Last month, OMPT worked with World Vision in Bamako, Mali, teaching their staff how to make videos that captured the incredible benefits of the water pump and latrines installed a few months prior. Communications manager Samuel shared his feedback and experience with us:

Anyone who has ever made a New Year’s resolution knows that change is hard. Think of a behavior in your life you want to change, for example let’s say you want to floss everyday. It sounds simple right? And at first it is.

As a recent International Studies graduate of Chico State University, OMPT intern Carli is passionate about how technology can impact the future of marginalized communities around the world. As this week is UNESCO’s Mobile Learning Week, we thought it would be a great time to learn more about where she got her start, her excitement for technology in developing nations, and what she thinks might change the world.

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!

Last week, OMPT’s Matt York and Kristin Henderson traveled to Bamako, Mali to host our second workshop in the country in the last two months. This was OMPT’s third time working with World Vision, a faith-based organization that provides humanitarian aid throughout the world.

When you think of global development aid, what comes to mind? Usually it’s images of disaster relief, food programs and building hospitals, homes or fresh water wells but we might be overlooking something even more important.

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.