Month: April 2025

The Ohio affiliate of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), in partnership with KeyBank, honored 51 high school students across Ohio at the 2025 Aspirations in Computing awards on Saturday, April 12th in Columbus, Ohio. These students, which included one national winner, were recognized for their leadership and involvement in technology, robotics, and applied science, along with their academic success and plans for post-secondary education.

Two STEM teachers were honored as well with an educator award.

For the past ten years, the Ohio Aspirations in Computing awards have been sponsored by KeyBank. All award recipients along with their families and educators were invited to join this year’s event, which featured a panel of professionals discussing the Tech thru Time. All shared insight into their career paths, education, and personal growth in STEM.

“KeyBank has a long history of supporting students who are interested in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, and math,” said Amy Brady, KeyBank Chief Information Officer. “We congratulate this year’s award winners and are proud to recognize the achievements and talents of these outstanding students. They are future problem solvers and the skills they are developing today will help solve the challenges of tomorrow.”

Since 2007, NCWIT has inducted more than 10,000 young women into the Aspirations in Computing community and is helping to usher these women into technology careers. The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing program is a talent development initiative designed to increase female participation in technology careers by providing encouragement, visibility, community, leadership opportunities, scholarships, and internships to aspiring technically inclined young women. NCWIT offers both national and local affiliate competitions to generate support and visibility for women’s participation in communities nationwide.

For information on the national program please visit www.aspirations.org

2025 National Honorable Mentions
Afia Ava – Padua Franciscan High School
Mahee Shah – Hathaway Brown High School 

2025 Ohio Affiliate Award Winners

Student’s Name	School Name
Laasya Acharya	William Mason High School
Shivani Arulselvan	Padua Franciscan High School
Afia Ava	Padua Franciscan High School
Lilah Ball	Lakewood High School
Katie Benson	Hudson High School
Naisha Chopra	North Royalton High School
Ayesha Faruki	Mentor High School
Riya Hegde	Western Reserve Academy
Maya Houghton	Hathaway Brown School
Rebecca Jacob	Solon High School
Ava Kohlhaas	Lakota East High School
Audrey Malcuit	Padua Franciscan High School
Vaishnavi Rachuri	Dublin Jerome High School
Sonia Robinson	Hathaway Brown School
Mahee Shah	Hathaway Brown School
Kathleen Smith	Springfield-Clark County
Tori Smith	Magnificat High School
Maggie Smith	Padua Franciscan High School
Sahana Srikanth	William Mason High School
Sosena Tefera	Anderson High School
Rachel Tong	Olentangy Orange High School
Kaovya Vel	Westlake High School
Zaynah Wahab	Solon High School

2025 Ohio Affiliate Honorable Mentions

Student’s Name	School Name
Emily Ahmad	Centerville High School
Aanvi Dogra	Dublin Jerome High School
Mengxin Deng	Magnificat High School
Kayleise Travis	Magnificat High School
Bohdan Chuprynka	North Royalton High School
Sophia Regoli	Canal Winchester High School
Gautami Kondekar	Dublin Jerome High School
Olivia Scarlatella	Felicity-Franklin High School
Yujing Li	North Royalton High School
Charlie Clements	Stow-Munroe Falls High School
Vidhissha Sharma	Solon High School
Sanyu Karathody	North Royalton High School
Tiffany Perez Garcia	Springfield-clark County
Amritha Kishan	Solon High School
Haasini Sanisetty	Hathaway Brown School
Harman Kaur	Dayton Regional Stem School
Ravia Bhullar	Nordonia High School
Sophia Swartwood	Padua Franciscan High School
Cailyn Hua	Western Reserve Academy

2025 Ohio Affiliate Rising Stars 

Student’s Name	School Name
Siyuan Zhang	Solon High School
Giana Trolio	Ursuline High School
Maya School Sensabaugh	C-TEC Career And Technology Education Centers of Licking County
Riley Wilkerson	Ross High School
Kaavya Gulia	Solon High School
Anna McCracken	Westerville South High School
Alex Tehoke	Padua Franciscan High School
Victoria Goss	Padua Franciscan High School
Lyla Doucette	Brecksville-Broadview Heights High

2025 Ohio Educator Winner 
Jeff Rhodes – North Royalton High School

2025 Ohio Educator Honorable Mention
Greg Sauline – Ursuline High School

About NCWIT
NCWIT widens participation in the technology ecosystem through innovative programs and research.

