Project Bednet was started by two Columbia University School of Social Work first year students, Mishka Vertin and Moira Reilly. They went to hear a brown bag talk by the director of the Earth Institute, Jeffrey Sachs at SIPA and were moved by his account of the unnecessary deaths in Africa due malaria. They were both disturbed by the numbers of people that die from this disease and that the way to prevent it is fairly simple. (see Malaria facts in next post) He outlined three things to do to fight the preventable disease. In order for prevention to take place, awareness of this problem needs to be raised.
Both Mishka and Moira were given an assignment for their Advocacy class to advocate for a cause they felt strongly about. Moira and Mishka decided to scrap the projects they had originally decided upon and combine their efforts to raise awareness of the problem of malaria and to send bednets help control malaria in Africa.
After researching different organizations that provide bednets, we decided on Malaria No More. This was because $10 will buy not just a bednet, but the cost includes the purchase, distribution and education as well as monitoring and evaluation by staff from UNICEF and The American Red Cross. This is also the organization the Earth Institute has partnered with.
Project Bednet is the Advocacy project of two CUSSW students. We will present in class the results of our efforts. These efforts include a fundraising party on April 19, 2007 8-12pm at The Parlour on 86th Street at Broadway. We will provide information to raise awareness of this devastating disease and also have an opportunity for people to write letters to our congressional leaders urging greater malaria prevention funding.
We hope you can join us for a night of networking, socializing, eating free food, and drinking happy hour priced drink specials!
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