How illuminAid Is Working to Close the Digital Gap for Women—and Why It Matters
Technology has always been at the forefront of human development. It took human civilization from hunter-gatherer to agricultural, developed modern society through the Renaissance and lead the Industrial Revolution.
Burkina Faso (UNICEF) Photo Blog
While we wait for our coworkers to get back and tell us all about their time in Burkina Faso and with UNICEF, we thought it might be a good time to share some photos from our most recent workshop. If you weren’t aware, OMPT traveled to Burkina Faso in West Africa to host a Video Education Workshop with UNICEF where we trained several different NGOs on video production.
Malawian Culture: the "Big Dance" and Lake of Stars
Immediately following our trip to Burkina Faso, we head off to Malawi for our first opportunity to work with CARE. Like we did with Burkina Faso last week, we want to explore the unique culture of Malawi. Nicknamed the “Warm Heart of Africa,” Malawi is known for its welcoming, friendly people and colorful, vibrant culture.
International Literacy Day
This Saturday, September 8th, marks the 51st annual International Literacy Day. Established in 1966 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the holiday was first celebrated the following year in 1967. Observed by all UN states, International Literacy Day is meant to raise awareness and highlight the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and entire nations.
illuminAid partners with CARE in Malawi
Our second stop in our September trip will be in Malawi, this time working with CARE. Our workshop in Malawi will be our first time both working in Malawi and with CARE. Unlike most of the countries we travel to, Malawi’s official language is English, allowing our English-speaking staff to more directly engage the workshop’s participants.
illuminAid returns to Burkina Faso
Partnering with UNICEF (United Nations International Fund for Children), we will be returning to Burkina Faso at the end of September. As you may remember from our July newsletter, this trip was originally scheduled for mid-summer but had to be postponed. While this is our second time traveling to Burkina Faso, this will be our first time working with UNICEF. We are incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with an organization as large and influential as UNICEF and look forward to future partnerships.
Lily Mirsepassi visits illuminAid
Last month OMPT had the pleasure of seeing an old intern, Lily Mirsepassi. Interning for us in 2013, Lily has since graduated from Chico State with a double major in French and Business Finance and a minor in International Studies. Following her graduation in 2016, Lily volunteered for the Peace Corps.
Looking Back at 12 Years at illuminAid
I’ve been doing OMPT for about 12 years now and it’s never been easy. But what gets me up in the morning is the hope that we can transform lives. That the things we are doing have positive impact. Our kits have a lifetime of maybe 5 years, so, over those years, thousands, maybe tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of people will watch a message created and shared through the technology and training we provided.
ICT4D Part 3: ICT4D and behavior change
One of the most common uses of OMPT’s video technology is to promote behavior change. Changing behavior can be a critical step in improving the lives of those in desperate situations. It’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to save lives and improve standards of living.
ICT4D Part 2: Applying ICT4D
Applications of ICT4D are varied but generally fall into one of three categories: agriculture, education/literacy or health. OMPT, as an ICT4D organization, has projects in each of these categories.