This thriving community of more than 1,600 change leader organizations spanning K-12, Higher Education, and Industry works to expand access to critical knowledge and opportunities.

NCWIT helps organizations remain globally competitive in science and technology by creating environments where all students and employees thrive.

ABOUT NCWIT ASPIRATIONS IN COMPUTING (AiC)
Aspirations in Computing (AiC) opens pathways into technology from K-12 through career. AiC recognizes and celebrates students’ technical aspirations and abilities, as well as the educators who support them. The program also provides an expansive community network to create opportunities that lead to careers in technology.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189 billion at March 31, 2025.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 40,000 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

Rhonda Crawford– Ohio Affiliate Program Coordinator
Ceylon Allmond– Master of Ceremonies & Planning Committee
Maria Smith– Planning Committee & Host
Navarre Medlock– Planning Committee & Photographer
Jessica Kennedy– Planning Committee & RSVP Table
Shawanay Kirksey – Volunteer & RSVP Table
Matthew Prioletti– Communications Partner

Partners:

Eva Bradshaw – NCWIT Regional Affiliate Program Manager
Serina Shores – Ohio Affiliate Co-Program Coordinator Huntington Bank

Panelists:

Dieynabou Diallo – 2025 Ohio Collegiate Finalist & 3rd year student at OSU
Jay Shaffstall – Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Muskingum University
Ava Scherocman – 2020 Ohio Winner & Computer Science Major at OSU

Logitech Blog

The future doesn’t just happen; it’s designed. And the people designing it? They’re part dreamers, part strategists, part architects, and in some cases, part inventors. Meet an engineer or designer from Logitech, for instance, and you’ll discover a person with big ideas and a mind focused on solving today’s problems with tomorrow’s tools. If it’s not focused on reducing environmental impact or making someone’s life easier, what’s the point?

Design is more than shaping products; it’s shaping lifestyles. Lifestyles today and in the future depend on clean air and water, resources like nutrients and minerals from the soil, and energy to support growth. This Earth Day, and every year, we reflect on the collective responsibility we share to protect our planet and design the future we want. That includes harnessing clean energy that emits little to no carbon pollution, or renewable energy that naturally replenishes itself.

The truth is, designing the future isn’t about predicting fancy gadgets or developing VR robots (although we’re getting close with recent innovations in Gen-AI). It’s about making smarter, more thoughtful choices today. Engineers and designers at Logitech aren’t just sketching ideas and building prototypes for new electronic devices, they are building bridges between where we are today and where we ought to be.

Logitech has long been an advocate for designing a better future. Through its Design for Sustainability mindset, the team is cutting carbon emissions by incorporating recycled plastics in devices across the company. Today, 3 out of every 4 products are made with Next Life Plastics to give a second life to end-of-life electronics. Product packaging avoids single-use plastic whenever possible, and more commonly recyclable paper content is used instead. Recycled fabrics and aluminum produced with renewable energy are used for lower carbon impact. Even manufacturing facilities purchase renewable electricity certificates, because renewable energy plays a critical role in addressing increased greenhouse gas emissions. Think about it – when Logitech designs a keyboard, it’s not just about how it function, but also how it uses less energy, cuts waste, and lasts longer.

Earth Day is a reminder that everyone has a role to play in protecting our environment and designing our future. Here are a few ways to align your actions:

• Be a Responsible Consumer – Opt for products designed with sustainability in mind. Look for companies, like Logitech, that are transparent about their environmental impact through initiatives like carbon labeling or working hard to reduce its impact.
• Advocate for Change – Join movements like Earth Action Day or participate in local clean-up drives and tree-planting events. EarthDay.org estimates that 7.5 million pounds of trash will be removed globally this year – will you add to that number?
• Stay Curious – Invest time in learning about environmental issues. Whether it’s reading fact sheets, exploring renewable energy options, or teaching others about conservation, education is one of the most impactful tools for change.
• Recycle e-waste – It’s one of the fastest growing waste streams. Recycling end-of-life devices helps conserve resources and energy, boosts local and global economies, creates jobs, and builds community. Find your local recycling solution at Logitech.com

The future isn’t a destination, but a design problem waiting for a brilliant solution. When we work together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve for our planet. Learn more about Logitech’s approach to designing a positive future.

