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. 

Using the Audiopedia approach we are able to provide health education even to remote and marginalized populations. Take for example the Aka. They are a nomadic Mbenga pygmy people living as hunter-gatherers in the dense rainforests of the Western Congo Basin in Central Africa. The Aka people are vulnerable individually and as a community. They are geographically isolated, illiterate, have no written language and no access to social services. So how can we make sure that they can acquire vital health knowledge?

Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world - and this is especially true for women. Female literacy levels are on average 17%, with high variation, indicating a strong geographical and gender divide. Rates as low as 1.6% are found in two southern provinces of the country. Women continue to be the number one victims of the country’s 30 years of warfare.

Need to play back our contents to a larger audience, like in a classroom? No problem! Simply plug our solar-powered Audiopedia player to an external loudspeaker, just as our colleague Kora did. 162 students in Bugomola, Uganda are now able to listen to vital knowledge about health, nutrition, family planning and more in their local language Luganda.

How can we save the last remaining piece of continuous Atlantic rainforest in Paraguay from deforestation in the long term? By educating young rural and indigenous girls! This way they become ambassadors of change in their communities, ensuring a sustainable development.

As part of a private initiative, we provided three solar-powered Audiopedia Players to a hospital in the Democratic republic of the Congo. Here is an assessment of the first three months they have been in use.

From October 19th to November 1st, 2017 we were traveling in Uganda. More specifically, in the region around Kyamulibwa, in southwestern Uganda (Masaka district). There we started distributing the first 100 Audiopedia players (another 400 will follow in the upcoming weeks and months). 

So here we are again - back from our latest trip to Uganda! As you probably know, we spent two weeks (from October 19th until November 1st) in this beautiful country and were - once again! - overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality of the Ugandan people.

Salima, a widow, was born in Kisiju village in 1937. During her life, she gave birth to ten children, five of which died already. Today, she lives with one of her daughters, Asha Mushe, who is also widowed and who takes care of her.

Our project in Tanzania is developing very nicely. Our local partner New Dawn Development is proceeding with the distribution of 500 MP3forLife Players to almost 4000 rural women. We are receiving very positive feedback from women and government officials.