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Progress Report - 6/12/08

December 6, 2008 by Simon Berry · Leave a Comment 

Children at Rene MDC, Dar Es Salaam >>more photos

Here is an update on the progress of the Coca Cola campaign. The headline is:
ColaLife in Dar Es Sallaam. Read the diary.

May 1988 - May 2008 - the first 7,305 days - no progress!

• May 1988 Had the idea while working on the British Aid Programme in NE Zambia that Coca-Cola’s distribution muscle could be used to distribute oral rehydration salts in developing countries
• I tried to promote the idea but made no progress at all!

May 2008 onwards- the last 180 days - real progress!

• 6/5/08 The presence of Coca-Cola’s Chief Executive at the Business Call To Action event re-kindled the idea. I contributed to the online blog saying: What about Coca Cola using their
  distribution channels (which are amazing in developing countries) to distribute rehydration salts? Maybe by dedicating one compartment in every 10 crates as ‘the life saving’ compartment?’ (original live blog available here)
  
• 6/5/08 I decided to blog the idea and then follow-up by trying to get Coca-Cola’s attention. The blog post is here.
• After the blog post I tried to get the idea debated on the BBC Radio 4 iPM programme. I was successful on the 3rd attempt and after getting friends to support the idea on the iPM blog (see below).
• 6-14/5/08 I was in communication with Coca-Cola but could not get past the first line in Coca-Cola’s CSR department
• 16/5/08 Heard Annie Lennox on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. She said We can distribute Coca Cola all around the World but we can’t seem to get medication to save a child from something as simple as diarrhoea and I think that that is wrong. At this point I decided my blog post wasn’t going to be enough! I decided to set up a Facebook group to get people behind the idea.
• 18/5/08 Facebook Group formed.
• 19/5/08 #colalife tag set-up in hastags
• 21/5/08 Interviewed by Eddie Mair for the iPM Programme.
• 21-24/5/08 The iPM Team worked flat-out to create an amazing feature for the programme on 24/5/08 and this paid off handsomely
• 23/5/08 colalife tag establsished in del.icio.us
• 23/5/08 The iPM Team received a Written statement received from Coca Cola - ‘willing to talk’
• 24/5/08 The campaign was featured on iPM (BBC Radio 4)
• 24/5/08 As part of the iPM feature, Eve Graham (ex lead singer - The New Seekers) sang supporting lyrics to ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’.
• 27/5/08 Coca-Cola Reydration Project proposed on RSA Networks (RSA Members only)
• 1/6/08 The colalife ampaign was nominated for the New Media Awards
• 5/6/08 Telephone conference with Coca Cola’s Global Head of Stakeholder Relations and UK conterpart
• 13/6/08 Facebook Group grew from 0 to 2,115 in 26 days. Membership includes a ‘frontline’ Rehydration Project in India
• 16/6/08 Face to face meeting with Coca Cola’s Salvatore Gabola in Brussels.
• 3/7/08 Ran workshop at the 2gether08 Festival
• 3/7/08 Follow-up interview with the iPM Programme (video)
• 6/7/08 Coca-Cola’s Adrian Ristow sent his first diary note from Ethiopia
• 6/7/08 ColaLife Google Group established
• 6-20/7/08 Facebook bug did not allow Kate Andrews to be added as group administrator - Facebook Support contacted
• 13/7/08 Simon Berry interviewed on the BBC World Service
• 21/7/08 Kate Andrews became Admin of the Facebook Group (group size: 3,400)
• 29/7/08 Kate’s article published on Inhabitat.com
• Inhabitat article starts an avalanche of other artcles including on treehugger, trendhunter and many more.
• 3/8/08 ColaLife Flickr Group established
• 3/8/08 colalife.org domain name purchased
• 3/8/08 Aims & objectives finalised through Google Group
• 4/8/08 Colalife website and dedicated blog built by Facebook Group member Dave Briggs.
• 6/8/08 Facebook Group membership hits 4,000
• 14/8/08 First face-to-face meet-up of the ColaLife Group
• 20/8/08 Meeting with James Alexander, CEO, We Are What We Do
• 21/8/08 Interviewed for Common Ground Magazine (US) - feature to be published on 1/10/08
• 21/8/08 Responded to questions from El Mercurio, Chile
• 27/8/08 Facebook Group membership hits 5,000, Google group has 55 members, Flickr Group has 256 members
• 31/8/08 Article published in the Sunday edition of El Mercurio, Chile. This is the first the ColaLife story has been printed on paper. >>more
• 1/9/08 ColaLife banner ads made available. >>more
• 8/9/08 Facebook group hits 5,500 - the number of children under the age of 5 that die each day in Africa. >>more
• 12/9/08 ColaLife ‘Buzz Monitor’ created using Pageflakes. >>more
• 15/9/08 talkSPORT interview. >>more
• 20/9/08 Excellent ‘Before and After’ ORS pictures found. >>more
• 4/10/08 ColaLife featured as a case study at ‘Social Activism Online’ conference. >>more
• 18/10/08 ColaLife press page created >>more
• 19/10/08 ColaLife Video for Google’s Project 10^100 published on YouTube. View the video on YouTube.
• 19/10/08 Application submitted to Google’s Project 10^100. >>more
• 25/10/08 Kate Andrews writes ColaLife Wikipedia Entry.
• 25/10/08 Coca-Cola invites ColaLife to Dar Es Salaam! >>more
• 6/11/08 ColaLife Video for Google’s Project 10^100 made available for the iPod >>more
• 10/11/08 Skype call with ColaLife mentor Tielmann Nieuwoudt
• 15/11/08 Jess ponsford submits innovation ‘ColaLife Pod’ design ideas >>more
• 18/11/08 Facebook Group membership hit 7,000
• 20/11/08 BBC to cover the Tanzania Trip >>more
• 20/10/08 ColaLife case study presented at NCVO’s Collaboration conference
• 24/11/08 ColaLife plenary presentation at NCVO’s Info 2.0 conference >>more
• 24/11/08 Views of ColaLife Video for Google’s Project 10^100 hit 3,000
• 25/11/08 Kate Andrews presented ColaLife as a case study at KHiO, Oslo
  National Academy of the Arts >>more
  