Written by Ana Schafer Muroff

The AI revolution is sparking a wave of innovation in the embedded community, spawning a flurry of new use cases that take advantage of greater intelligence on the edge. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., is leading the drive to turn these ideas into reality.

You’ll see that push at Embedded World, one of the largest gatherings of embedded system developers, specialists, project and product managers, system architects and industry experts showcasing embedded systems technologies benefiting everything from automotive, healthcare and the Internet of Things (IoT).

At the conference, we’re demonstrating new developer kits and have experts on hand to offer advice and guidance on how to make the most of our technology. There will be, of course, our massive wall of boards, with over 90 modules — many from our various ecosystem partners — on display and a host of demos from our ecosystem partners.

We also announced ahead of Embedded World that we entered into an agreement to acquire Edge Impulse Inc., a leading end-to-end edge AI platform which enables developers to easily build, deploy and monitor AI models on a wide array of devices, including the ability to target Qualcomm Dragonwing processors.

These moves underscore our commitment to bring intelligent computing everywhere. A key element of that mission is ensuring our Qualcomm Dragonwing offerings, from high-speed connectivity to powerful processing and AI edge capabilities, are accessible to the developer community. At Embedded World, you’ll see more than 50 of our partners showing off the solutions that make the most of our innovations.

The Nuremberg, Germany, conference last year drew 32,000 visitors and 1,100 exhibitors. With big crowds expected to show again this year, here’s what we have in store.

Expanding our AI tech portfolio for IoT

Part of being a trusted and valued partner for the embedded community is making sure we have the right tools and support available.

That’s why we announced today the entry into an agreement to acquire Edge Impulse. The closing of the Edge Impulse acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.

Edge Impulse is used by over 170,000 developers to build, deploy and monitor AI models on various devices. This development platform provides a comprehensive set of tools and features for data collection, data preparation, model training, model deployment and model monitoring — all with an easy-to-use, user-friendly interface requiring little or no code at all.

Qualcomm Technologies anticipates giving developers on Edge Impulse’s platform the ability to target Qualcomm Dragonwing processors, which feature superior on-device AI inferencing, computer vision, graphics and processing capabilities.

Hands-on with new developer kits

At the booth will be the Qualcomm QCC74xM Evaluation kit (EVK) and Qualcomm QCC730M EVKs, which are used to showcase performance and capabilities of the QCC74xM and QCC730M modules. These modules offer a variety of connectivity features including micro-power Wi-Fi, programmable RISC-V capabilities and support for Bluetooth technology and Matter. As a result, they boast extremely long battery life and flexibility — ideal for any embedded system.

Qualcomm Technologies is also bringing back the board wall display, which will include 98 different third-party modules and development kits. The vast selection of different components on display gives developers and system architects a wealth of options for prototyping and commercializing new embedded solutions.

Making use of our technology

Beyond hardware, our booth will play host to more than a dozen demonstrations of our technology, with many of our ecosystem partners taking the spotlight.

On one side of the booth, Sunmi, iterate.ai and AuthSignal will be showing off a multi-operating system self-checkout solution with biometric payment, complete with a generative AI assistant for trouble shooting, in a glimpse of the future of retail. Sigma Connectivity has a dual camera set-up utilizing cutting-edge machine learning that seamlessly translates American Sign Language (ASL) gestures into closed-caption text in real time, and on the far end of the booth, Promwad’s AI-powered service robot will be delivering packages while navigating and interacting with visitors.

The centerpiece of our demos is the marquee dynamic 3D tabletop experience featuring industrial IoT solutions such as worker assistance, worker safety, incident response and asset inspection.

Explore Qualcomm Technologies’ Embedded World booth

This is just scratching the surface of how Qualcomm Technologies is supporting the embedded community through cutting edge platforms that offer an unmatched balance of speed, power and smarts.

To experience all our demos, check out hall 5, booth #5-161 at Embedded World from March 11 to 13.

Visit us at Embedded World

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

By Abbey Foster Jacobson, ESG Leader at GoDaddy

At GoDaddy, our mission to empower entrepreneurs everywhere is not just a statement — it’s the heartbeat of our business. As we roll out the company’s 2024 Sustainability Report, we’re excited to share how we’re making strides in sustainability that align with our broader business goals and benefit our customers, shareholders, communities, and the planet.

