New technology helps educate communities

The new technology helps ignite the audience's imaginations.

Credit: WaterAid

WaterAid in Burkina Faso partner Sahel Solidarité (SASO) has been using film and photography to help inform communities about safe sanitation and hygiene practices.

With support from the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) SASO uses new technologies in their solar-powered 'sanitisation kit'. The kit consists of a digital camera, laptop, video projector, screen and sound system. Images and film taken in villages are shown publicly and SASO leads discussion to analyse the practices.

Previous methods used to educate communities on hygiene and sanitation relied on drawing and discussion. The use of real images and footage from their own village and homes has a much greater impact in terms of learning and helping people relate to the messages taught by SASO.

SASO first started using ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) tools in 2005 and continues to use the technique throughout Burkina Faso. They promote hygiene and sanitation, focusing on empowering peasant farmers and marginalised groups such as women to manage their own development.