I/O PSYCHOLOGY PRACTIONER
Training Development - Nutrition and Food Safety
In this project, we developed a targeted training program for Nourish Madagascar, aimed at enhancing food safety and nutrition practices among parent volunteers and local schoolchildren. Our team worked closely with the organization’s founder and cultural liaisons to ensure that the training materials were culturally relevant and accessible, meeting the specific needs of the local communities during the critical hunger seasons.
​
This project was completed in collaboration with Adela Kaiser, Grace Weatrowski, and Kate Lingeman.
I. Needs Assessment
Conducted comprehensive analyses including organizational support, person, and task analysis to tailor the training content to the specific needs of Nourish Madagascar.
II. Training Design
​Developed a training that respects cultural sensitivities and language barriers, utilizing various educational tools such as role-plays and infographics to facilitate effective learning.
III. Implementation
Rolled out the training to parent volunteers in multiple villages, focusing on practical skills like using Sur'eau for water purification and equitable food distribution.
IV. Evaluation
Planned to use the Kirkpatrick model to assess the training’s impact on volunteer competencies and overall program effectiveness.
Process Breakdown
Reflection
My involvement in the Nourish Madagascar training project during Dr. Warren's class was a decision driven by my interest in real-world application of I/O Psychology to address critical community needs. The project required developing a comprehensive training program to enhance food safety and nutrition practices among village volunteers in Madagascar. This effort was not just an academic exercise but a response to an urgent community health situation.
In this project, my role was instrumental in organizing the logistical and content-related aspects of the training program. Although I wasn't the lead, my contributions were crucial in ensuring that the training materials were culturally relevant and effectively communicated. We utilized a variety of methods to gather accurate and applicable information, including consultations with cultural liaisons and extensive reviews of community practices and needs.
The training was designed to be delivered in three modules over a two-and-a-half-hour session, aiming to maximize engagement and retention. The process involved detailed task and KSA analyses, where we identified essential knowledge, skills, and abilities for the parent volunteers. This was supported by the use of low-tech training tools, like infographics and hands-on activities, to ensure all participants, regardless of their familiarity with technology, could benefit from the program.
From this project, I gained significant experience in developing training that not only conveyed critical health information but also respected and incorporated local cultural values. The implementation of our program saw immediate positive feedback from the community—villages that received the training reported better adherence to food safety protocols and improved nutrition practices among children.
​
Recent Updates and Ongoing Developments
Since the initial implementation, the training program has continued to show promising results. The founder recently informed us that the training materials are being adapted for additional villages, demonstrating the program's scalability and ongoing relevance. Additionally, plans are in place to retrain schools in two other villages that initially resisted the new methods, showing the evolving acceptance and success of our approach. This ongoing engagement underscores the sustainability of the training and its adaptability to diverse community needs.
Reflecting on this project, I see its value in demonstrating how I/O Psychology can be pivotal in international community development. The skills I honed—particularly in cross-cultural communication, project management, and adaptive training development—are directly applicable to my future career ambitions. These experiences have prepared me to tackle similar challenges with confidence and creativity, ensuring that my work continues to have a meaningful impact on community health and safety.
Skills Acquired
Cultural Sensitivity in Training
Strengthened the skill of integrating cultural nuances into training content, ensuring it resonated with the target audience.
Cross-Cultural Communication
Developed an acute ability to create training materials that effectively bridge cultural and linguistic gaps, with an emphasis on consulting with local representatives to ensure accuracy and cultural appropriateness.