According to the
Sunday Times, with its readership consisting of two million people, and reach that extends across race, age, income, and gender demographics, the Nando’s '#rightmyname' campaign has gained broad and effective exposure.
"At Nando’s, we’ve always loved celebrating South Africa’s diversity. So, when we noticed that after more than 30 years, spellcheck still highlights Nando’s as a mistake, it got us thinking – what about other names in South Africa? Names like Nokuthula, Elodie, Darawees, and Tebatso? Why are their names highlighted as mistakes too? Not cool," says Doug Place, chief marketing officer at Nando's.
'#rightmyname' aims to encourage South Africans to go online and register their names on '#rightmyname' website. The aim of the website is to promise that on Wednesday, 21 March – Human Rights Day – South Africans will 'be able to update their spellcheck dictionary and get rid of the red line beneath their name – and the names of all their friends and family too'.
Sunday Times editor Bongani Siqoko says, "I’m looking forward to a day when the emails I send and receive are no longer tarnished by that discriminatory red squiggle. As an editor, there is only so much squiggling one can tolerate on a screen before seeing red."
Reardon Sanderson, GM sales and marketing at Tiso Blackstar, adds, "Spellcheck shows a broader ignorance of diversity by those who create the technology. We’re, therefore, thrilled to support Nando’s and be part of the solution where all our names are given the respect they deserve. I feel very hopeful and fired up.
For more information, visit
www.rightmyname.co.za. Join the conversation by using the #rightmyname hashtag on
Facebook or on
Twitter.