The nonprofit world is one of many acronyms, but “WASH” is one you’ll hear about often at OMPT. What does it mean, and why does it matter? Today, billions of people around the world still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and handwashing facilities. 

Ethiopia is one of the world's least developed countries and has encountered food insecurity for its population routinely. The government and numerous NGOs have attempted to eradicate hunger through government programs and land cultivation. In July 2019, OMPT is teaming up with Arba Minch University in southern Ethiopia to teach Ph.D. students how to create videos aimed at improving mother and infant nutrition.

The ongoing developments in Sudan have made it a priority target for OMPT’s intervention. We will be training NGO staff and trainers from Sudan, so that they can then take this knowledge back to their home countries and empower them to make a difference in their communities. Keep reading for a timeline overview of the events in Sudan .

OMPT helps to progress the UN Sustainable Development Goal 17, which lays out targets for technology and capacity building that utilize partners in the international community to provide access to technology and innovation in order to enhance sustainability and implement developmental practices.

Video is so effective for behavior change that it can be used for nearly any discipline such as health, agriculture, education and civic engagement. To put it in the words of our Program Manager, Kristin, “essentially if there is a behavior change component, then video can be integrated.” At OMPT we have worked with partner organizations across a variety of sectors and have witnessed positive change with lasting results. Let’s take a look at some specific examples:

For our first project of 2019, OMPT worked with World Vision in Bamako, Mali, a west African country. OMPT trained World Vision staff how to create videos that documented the success of the new water towers, bore holes and latrines that World Vision installed last year. These new improvements will bring better sanitation and health to the schoolchildren and local community.

This was my third trip to Africa and each time I return from this beautiful continent I’m struck by the same thought: people are people everywhere. Regardless of where you live and in what conditions, people have the same desires, are excited by the same things and experience the same emotions.

We’ve just finished our first workshop of 2019 and are excited to share our experiences with all of you. Stay tuned for updates from Matt and Kristin as they get arrive back home from Mali. In the meantime, here are some photos from the project!