Imagine No Malaria Education Festival

On November 19th, 2011, Hamline University’s Wesley Center held the first Imagine No Malaria Education Festival!  The focus of this event was to generate awareness and education about malaria, as well as address other global health concerns like hunger and HIV/AIDs in Africa.

Leia Williams, Field Coordinator for Imagine No Malaria, was our keynote speaker and talked about malaria in Africa, what the campaign is doing, and led a discussion on how the Hamline community could help.  She was joined by Lilosa Msimbe, a graduate student from Zimbabwe, who shared her personal experience with Malaria and the healthcare system in Africa. After the speakers’ presentations students participated in the “Education Bazaar” where they played educational games and listened to student led presentations.  The event culminated in an immersive “Indoor Sleep-Out” experience and reflective writing activity hosted by the Wesley Center’s Imagine No Malaria program coordinator, Daniel Campbell, who holds an MFA in Creative Writing. See below for a complete schedule of events.

We would like to thank everyone involved with this event: our guest speakers, International & Off-Campus Programs, Hamline African Student Association, InterVaristy Christian Fellowship, Peer Education, Phi Beta Sigma, PRIDE Black Student Alliance, Students Today, Leaders Forever and Hamline Church, United Methodist. Without their help we wouldn’t have been able to create such a successful, memorable and impactful event for Hamline students, the community, and Africa.

Nearly 40 students, staff, and guests were in attendance and approximately $350 was raised for for Imagine No Malaria!

Schedule of Events

Keynote Address 

• Imagine No Malaria - Leia Williams, Field Coordinator for the national Imagine No Malaria Campaign, discusses what Imagine No Malaria is, how malaria is affecting Africa, and what you can do to make a difference.
• Global Health - Lilosa Msimbe, graduate student from Zimbabwe,  shares her personal experience with Malaria and the healthcare system in Africa.
• Group Brainstorm - Our guest speakers will lead a large group discussion on ways that Hamline can help fight malaria.

Education Bazaar 

• Mosquito Tag! - InterVarsity Christian Fellowship will host a special game of tag that will show just how deadly a Malaria Mosquito can be.
• Malaria Q&A - Get an answer right and get a prize drawing entry!
• Net Pics - Facebook Photo opportunity!  You can view all the photos at www.facebook.com/HamlineWesleyCenter.
• Arts & Craft Booth - Make your own Pipecleaner Mosquito and take it home as a reminder of what you learned and a call to action!
• Charity Bake Sale - Visit the Charity Bake Sale to buy a delicious dessert and make a difference!  All proceeds will go directly to Imagine No Malaria.  Sponsored by Hamline Church, United Methodist.
• How Does Malaria Kill? - Watch an interactive demonstration of how malaria affects our blood cells.  Presented by Peer Education.
• Malaria Bean Bag Toss - Students Today, Leaders Forever (STLF) will host a fun and educational game.  Prizes provided.
• Fight The Hunger! - The Hamline African Student Association (HASA) will host a special game on hunger in Africa.  Prizes Provided.
• Malaria Bingo - Intervarsity Christian Fellowship presents a special game of Malaria Bingo!  Have fun and get a chance to win fabulous prizes.
• Flash Free-write - Take half a minute, a sticky note and reflect on what you’ve learned.  Or, stop by and read what others have written.  Be creative, there are no rules!  Presented by the Wesley Center.
   

• More about Malaria - Phi Beta Sigma continues our discussion on malaria, talks about Nothin’ But Nets, and how else you can get involved.  After the discussion there will be a special step performance!
• Fight The Hunger Jeopardy - View a short presentation from HASA and then play an exciting game of jeopardy against your friends.  Winning teams will get to select a special food-related prize.
• HIV & AIDS in Africa -Find out more about how this deadly disease affects Africans and what we can do to help.  Presented by PRIDE Black Student Alliance.

Indoor Sleep-Out 

•  Under the Net: A Writing Reflection - Daniel Campbell, who holds a Masters degree in Writing, will lead a special reflection exercise in a simulated outdoor environment.  
• Grand Prize Drawing -Stick around and see if you won a fabulous prize!

For additional information about the Imagine No Malaria Festival, or to get involved in planning for next year, contact Daniel Campbell, coordinator of Hamline's Imagine No Malaria programs at 651-523-2878 or by email at dcampbell04@hamline.edu