FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Videomaker Founder Embarks on International Humanitarian Venture
Chico, California, January 16, 2008 – Matt York, Publisher and CEO of Videomaker Magazine, took his concept One Media Player per Teacher, (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.