• 25-29/11/08 Simon Berry in Tanzania at the invitation of Coca-Cola >>more
• 25/11/08 Field trip to Manual Distribution Centres (MDCs) in Dar Es Salaam >>more
• 26/11/08 Stakeholder meeting convened by Coca-Cola in Dar Es Salaam
• 26/11/08 Made prototype ‘ColaLife Pods’ >>more
• 27/11/08 Field trip with Benito Xaverly - ‘ColaLife Pods’ discussed on video >>more
• 28/11/08 Met with Dr Jane Miller, PSI, Dar Es Salaam. PSI are potential partners in the trialing of the ColaLife idea >>more
• 4/12/08 interviewed by Nigel Courtney for NESTA Innovation Handbook
• 5/12/08 Live interview on newstalk Radio, Ireland’s national talk radio station >>more

Next moves

• Face to face gathering to take place at Global Tolerance on 16/12/08 >>more
• Develop the relationship with PSI in Tanzania
• Continue to push for field trials in the New Year.
• Seeking engagement from a multi-national NGO (if PSI do not want to engage).
• Encouraging ideas and contributions from members of the various ColaLife groups (eg design of inserts for crates; educational and awareness raising materials; local logistics; grass-roots engagement etc etc).
• On-going PR campaign to ensure support groups continue to grow.

5,500 children die every day in Africa before the age of 5. This initiative could save thousands and thousands of children’s lives through positive engagement between the private and NGO sector.

Progress Report - 27/8/08

August 27, 2008 by Simon Berry · 1 Comment 

This photo was taken by Teseum - the original is here

I thought an update on the progress of the Coca Cola campaign so far would be helpful.

The first 7,305 days - no progress!
May 1988 - May 2008

• May 1988 Had the idea while working on the British Aid Programme in NE Zambia that Coca-Cola’s distribution muscle could be used to distribute oral rehydration salts in developing countries
• I tried to promote the idea but made no progress at all!

