CHICO, Calif., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Matt York, Publisher and CEO of
Videomaker Magazine, took his concept One Media Player per Teacher,
(http://www.ompt.org) to the impoverished and embattled Southern Sudan area to
show educators how to instruct using digital video devices.
Following more than 20 years of civil war, Southern Sudan is home to some
of the poorest and most illiterate people in that region of the world. Matt
spoke with several of the citizens of this region who want to become teachers.
Nicodemus, one of the "lost boys" of the Sudan now in his 20s, told harrowing
stories of his life and of other children taken from their parents at age 7 by
the military.
"You could make a movie, just on Nicodemus' tragic life," Matt says,
adding that through it all, Nicodemus' attitude wasn't one of self-pity but to
help others like him to have the chance to grow and learn in a better world.
One Media Player per Teacher
Inspired by the One Laptop per Child concept, One Media Player per Teacher
[OMPT] hopes to connect people to knowledge that is crucial to their every day
living as they try to regain their footing in the world by educating its
population on many facets of needs from better agricultural production to
sexually transmitted diseases and birth control awareness.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in cooperation with
the Government of Southern Sudan, is in the process of launching new
technology initiatives that will strengthen education programs through the
Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction (SSIRI) Project. SSIRI is
administered by Education Development Center (EDC). The new resources -- which
include MP3 players, video production facilities, and computer centers -- are
being installed in schools, adult learning centers, and teacher training
institutes. Matt served as a consultant to EDC.
"OMPT has a passion to encourage people," he says, "who are learning to
produce and teach with audio and video. These teaching tools can actually be
much more meaningful and effective in lesser developed countries."
Using his knowledge base of video production and equipment, Matt York has
researched the best equipment needed for their environments to help the
teachers of this contentious region educate its citizens. Interactive Radio
Instruction (IRI) is an educational radio system that has been used around
worldwide since the 1970s, helping people in impoverished areas of the world.
One Media Player per Teacher [OMPT] places the media players in the teachers'
hands so that they can teach on their own schedule.
Matthew York
Matthew York founded Videomaker magazine in 1985, and is a widely
respected authority on developments in the consumer electronics and television
industry. York advocates the use of video-making tools throughout society, by
encouraging people to become effective videographers.
Contact:
Heather Handley
530 891-8410
hhandley@videomaker.com
SOURCE Matt York, Founder of Videomaker Magazine
Heather Handley of Videomaker Magazine, +1-530-891-8410,
hhandley@videomaker.com
