Thanks to Facebook's Internet.org effort, women in Zambia will be able to access women's rights resources like MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action), WRAPP (Women's Rights App), and Facts for Life by UNICEF.
By working with Zambian carrier Airtel, Facebook was able to identify the need for this resource and input them into the Internet.org app. Only problem is, as the app continues to reach more countries around the world, regimes that historically oppressed women will have issues with the app.
"'Women's access to technology - and their ability to use it to shape and drive change in their communities - is critical to gender equality" says Global Fund for Women's President and CEO Musimbi Kanyoro. "This technology will give voice to millions of people, including women, in Zambia, Africa and the whole world, and empower them to share ideas, drive innovation, and build more inclusive and democratic societies."
The Internet.org app is a standalone android app that offers free access to a limited set of Internet services like Facebook, Wikipedia and Google Search. It also includes access to weather, jobs, government and human rights.
Former US Ambassador for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer believes that the Internet.org app will educate women in Zambia about how to improve their lives and their children's lives.
So far the Zambian government supports the app, but that may not be the case for other countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where gender discrimination is better accepted.
"Right now, only 15% of people in Zambia have access to the Internet," Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page. "Soon, everyone will be able to use the Internet for free to find jobs, get help with reproductive health and other aspects of health, and use tools like Facebook to stay connected with the people they love."
"This is a big step forward in achieving the mission of Facebook and Internet.org."
Facebook Connectivity lab has worked on bettering the Internet access issue, coming up with ideas like drones, satellites and lasers to provide Wi-Fi. In March, Facebook acquired U.K.-based Ascenta, a team that worked on the longest-flying solar-powered unmanned aircraft.
"We believe that every person should have access to free basic Internet services - tools for health, education, jobs and basic communication," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in an earlier post.
