Mike Barzacchini Communication
Social Media Release
Students Sing to Fight Malaria
Music Video Promotes Global "Nothing But Nets" Initiative
11.05.2009 – (Inverness, Illinois) -- How do you spread the word that the use of insecticide-treated nets can help fight malaria and potentially save hundreds of thousands of lives?
For elementary and middle school students at Holy Family Catholic Academy in Inverness, Illinois, the answer came in the form of a song.
On November 4, 2009, Holy Family students performed and produced "A Bug that Bites," a music video about the crisis of malaria and its prevention. The video was performed and recored in little more than an hour.
The video, now posted on YouTube and the Academy Facebook page, will be used to further the school's mission to raise awareness and fight the spread of this killer disease (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1di_PDN1VQ).
This mission began nearly two years ago when Holy Family was approached by Keely Solimene, a parent with children at the Academy, to help raise funds to buy insecticide-treated bed nets to help fight malaria.
At the time, Mrs. Solimene was affiliated with the United Nation Foundation-Nothing But Nets Campaign (http://www.nothingbutnets.net/).
Holy Family’s principal, Dr. Gretchen Ludwig embraced the idea to have students participate in the fund raising efforts, but took it a step further. Dr. Ludwig not only wanted the students at Holy Family to raise money, but she insisted that they learn about malaria.
Through inquiry learning units developed by Holy Family faculty and Dr. Emily Alford, the study of malaria was incorporated into each grade’s curriculum. The Nothing but Nets organization was so impressed with these innovative curricula that they asked Holy Family if the organization could post the inquiry learning units on its Web site so any interested teacher could access them. (Visit on http://www.nothingbutnets.net and scroll down to item #2, Malaria Curriculum Units to see curriculum developed by Holy Family Faculty and Dr. Emily Alford.)
The school’s commitment to Nothing but Nets has continued. According to Dr. Ludwig, “Our children are learning that with persistence and perseverance, our school can be a part of eradicating malaria. What a powerful lesson for our students to learn that they really can make a difference.”
Recently, Holy Family Academy began focusing its efforts on the task of informing, educating and communicating the importance of bed nets.
Aware of the effectiveness of music and song to teach children, Holy Family students composed their own jingle to raise awareness about malaria prevention.
Students met in multi-age groups to create the jingle. The result was so compelling that the school decided to post the video on YouTube.
With the help of volunteer professionals Colin Collette, Will Nifong and Mark Karney, the video was recorded in about an hour and the results posted on YouTube on Thursday, November 5, 2009.
The video is now on its way to Nigeria with representatives from the Chicago Office of Catholic Schools as they embark on a visit to the Archdiocese of Nsukka, Nigeria.
Dr. Ludwig and Holy Family first grade teacher, Mrs. Jeanne Henry, also plan a trip to Nsukka in the spring of 2010.
Quick links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1di_PDN1VQ
http://www.nothingbutnets.net/blogs/holy-family-catholic-academy.html
http://www.holyfamilycatholicacademy.net/
- Twitter Pitch
- Illinois school students create music video to fight malaria. http://bit.ly/wiFVi
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- News Facts
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- In Africa, there are 10 new cases of malaria every second. (http://www.nothingbutnets.net)
- Every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies from a malaria infection. (http://www.nothingbutnets.net)
- Bed nets use a simple but effective prevention approach: eliminate contact with mosquitoes, eliminate malaria. (http://www.nothingbutnets.net)
- Holy Family Catholic Academy's Malaria Awareness Curriculum has been shared with thousands of other educators and students.
- Holy Family Catholic Academy, located in Inverness, Illinois, serves students from preschool through eighth grade.
- Tags
- malaria, nets, mosquito, Africa, Nigeria, Catholic, schools, Holy Family Academy, Inverness, Illinois, music, video, YouTube, singing, Nothing But Nets
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