The last 120 days - real progress!
May 2008 onwards

• 6/5/08 The presence of Coca-Cola’s Chief Executive at the Business Call To Action event re-kindled the idea. I contributed to the online blog saying: What about Coca Cola using their
  distribution channels (which are amazing in developing countries) to distribute rehydration salts? Maybe by dedicating one compartment in every 10 crates as ‘the life saving’ compartment?’ (original live blog available here)
  
• 6/5/08 I decided to blog the idea and then follow-up by trying to get Coca-Cola’s attention. The blog post is here.
• After the blog post I tried to get the idea debated on the BBC Radio 4 iPM programme. I was successful on the 3rd attempt and after getting friends to support the idea on the iPM blog (see below).
• 6-14/5/08 I was in communication with Coca-Cola but could not get past the first line in Coca-Cola’s CSR department
• 16/5/08 Heard Annie Lennox on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. She said We can distribute Coca Cola all around the World but we can’t seem to get medication to save a child from something as simple as diarrhoea and I think that that is wrong. At this point I decided my blog post wasn’t going to be enough! I decided to set up a Facebook group to get people behind the idea.
• 18/5/08 Facebook Group formed.
• 19/5/08 #colalife tag set-up in hastags
• 21/5/08 Interviewed by Eddie Mair for the iPM Programme.
• 21-24/5/08 The iPM Team worked flat-out to create an amazing feature for the programme on 24/5/08 and this paid off handsomely
• 23/5/08 colalife tag establsished in del.icio.us
• 23/5/08 The iPM Team received a Written statement received from Coca Cola - ‘willing to talk’
• 24/5/08 The campaign was featured on iPM (BBC Radio 4)
• 24/5/08 As part of the iPM feature, Eve Graham (ex lead singer - The New Seekers) sang supporting lyrics to ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’.
• 27/5/08 Coca-Cola Reydration Project proposed on RSA Networks (RSA Members only)
• 1/6/08 The colalife ampaign was nominated for the New Media Awards
• 5/6/08 Telephone conference with Coca Cola’s Global Head of Stakeholder Relations and UK conterpart
• 13/6/08 Facebook Group grew from 0 to 2,115 in 26 days. Membership includes a ‘frontline’ Rehydration Project in India
• 16/6/08 Face to face meeting with Coca Cola’s Salvatore Gabola in Brussels.
• 3/7/08 Ran workshop at the 2gether08 Festival
• 3/7/08 Follow-up interview with the iPM Programme (video)
• 6/7/08 Coca-Cola’s Adrian Ristow sent his first diary note from Ethiopia
• 6/7/08 ColaLife Google Group established
• 6-20/7/08 Facebook bug did not allow Kate Andrews to be added as group administrator - Facebook Support contacted
• 13/7/08 Simon Berry interviewed on the BBC World Service
• 21/7/08 Kate Andrews became Admin of the Facebook Group (group size: 3,400)
• 29/7/08 Kate’s article published on inhabitat.com
• Inhabitat article starts an avalanche of other artcles including on treehugger, trendhunter and many more.
• 3/8/08 ColaLife Flickr Group established
• 3/8/08 colalife.org domain name purchased
• 3/8/08 Aims & objectives finalised through Google Group
• 4/8/08 Colalife website and dedicated blog built by Facebook Group member Dave Briggs.
• 6/8/08 Facebook Group membership hits 4,000
• 14/8/08 First face-to-face meet-up of the ColaLife Group
• 20/8/08 Meeting with James Alexander, CEO, We Are What We Do
• 21/8/08 Interviewed for Common Ground Magazine (US) - feature to be published on 1/10/08
• 21/8/08 Responded to questions from El Mercurio, Chile
• 27/8/08 Facebook Group membership hits 5,000, Google group has 55 members, Flickr Group has 256 members

Next moves

• Planning for the next Business Call To Action meeting at the UN in New York on 25 September
• Tracking the Coca-Cola research into their distribution network in east Africa
• Encouraging the prospect of trials of the concept in east Africa before the end of 2008
• Seeking engagement from a multi-national NGO
• Encouraing ideas and contributions from members of the various groups (eg design of inserts for crates; educational and awareness raising materials; local logistics; grass-roots engagement etc etc)
• On-going PR campaign to ensure support groups continue to grow
• Event?

5,500 children die every day in Africa before the age of 5. This initiative could save thousands and thousands of children’s lives through positive engagement between the private and NGO sector.