We focus efforts on our sustainability priorities 

In 2024, we undertook an inaugural Double Materiality Assessment to update and prioritize the topics most impactful to our business, stakeholders, society, and the environment. This assessment helps us make informed, data-driven decisions, reinforcing our commitment to responsible growth. This assessment provides us with a clear framework to address potential risks and seize opportunities, ensuring our actions support our mission to empower entrepreneurs.

Our innovations are empowering entrepreneurs worldwide 

Innovation is the engine that drives our mission, and 2024 was a year of notable advancements. Microbusiness owners are increasingly turning to AI, with more than half now comfortable using it in their operations, according to GoDaddy Venture Forward research.

This technological shift reflects a broader trend of adaptation and innovation. With the launch of GoDaddy Airo®, we harnessed AI to simplify and speed up the entrepreneurial journey.

From generating business names to creating digital assets, our experiences are designed to help our customers succeed.

This approach supports our business objectives and fosters an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem by making advanced tools accessible to microbusiness owners who might otherwise lack resources. By democratizing AI technology, we enable a wide range of entrepreneurs to innovate and compete on a more level playing field.

We cultivate an inclusive and supportive culture 

Our people are our greatest asset, and we are dedicated to creating an environment where they can thrive. In 2024, 84% of our employees participated in GoDaddy Voice, our annual employee engagement survey that revealed a strong sense of trust and support within our teams. We continue to prioritize fair compensation and development opportunities and promote respect and community throughout our workforce.

We govern responsibly and operate sustainably 

Sustainability is embedded in our operations, guided by principles of responsible governance. Our AI and Machine Learning Governance Council, for example, oversees the ethical use of technology, ensuring our innovations align with our mission.

This year, we also set a new target to reduce scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 90% by 2030, reinforcing our commitment to environmental stewardship. Through reducing emissions, we expect to enhance our business outcomes via cost savings and increased operational efficiency.

We are committed to building resilient and sustainable futures 

As we continue to enhance our corporate sustainability framework, we are focused on creating long-term value for our company and stakeholders. By focusing on our sustainability priorities, we ensure our efforts are purposeful and impactful.

Our dedication to sustainability is not just about meeting current needs but also about building a resilient future for the company and entrepreneurs everywhere.

We invite you to explore our 2024 Sustainability Report to learn more about our progress and the steps we’re taking to create a world where entrepreneurship is accessible, inclusive, and sustainable.

Abbey Foster Jacobson leads GoDaddy’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) program. With a background in consulting and experience within technology companies, Abbey specializes in ESG strategy and reporting. Abbey’s work at GoDaddy focuses on creating shared value for the company and its stakeholders.

Client background

UIC Government Services (UICGS) operates in the government contractor sector with 15 offices throughout the U.S. and over 3,000 employees. They have been recognized previously for their commitment to operational efficiency, however, the rapidly evolving business landscape and increasing invoice volumes presented challenges that demanded innovative solutions. With more than 2,000 invoices flooding in monthly, the administrative strain was palpable.

The business challenge

Managing a vast volume of invoices is no small feat, especially when these invoices come in varied formats. UICGS’ accounts payable (AP) department was inundated monthly with a mix of purchase order (PO) vouchers, AP invoices and subcontractor invoices. Over 30% of these invoices used unique vendor templates, adding layers of complexity to an already intricate process.

Moreover, the client had a specific and crucial requirement: the need for itemized line items for every invoice. This granularity was essential for their operations, ensuring that every financial detail was captured accurately. Integrating this vast and varied data into Costpoint presented another layer of challenge.

Strategy and solution

Baker Tilly crafted a comprehensive and customized robotic process automation (RPA) solution. The strategy involved deploying UiPath software equipped with unattended automation, cloud orchestration and document understanding. This combination ensured that every piece of information was accurately extracted from the diverse invoices, no matter how minute.

The solution wasn’t just about data extraction but seamless integration. Given the multifaceted nature of the client’s operations, the RPA solution had to bridge the gap between documents received in email (via Outlook) and desktop applications like Excel and Adobe. Baker Tilly’s approach ensured data flowed smoothly across these platforms, eliminating bottlenecks and ensuring consistency.

The tangible benefits of the RPA solution were immediately evident. UICGS projected a time savings of 404 hours per month, translating to significant cost savings. But the transformation went beyond numbers. The error rate in AP processes, once a concern, was expected to plummet to zero.

