Think Global, Act Mobile: New App Puts Global Change in Your Hands

UN Foundation Launches Mobile Application to Make it Easy to Support the UN through the Power of Mobile Technology

UN Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder and UN Youth Champion Monique Coleman Unveil Application during Ceremony at United Nations Headquarters

Announcement to run on ToshibaVision Screen in Times Square

As world leaders prepare to meet in New York this month for high-level meetings at the UN General Assembly, the United Nations Foundation launched a first-of-its-kind mobile and tablet application that makes it easy for people everywhere to connect with the United Nations. The application allows people everywhere, free of charge, to get the latest news on the life-saving work of the United Nations and to share information through social media and mobile technology. The free app for smartphones and tablets will aggregate news feeds from multiple UN agencies and programs and deliver news in one integrated, real-time stream that is easy-to-use and tailored to a person’s interests and individual mobile device. Users can personalize their UN news by selecting the topic areas and regions of most interest. The stream will be available in all six of the official languages of the UN.

During a launch event at UN headquarters today, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Kiyo Akasaka and UN Foundation CEO Kathy Calvin unveiled the mobile app, inviting people to help the UN solve global problems by getting connected and staying informed.

“Just as open, social and real-time technologies are changing the UN’s development and disaster relief work, the same technologies are redefining relationships between people and institutions,” said Akasaka. “Tools such as the UN Foundation’s new app are critical to empower citizens to stay informed about the UN’s work, to participate in the global conversation, and to support the push to realize the Millennium Development Goals.”

Singer-songwriter and UN Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder, “High School Musical” star and UN Youth Champion Monique Coleman and Toshiba America Senior Manager of Communications Eddie Temistokle joined to help launch the new app and stressed the importance of innovation to combat poverty worldwide.

“As UN Youth Champion, I traveled the world for six months visiting over 20 countries. I saw firsthand the role that technology can play particularly in education,” said Coleman. “I encourage everyone to download this app. It can bridge the gap between young people and the United Nations and equip today’s ‘philanthroteen’ with the tools he or she needs to have global social impact.”

The application, which is already available on the Android, iPhone/iPad, and Windows Phone platforms, allows users to support the work of the UN to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges by supporting UN Foundation campaigns and programs, including Nothing but Nets, Girl Up, the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, the Better World Campaign, and the United Nations Association of the USA. The app is compatible with the accessibility features of most smartphones, and future versions and updates will always welcome ways to make mobile technology and information as accessible as possible.

“When we imagine the peaceful, healthy world we want our children to inherit, the UN is at the heart of that vision. And now the power to be part of that future is literally in the palm of our hands,” said Calvin. “Mobile technology has the ability to connect millions of people to world issues such as children’s health, peace and security, women’s empowerment, climate and the environment, and U.S.-UN relations. We invite people to make global action a part of their mobile devices by downloading the new UN Foundation application. A better world and a better future are in all our hands.”

The app makes it easy to get involved and includes some innovative (and fun) ways to learn about the work of the United Nations. An upcoming interactive photo-scramble game, “Pieces of Peace,” will give users the ability to have fun while they learn by unscrambling photos taken around the world that are related to the work of the UN. The game includes ways for users to learn as they play, helping build awareness and knowledge about international issues. Integrated social media options also allow users to organically share this content with friends, brag about their photo-unscrambling prowess, and encourage them to get involved.

Building and launching this official UN Foundation application has been a global effort. The app was developed through a partnership with FDV Solutions – an Argentina-based software development company that builds innovative mobile solutions. The project was made possible with the support of the UN Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council, which brings together some of the world’s top young leaders committed to finding innovative solutions to global problems.

“The launch of the UN Foundation app marks an important milestone as the nonprofit community moves to create new ways for supporters to help drive social change,” said Shervin Pishevar, Managing Director at Menlo Ventures. “As a member of the UN Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council, I am excited to support a project that will help ensure that people around the world have instant access to information about the lifesaving work of the United Nations, as well as the ability to take action anytime, anyplace.”

To learn more and download the free app, visit http://www.unfoundation.org/mobileapp

Tweet this: Think Global, Act Mobile. Download the free @unfoundation app that connects YOU to the work of the #UN. http://bit.ly/UNFapp

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About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities.  The UN Foundation builds and implements public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.  Through campaigns and partnerships, the organization connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems.  The campaigns reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes.  These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.