We are very pleased to announce that we are one of 9 winners of the #SmartDevelopmentHack! With #SmartDevelopmentHack the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) called for innovative digital solutions to tackle the challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak in low- and middle-income countries. Under the patronage of the BMZ together with the Directorate-General International Cooperation and Development from the EU Commission, other EU member states, tech-companies and civil society,  the global hackathon was launched as part of the upcoming German Council Presidency.

Founded in 1990 in Bolivia, Pro Mujer has become one of Latin America’s leading organizations committed to the empowerment of women. Their integrated approach offers access to finance, health and educational services, thus supporting their clients by creating opportunities and helping them start and grow their own businesses. Pro Mujer is also focusing on issues like gender-based violence and teen pregnancy and migration crises and advancing health care for women by raising awareness and ensuring more women have access to preventive and treatment care.

When it comes to health promotion and disease prevention, developing countries face a challenging situation. Given the high level of illiteracy of their populations, the lack of infrastructure and trained manpower, interventions of all kind are hard to deliver. Even in countries where the majority of the population lives in rural areas, the available health resources are usually concentrated in the cities. Most developing countries also have difficulties with transport and communication, especially in rural and remote areas.

What would you consider the most significant parts to create a healthier planet and to help reverse climate change? Recycling of plastic waste? Increasing our reliance on sustainable energies? Reducing the impact of industrial agriculture? All well and good, but don’t miss one of the most important keys to effective change: women!

The coronavirus affects all of our lives. But in the poorest countries it will be devastating. Especially for women and girls, who will be on the frontlines of the response.

This is the first time ever, that we can achieve to deliver essential knowledge to every rural woman on this planet. No matter what language she speaks or if she can read or write. This is made possible by technology - and by your valuable contribution as a volunteer translator. With your help we can translate basic health knowledge and life skills into languages they have never been translated before. And we can help rural women to live a healthier and happier life.

This February we kicked off our latest project in the Masaya region of Nicaragua. Our partner organization for this project is Pro Mujer, one of the largest women's organizations in Latin America. This non-profit organization offers women financial inclusion, health and education programs. Since its foundation in 1990, Pro Mujer has reached more than 2 million women in the region.

"Musele - The Diarrhea Song" was recorded by French anthropologist Romain Duda as part of a project that is lead by the Order of Malta France with the goal to improve the health status of the Aka.

Mental health is the blind spot in the development cooperation. WHO studies indicate that mental and neurological disorders are the most common cause of diseases and disabilities worldwide. However, this topic is still completely neglected by the majority of aid projects in favour of other priorities. 

Without having access to even the simplest basic knowledge, facing their enormous day-to-day challenges is a losing game for women in rural areas in most developing countries. We can change that by simply providing them with vital information in an accessible way. Here are some examples showing how Audiopedia can help rural women live a life in health and dignity.