A West Virginia University senior isbiting backto raise awareness of malaria.
Emily Renzelli, a double major in political science and philosophy from Bridgeport, has been named one of 12 finalists in the national Buzz Cuts contest, which challenges college students from across the country to submit innovative awareness campaigns in support of Nothing But Nets, a grassroots campaign to prevent malaria.
RenzellisBite Backproposal has three parts. As students complete each activity, they will receive a wristbandone will sayBfor believing, anotherUfor understanding, and the final one will have aGfor givingspelling outBUG.
During thebelievingstage, Renzelli will encourage the campus community to sign a petition to show its concern over malaria. She plans to share the document with West Virginia lawmakers.
For the secondunderstandingphase, increasing awareness is key, Renzelli said. She hopes to organize a campout on campus with student organizations. Movies about malaria would be shown and health information distributed.
And finally, during thegivingstage, Renzelli will ask for donations tosend nets to save lives.It only costs $10 to provide an insecticide-treated bed net that can prevent the deadly disease, she said, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches donations net for net.
Emilys campaign stood out as an innovative and fun approach to advocacy on the serious issue of malaria,said Victoria Baxter, executive director of The People Speak, a campaign to educate and engage young people on global issues.Malaria kills a child in Africa every 30 seconds. The finalists were really able to get that message across while also getting other students involved in helping prevent this disease.
The People Speak selected the finalists, who were invited to the United Nations Foundation offices in July to learn more about malaria, the Nothing But Nets campaign and the production of multimedia tool kits.
This fall, Renzelli has begun planning and implementing herBite Backcampaign. She is documenting the process and results through a blog, photos and video, which will be featured athttp://www.nothingbutnets.net/.
During this phase of the competition, Renzelli will be supported by Americans for Informed Democracy, a partner of The People Speak. The WVU Center for Civic Engagement has also joined her cause and is working to involve student leaders and other campus organizations in the project.
Emilys innovative campaign and dedication to this important issue are commendable,said Kimberly Colebank, director of the Center for Civic Engagement.We are very excited to help her get others involved.
In December, the public will vote on its favorite campaign online athttp://www.nothingbutnets.net/, and the winner will receive a $500 prize and national distribution of his or her campaign tool kits and materials.
This program again reiterates the national presence of our student body,said David Kirkpatrick, Student Government Association president.Our students are competing with some of the most prestigious higher-education institutions in the country, and we intend to help Emily win.
A special Web site is being developed for Renzellis malaria awareness project. In the meantime, people can e-mail emilyrenzelli@yahoo.com to learn more or sign up to volunteer.
Nothing But Nets
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation.
Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Associations NBA Cares, The People of the United Methodist Church and Sports Illustrated. Otherpartners include VH1 , the Mark J. Gordon Foundation, AOL Black Voices, RotariansAction Group on Malaria, the Wasserman Foundation and Major League Soccers MLS W .O.R.K.S.