Giving Compass' Take:

• Jackie Marchildon highlights five apps that are championing gender equality that were presented at the 2019 Women Deliver Conference hosted in Vancouver. 

• Are apps an effective way to advance your pihalnthropic goals? How can funders help to improve and increase access to apps for social good? 

• Here are five ways this generation can support gender equality.

Mobile apps have the power to connect, improve, and change the lives of people around the world — which is why the 2019 Women Deliver Conference hosted an event called Appy Hour, showcasing 18 apps working to advance progress for girls and women.

Women Deliver brought together 8,000 people from over 165 countries to find solutions for existing inequalities. These apps are just a few examples of the innovative thinking surrouding gender equality in Vancouver.

  1.  Sheboard: Sheboard was created by Plan International to change the narrative around gender. After downloading the app, it uses predictive text to suggest empowering and less sexist language in context to girls and women.
  2. Lulu’s Journey: This app works as an educational game to help users learn about menstrual hygiene. One feature works like Candy Crush — but with Diva Cups and pads instead of candies.
  3. Girl Rising: “[The app] gamifies their stories and talks about what it takes for a girl to actually go to school,” Richa Hingorani from Girl Rising India told Global Citizen.
  4. Hello Doctor: Hello Doctor connects patients with doctors via video and audio calls. You can purchase packages of calls, depending on how many you think you might need (pregnant or new mothers might choose a higher package than a student, for instance).
  5. SafePal: With the SafePal app, users can report instances of sexual violence confidentially. They can also find service providers for help that are in close proximity to them. The provider is alerted and will be urged to contact the user to immediately open the dialogue.

Read the full article about gender equality by Jackie Marchildon at Global Citizen.