Calling Ramos Horta, Nobel Prize winner...

One of the panelists on Communication for More Effective Development was Ramos Horta!!
Prime Minister, East Timor and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Everyone on the street has his mobile number, and recentely received SMSs from people in rural communities asking him to send them phone credit.

He didn’t know what that meant exactly, and asked his advisors whether they knew.

They advised him that it was possible to send other people credit so that they can utilise their mobile telephones. Recognising that the tools are available, but that people are too poor to make use of the tools, every time Ramos Horta receives such a ‘cry for help’, he passes the message to his advisors and they send the person in question the required funds.

He did admit that he gives his phone number to everyone and anyone now, and his experience is purely positive, receiving positive and constructive messages of support. Should he however fail to deliver on his promises as prime minister, he supposes the messages might become less positive, and he might switch numbers.. :)