FemSMS Ukraine – A project by Footage Foundation fueled by VERB

FemSMS

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Initiated and delivered by Footage Foundation, a nonprofit organization with over 15 years of social impact on digital and geographic frontiers, supported by UkraineNow and VERB, an intelligent SMS platform.

FemSMS is a compassionate messaging project based on feminist principles for those impacted by traumatic events in Ukraine. The project idea emerged in 2022, when the Footage Foundation, shocked by the turn of events in Ukraine, decided to channel their experience with crisis-ready solutions to uplift women in Ukraine.

Having an idea to use narrative and expressive approach in Ukraine, they connected with UkraineNow in mere few months after the war started. Their vision for FemSMS was to create resources for women and girls offering hope and social connection. It was meant to equip them with trusted information in these challenging times through the delivery of text messages using compassionate language to end information poverty, increase resilience, and build belonging.

To help the project reach the audience, UkraineNow connected the Footage Foundation with VERB, an online messaging platform. Shortly after initial connection, the messaging was ready to be sent. To help FemSMS gain an audience, UkraineNow initiated a series of promotional activities across channels in Ukraine. As a result of our collaboration, over 300 women signed up and received compassionate messaging.

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The informative messages allowed recipients to feel seen. When asked, one young woman, from Ukraine, said "It was like when a close friend messages you. The feeling of unconditional care, love, and understanding."⁠

Today, FemSMS continues the mission to support the lives of young women in need of compassion during challenging times. The project scaled to the US in order to catalyze the power of community including connecting with those we serve around the globe and demonstrate the impact of feminist research, innovative bespoke technology, and compassionate action. 

Find out more about current FemSMS impact at femsms.org ⁠