Buzz Cuts Finalists Chosen
Twelve student advocates and short video makers travel to Washington, D. C. for training and meetings on Capitol Hill about malaria.
Washington D. C. (PRWEB) July 11, 2007
The People Speak (TPS) announced today the 12 finalists of Buzz Cuts, a multi-media advocacy contest to promote student activism and awareness, in support of Nothing But Nets, a grassroots campaign to prevent malaria. Each finalist will receive $500 to create multi-media tool kits for use on their campuses to encourage students to learn more about malaria and how Americans can become engaged in eliminating the disease in Africa.
“Malaria kills one child in Africa every 30 seconds,” said Victoria Baxter, Executive Director of The People Speak. “The campaigns these students came up with are creative, innovative and will help spread the word about how easy it is for Americans to help stop the spread of this disease. It is encouraging to see this next generation of student activists harness the power of the web and media to do something that will truly make a difference.”
On July 16 and 17, 2007, the 12 finalists from colleges across the country will travel to the United Nations Foundation in Washington, D. C. to receive their $500 mini grant and attend a training seminar to learn about malaria, Nothing But Nets, and the production of multi-media toolkits. The winning proposals range from “A Malaria Buzz Cut” to give a professor a buzzed hair-cut, to a “Malaria Fashion Show” incorporating nets into the clothing modeled, to a “Malaria Beach Volleyball Tournament” in which the balls are painted with mosquitoes.
On June 17, 2007, TPS will also take the students to Capitol Hill for meetings with Hill members and staff to learn more about the United States government’s work on malaria and global health.
After the training, the finalists will return to their campuses to plan and implement their campaigns during the Fall 2007 semester. Over the course of the semester, blogs, photographs and videos documenting the campaign planning will be featured on http://www. thepeoplespeak. org. In November 2007, the public will vote on their favorite campaign. The winning campaign will receive an additional $500 and national distribution of its campaign tool kits and materials.
About The People Speak
The People Speak is a campaign to educate and engage young people on the global issues that will shape their future. Young people are ready to take on some of the most serious challenges and exciting opportunities facing our nation and the world. By engaging them on issues of poverty reduction, global health, climate change and more, TPS is inspiring young people to be a positive force for change in the world.
About Nothing But Nets
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria. Inspired by Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly, thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation. Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, The People of the United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated. Other partners include VH1, the Mark J. Gordon Foundation, AOL Black Voices, Rotarians’Action Group on Malaria, the Wasserman Foundation, and Major League Soccer’s MLS W. O.R. K.S. It only costs $10 to provide an insecticide-treated bed net that can prevent this deadly disease. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches donations dollar for dollar. Visit http://www. NothingButNets. net to send a net and save a life.
Press Contact
Amy DiElsi,
United Nations Foundation, Communications Officer
(o) 202.419.3230 (e) adielsi(at)unfoundation. org
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