6th Facebook Newsletter - 17/7/08

July 17, 2008 by Simon Berry · 1 Comment 

17/7/08 - 6th Newsletter

Simon Berry sent a message to the members of Let’s talk to Coca Cola about saving the World’s children.

——————–
Subject: 6th Newsletter – Coca-Cola Rehydration Campaign

Dear All

Well it’s been another exciting couple of weeks: a slot on the BBC
World Service; interest from the makers of the Life Straw; an update
from Coca-Cola’s man in Tanzania, and over 3,350 supporters and
growing! Thank you all for your continued support to the campaign.

Here is a summary of progress since the 5th Newsletter update on 6 July.

Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested in joining the Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18947780476

1. BBC World Service Interview
I went to Bush House last Sunday at 5:45am to be part of The World Today programme. You can listen to the interview here:
http://beamends.typepad.com/simons_blog/2008/07/bbc-world-servi.html

2. Ethiopia and Tanzania Research
The story of the frontline research into Coca-Cola’s distribution
network is slowly developing. Have you got any questions? Please
comment on the blog posts here:
http://beamends.typepad.com/simons_blog/cocacola_research/index.html

3. Are Life Straws part of the answer?
Through the Facebook Group contact has been made with
Vestergaard-Frandsen who manufacture the amazing ‘LifeStraw’ - a
personal water filter that you carry around your neck!
http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/

4. WaterAid Report
WaterAid released a report on 8 July to coincide with the G8 Summit
which highlighted the issues we are concerned about here. A key point
is that the most cost-effective activity that we can engage in is
awareness raising in the areas of hygiene and sanitation. This
highlights the importance of the educational aspects of what we are
trying to achieve. You can read more about it here:
http://beamends.typepad.com/simons_blog/2008/07/one-reason-why.html

5. Aims, objectives and activities of this group
A smaller sub-group has been set up using Google Groups to enable
discussions, file sharing etc. It is open to everyone to look at or
join. We’ve been discussing our aims and objectives with a view to
different people taking on different activities. You can join or view
here:
http://groups.google.com/group/colalife

Finally, please do forward this email to your friends and ask them,
please, to join the Facebook group (and invite their friends):
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18947780476

The continued growth of the group means people are taking notice and offering help: we continue to make amazing progress.

Onwards and upwards

Simon

5th Facebook Newsletter - 6/7/08

July 6, 2008 by Simon Berry · Leave a Comment 

6/7/08 - 5th Newsletter

Simon Berry sent a message to the members of Let’s talk to Coca Cola about saving the World’s children.

——————–
Subject: 5th Newsletter – Coca-Cola Rehydration Campaign

Dear All

Thank you all for your continued support to the campaign. Here is a summary of progress since the 4th Newsletter update.

1. NGO Support
Contact has been made with WaterAid and Oxfam, however neither are yet
to agree to engage with the campaign. It is going to be a challenge to
get an international NGO on board. However, through the Facebook Group
we have contact with some very senior people in both the aforementioned
organisations and these links are being followed. In the meantime NGO
research continues.

2. BBC iPM Interview
The BBC’s iPM Team contacted me for a follow-up interview. A video of the interview can be seen here: http://beamends.typepad.com/simons_blog/2008/07/a-video-of-the.html

3. Ethiopia and Tanzania Research
The research in Ethiopia and Tanzania has started and we have contact
with the frontline. A regular blog on this has been started here.
Please comment with any questions/clarifications you have:
http://beamends.typepad.com/simons_blog/cocacola_research/index.html

4. 2gether08 Festival
I gave a presentation at the 2gether08 event and this can be viewed here:
http://beamends.typepad.com/simons _blog/2008/07/workshop-presen.html

5. ColaLife Google Group
We have set up a Google Group to enable email-based discussions between members who want this. You can join the group here:
http://groups.google.com/group/colalife?hl=en

6. Facebook – Kate Andrews
Kate Andrews has volunteered to help with the management of the Facebook Group. Thanks Kate.

Finally, please do forward this email to your friends and ask them, please, to join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18947780476 The continued growth of the group means we continue to make amazing progress.

Onwards and upwards

Simon
——————–

4th Facebook Newsletter - 27/6/08

June 27, 2008 by Simon Berry · Leave a Comment 

27/6/08 - 4th Newsletter

Simon Berry sent a message to the members of Let’s talk to Coca Cola about saving the World’s children.