The success of this RPA initiative served as a catalyst for broader organizational change. UICGS began identifying automation opportunities beyond finance, extending into realms like IT and HR. This holistic approach to automation, driven by the initial success in the AP department, set the stage for a company-wide digital transformation.

The collaboration between UICGS, Baker Tilly and UiPath is a testament to the transformative power of RPA. By addressing the AP department’s multifaceted challenges, the client has optimized its operations and paved the way for broader organizational efficiencies.

Connect with a Baker Tilly specialist to learn more.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 24, 2025 /3BL/ – DP World has successfully completed initial testing of its hydrogen fuel cell rubber-tired gantry (RTG) crane at the Port of Vancouver, marking a significant milestone in decarbonizing its port operations. The RTG is now undergoing field testing as the company assesses the feasibility of electrifying its global fleet of 1,500 RTG cranes.

Traditionally powered by diesel, RTG cranes are essential for cargo handling but are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. At DP World’s Vancouver terminal, 19 RTG cranes account for 50% of diesel consumption and generate over 4,200 tonnes of CO2 annually. The adoption of hydrogen technology promises to dramatically reduce or even eliminate this impact.

Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada, said: “As one of the world’s foremost port and terminal operators, we are dedicated to advancing sustainable practices that will drive industry-wide change. This pilot not only marks an important step in DP World’s commitment to decarbonizing its operations, but it also sets a new benchmark in sustainable logistics. Real-world testing ensures our solutions are reliable and effective and could open the door to electrifying our global fleet of RTGs.”

DP World launched its pilot project in October 2023. The first phase included retrofitting a diesel RTG with an integrated solution consisting of a Hydrogen-Electric Generator (HEG), battery energy storage system, hydrogen storage module, regenerative energy capture, and integrated control and safety systems. The RTG has now entered its second phase, a one-year field trial to track performance parameters such as hydrogen consumption, energy generation, and regenerative energy capture rates.

This data will allow the team to compare the zero-emission hydrogen electric RTG to a traditional diesel-powered RTG in terms of productivity, reliability, maintainability, costs and environmental benefit.

DP World partnered with TYCROP Manufacturing Ltd., H2 Portable and HTEC for this pioneering project. H2 Portable, together with TYCROP, designed a Hydrogen-Electric Generator (HEG) utilizing a dual fuel cell and battery energy storage system, while HTEC provided the hydrogen storage system and hydrogen supply.

To operate, the RTG crane stores up to 135 kg of compressed gaseous hydrogen in 15 pressurized tanks. Hydrogen is fed to the fuel cell system, which charges a high-voltage battery that powers the crane’s electric drive. The bidirectional power system recovers energy when lowering containers, significantly reducing energy demand and enhancing operational efficiency

Scott Mason, President and CEO, TYCROP, said: “Through our work with DP World, H2 Portable and HTEC, we achieved a major milestone in zero-emission power. During factory acceptance testing, the system ran continuously for 16 hours, lifting and lowering a 40-ton load 105 times — and emitted only steam, rather than 400 kilograms of CO2 from a comparable diesel unit. This accomplishment highlights what can be done when industry and government collaborate to drive innovation.”

George Rubin, Managing Director of Commercial Operations, H2 Portable, said: “Working alongside DP World, our Advanced Power system is demonstrating how hydrogen-based technology can deliver meaningful performance benefits. Early field operations have exceeded key benchmarks, and we look forward to building on these results as we explore broader adoption across the industry.”

Jeff Grant, Vice President of Transportation Solutions, HTEC, said: “At HTEC, we’re proud to support this groundbreaking project by providing hydrogen storage and fuel supply. Together with DP World, TYCROP and H2 Portable, we’re showing how the power of collaboration is driving the transition to cleaner energy solutions.”

If the field trial is successful, DP World will consider converting its 25 diesel-powered RTG cranes in Vancouver and Prince Rupert in a bid to meet its zero-emissions objectives. There are additional plans underway to trial an electric terminal tractor at the Port of Vancouver, and the company is in the process of acquiring a fleet of electric vehicles.

The Port of Vancouver was selected as the ideal site for this pilot due to its thriving hydrogen and fuel cell ecosystem and strong support from the Province of British Columbia.

