We want to use the power of our mobile technology to enable our customers to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than themselves. Through Connect for Change, they can do so in partnership with their favourite sports stars.”

In terms of the Tries for Smiles campaign, for every try scored by a South African team in South Africa during the 2010 Vodacom-sponsored tournaments, the Vodacom Foundation donates R25 000 to three organisations which provide corrective surgery for children with facial, craniofacial and heart anomalies.

Now, by SMSing the word “Tries” to 31116, Vodacom customers can follow the prompts to make a once-off or a monthly contribution to join their favourite sports stars in making a difference to the lives of children in need of such surgery.

Vodacom customers on the Vodafone live! platform can simply follow the prompts by going to “More menus” and from there to “Vodacom Cares” to participate in this fun way of fundraising.

The beneficiary organisations supported by Tries for Smiles and Connect for Change are Smile Foundation, Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa, Johannesburg Craniofacial Programme, and Netcare Vodacom Smiles For You.