——————–
Subject: Coca-Cola Group Update – 27/6/08

Dear Group Member

We are now nearly 2,500! Please consider forwarding this email to all your friends and ask them to join here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18947780476.
Numbers are everything! Before this group formed we made no progress at
all. The list below shows what we have achieved in just 6 weeks. Quite
remarkable.

We now have Coca-Cola’s attention. We are now trying to engage with an
international NGO. The full story of the campaign is here: http://beamends.typepad.com/simons_blog/

5,500 children under 5 die every day in Africa. This initiative could
save thousands and thousands of children’s lives through collaboration
between the private, NGO and Government sectors. And now we are talking.

Our progress to date:
* 18/5/08 facebook group formed
* 21/5/08 interviewed by Eddie Mair for the iPM Programme
* 23/5/08 written statement received from Coca-Cola - ‘willing to talk’
* 24/5/08 Featured on iPM (Radio 4)
* 24/5/08 Eve Graham (ex lead singer - The New Seekers) sang supporting lyrics to “I’d like to teach the world to sing”
* 1/6/08 Campaign nominated for the New Media Awards
* 5/6/08 Telephone conference with Coca Cola’s Global Head of Stakeholder Relations and UK counterpart
* 16/6/08 Face to face meeting with Coca-Cola in Brussels
* 23/6/08 Contact made with WaterAid
* 27/6/08 Contact made with Oxfam
* Membership includes a ‘frontline’ Rehydration Project in India
* Members of the group have posted: 7 videos; 35 links; 9 photos
* There have been 7 discussion threads started and 85 Wall Posts

Onwards and upwards

Simon
——————–

3rd Facebook Newsletter - 29/5/08

May 29, 2008 by Simon Berry · Leave a Comment 

29/5/08 - 3rd Newsletter

Simon Berry sent a message to the members of Let’s talk to Coca Cola about saving the World’s children.

——————–
Subject: Coca-Cola Group Update – 27/6/08

Dear Group Member

We are now nearly 2,500! Please consider forwarding this email to all your friends and ask them to join here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18947780476.
Numbers are everything! Before this group formed we made no progress at
all. The list below shows what we have achieved in just 6 weeks. Quite
remarkable.

We now have Coca-Cola’s attention. We are now trying to engage with an
international NGO. The full story of the campaign is here: http://beamends.typepad.com/simons_blog/

5,500 children under 5 die every day in Africa. This initiative could
save thousands and thousands of children’s lives through collaboration
between the private, NGO and Government sectors. And now we are talking.

Our progress to date:
* 18/5/08 facebook group formed
* 21/5/08 interviewed by Eddie Mair for the iPM Programme
* 23/5/08 written statement received from Coca-Cola - ‘willing to talk’
* 24/5/08 Featured on iPM (Radio 4)
* 24/5/08 Eve Graham (ex lead singer - The New Seekers) sang supporting lyrics to “I’d like to teach the world to sing”
* 1/6/08 Campaign nominated for the New Media Awards
* 5/6/08 Telephone conference with Coca Cola’s Global Head of Stakeholder Relations and UK counterpart
* 16/6/08 Face to face meeting with Coca-Cola in Brussels
* 23/6/08 Contact made with WaterAid
* 27/6/08 Contact made with Oxfam
* Membership includes a ‘frontline’ Rehydration Project in India
* Members of the group have posted: 7 videos; 35 links; 9 photos
* There have been 7 discussion threads started and 85 Wall Posts

Onwards and upwards

Simon
——————–

1st Facebook Newsletter - 23/5/08

May 23, 2008 by Simon Berry · Leave a Comment 

23/5/07 - 1st Newsletter

Simon Berry sent a message to the members of Let’s talk to Coca Cola about saving the World’s children.

——————–
Subject: 1st Newsletter - Day 5

Dear All

* 345 members/1,606 invited - but we need an extra effort to move into accelerated growth.
* We have the support of experts inc a frontline org in India.
* We are the top story on the BBC’s Radio 4 iPM programme on Saturday at 5pm.
* No one has said this is a flawed idea.
Please, please continue spreadigng the word.
Thanks
Simon
PS: We also need celebrity support - any contacts anyone?
——————–

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