Sumitomo Chemical has created an open online resource with a sample of entries from the recent ’Me and My Net’ competition, a malaria awareness initiative targeting 11- 18 year olds from across the Commonwealth.
The entries provide a real wealth of information and insight, highlighting the thoughts and attitudes amongst young people from all over the Commonwealth about the value and use of nets, and would be a valuable resource to any behaviour change program especially one targeting the all-important youth demographic.
The competition organised in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society was designed to engage with young people across the world to gauge attitudes and knowledge levels about malaria prevention and net usage. Over 2,100 entries were received from 25 countries (mostly malaria endemic) and 167 schools, reviewed by a judging panel which included Sarah Kline, one time executive director of Malaria No More.
One hundred of these entries, including that of the winner, 15 year old Siya Kulkarni, born in Mumbai, raised in Delhi and now living in Shenzhen, China, are now available via the Sumitomo Chemical – Olyset Net website microsite.
Siya Kulkarni said of her entry that was titled ‘Kids for Nets Campaign’: “Although I come from India I was very ignorant about the impact that malaria has upon people in affected areas and was shocked by the scale of the problem. I was also struck by how easy it is to protect people with a net as opposed to using sprays or drugs. It is such a simple solution and yet, as a young person, I also know that we do not like being told what to do. I knew that my campaign had to find incentives for young people as a way to engage with them and encourage them to use their nets.
“I decided to split my Kids for Nets campaign to appeal to two age groups and used rhymes and the idea of decorating their nets to engage the 4-10 year-olds; whilst I wanted to show the young adult 11-15 year-olds that their future health and, therefore, their dreams for their future could be threatened.”
To view the entries, please visit the Olyset Net Me and My Net microsite. For any further information about the competition, the competition entries or indeed to access some of the entries for educational purposes please contact Adam Flynn (email: aflynn@olyset.net). All use of materials must credit Olyset Net /Sumitomo Chemical and the Royal Commonwealth Society