UC Berkeley students act to prevent malaria

Photo: Andrew Stucki

As a freshman at UC Berkeley, I thought my first year would be filled with endless midterms and papers. As it turns out, I'm doing so much more. During a job search, I found YPW and just from reading their short description on CalJobs, I knew that this organization was something I wanted to be a part of.

Photo: Stephanie Wang

Now I have my own project for spreading awareness about Malaria in Africa and raising money to buy $6 dollar bed-nets, which can protect a sleeping family from contracting Malaria from mosquito bites during the night*. Over a million people die each year from malaria and children are especially vulnerable and in need of our help. You don't hear about Malaria in the United States and in other first world countries, because it has been eradicated, but this just shows that malaria is a preventable disease that should not be costing so many lives.

Designed by Stephanie Wang

In order to raise money, I am currently selling $2 buttons on campus with the aid of my friends. We are hoping to raise enough money to buy bed-nets for the students at the Ark School in Tanzania, which is the only free secondary school in the country. Last December, YPW's Maria and Nicole visited the Ark school as part of their trip to Africa. They visited the dormitories which simply consist of mats and some bed-nets, but not enough to guarantee protection from mosquitoes at night (makes me ashamed to have complained about my own dorm). This may only be a small portion of the population in need of our aid, but it is a start.

The US government plans to spend $1.4 billion dollars on Malaria prevention over the next five years, which is the same amount spent every day on military expenditures. So it is up to us, the youth of America to take action.

- Stephanie Wang

If you want to buy a Malaria Sucks button or get involved Contact Us.

 

Malaria Sucks! Project Update

After selling “Malaria Sucks!” pins and hosting a fundraiser party, my friends and I have raised about 750 dollars for buying bed-nets for the students at the Ark School in Tanzania! That is over 120 nets! Although Malaria is still a serious problem and millions are still in need of bed-nets, at least one group of kids can now rest safely at night and worry more about their studies.

- Stephanie

 

*Malaria is transmitted by mosquitos that bite at night.