– END –

DP World Americas Media Contact:

Melina Vissat, Head of Communications
M: (+1) 704-605-6159
E: melina.vissat@dpworld.com

About DP World 

DP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 100,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

In the Americas, DP World operates with a team of over 16,000 people across 12 countries, driving excellence through a robust network of 14 ports and terminals and more than 40 warehouses. By harnessing our global reach and local expertise, we simplify logistics, enhance operational performance, and redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in global trade.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW.

For more insights into how DP World is reshaping global trade, visit our website: www.dpworld.com.

Originally posted by Action Against Hunger.

By Ahmed Issak Hussein

Tracking and monitoring the delivery of humanitarian assistance is a challenge when resources are constrained or conflict is present. In Somalia, access to roads is limited and controlled by non-state actors; in some regions, it is too dangerous for aid workers to be physically present to verify that the aid is reaching the people who need it most. These barriers create risks for inefficiency and diminished trust in humanitarian organizations among affected communities. For Action Against Hunger, addressing these challenges is vital to fostering transparency, accountability, and strong community relationships.

Our solution to aid tracking challenges in Somalia was a community call center. The center puts aid reporting capabilities in the hands of the community, making aid delivery more traceable and tailored to people’s needs. Since October 2023, the call center team has handled 30,027 calls including aid delivery verifications, feedback on the aid received, and requests for emergency assistance. Calls are prepaid, meaning individuals in even the most remote and impoverished regions can have a voice.

Staff at the center are trained volunteers who are bound by confidentiality and a commitment to building trust with community members. They create a safe space for community members to share their needs and opinions. Sahra Ibrahim, one of the call center assistants, is passionate about her role. “We hear all kinds of feedback,” she shares. “Mothers thank us after receiving treatment for their ill and malnourished children at our treatment centers. Others report pressing issues, such as acute watery diarrhea outbreaks or concerns from minority groups who feel underserved.”

The call center’s tracking and reporting activities have been digitized with a management dashboard, significantly improving aid management. Call volumes, types of complaints, and verification processes are all tracked and shared with the Action Against Hunger’s team and the Community Engagement and Accountability Taskforce via monthly and quarterly reports. The data provides critical insights for improving programs to best fit the needs of the community. For instance, the majority of feedback received since 2023 was related to food security and livelihoods, while only three cases were about gender-based violence. Recognizing the low reporting of gender-based violence despite having evidence for its existence, Action Against Hunger plans to increase programs that ensure survivors feel safe and supported enough to come forward.

One key achievement of the call center is its role in real-time crisis management. Reports from the community about disease outbreaks and new displacements from climatic shocks or conflicts enable Action Against Hunger’s team to respond quickly. For example, in 2023, community members alerted Action Against Hunger to a cholera outbreak, and we immediately intervened with medical supplies and hygiene awareness campaigns to minimize its spread. Another instance that stood out to Sahra was an influx of calls from families arriving at a resource-depleted displacement camp. “They called us, desperate for assistance, as they had joined a camp already hosting drought-displaced families,” she recalls. “Our team quickly activated a crisis response, providing cash assistance, hygiene kits, and water trucking. Knowing I was part of that process motivates me every day.”

People who have felt the impact of the call center’s work tell others in their community about the resource. Naleye Mohamed Omar, a mother whose one-year-old son Hassan is receiving malnutrition treatment, expressed her gratitude, saying “My son’s health has improved so much. His cheeks are glowing, and he’s able to stand and walk now. I am committed to spreading awareness in our camp about the services Action Against Hunger offers and connecting others in need.” Community members are also informed about the call center through radios, posters, and mobile messaging platforms. These efforts have increased awareness and accessibility, enabling more people to utilize the system effectively.

In 2023 and 2024, Action Against Hunger’s community call center in Somalia achieved 100% verification for both food security and livelihoods interventions and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions. Serious complaints, such as fraud and gender-based violence, were escalated to senior management within 24 hours for swift resolution.

Despite these successes, challenges remain. Many requests require more resources than are available, and a lack of adequate funds makes it difficult to fulfill all aid requests. However, Action Against Hunger is committed to improving the lives of Somalia’s most vulnerable communities with transparent, agile aid delivery practices. Aid reporting continues to improve with the hard work and passion of volunteers like Sahra, who says, “Every call is an opportunity to make a difference.”

***

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.