Malaria Griots Project (beta edition)
In West Africa, a Griot is a storyteller, a singer, a history keeper and an agent of cultural change. Echoing this tradition, ONE and Malaria No More are excited to announce the launch of the Malaria Griots Project (beta edition), a program designed to train passionate volunteers into powerful spokespersons in the fight against malaria.
What does it mean to become a Malaria Griot?
Selected Malaria Griots will kick-off their experience with an online course exclusively designed with Elliott Masie, the chair of the Learning CONSORTIUM and an early pioneer in distance learning and e-Learning. This five month, in-depth course—which will be housed on Blackboard Inc.’s online learning ProSitesTM platform—will include live discussions with leading malaria experts, access to cutting-edge articles, and the opportunity to participate in current malaria campaigns. As one of the inaugural students in the Malaria Griots program, you will witness stories of Africans fighting to overcome the disease, work with engaging multimedia content, and ultimately become a leading advocate in the fight against malaria.
Through this interactive course, ONE and Malaria No More will equip you with the tools to be a local advocate in your community, a spokesperson for the media, an engaging presenter at neighborhood church basement meetings and an educator to everyone you meet. We need more Griots working to change lives and help rid the world of disease. This is your opportunity to be a part of the story and to truly make a difference.
What You’ll Do
- Successfully complete five month, intensive education course for Griot program
- Develop a 12-month outreach and activity plan
- Speak at public events about malaria and the work to eradicate the disease
- Interact with local media, political leaders and their staffs
- Participate in ongoing information sessions via conference call, video chat or in person
- Recruit volunteers and other advocates for the malaria cause
What We’re Looking For
- Public speaking experience
- Ability to learn and navigate new technology; access to computer with audio/video capabilities
- Willingness to learn
- Persuasive communication skills
- Time and travel flexibility within a state or region
- Interest in global health and advocacy
- Civic interest and understanding
What You’ll Walk Away With
- One of the very first students of the Malaria Griot course, a pioneer!
- Ability to interact with and learn from leading malaria experts
- Unbelievable access to articles, videos, engaging online content
- Opportunity to serve as a community leader on life-saving global issue
- Opportunity to truly help put an end to malaria worldwide
You can find the application form here (and the PDF version here). Completed forms should be emailed to griot@one.org by January 22.
Also check out this clip about griots from Youssou N’Dour’s “I Bring What I Love”:
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December 14, 2009 at 5:11 pm
This is a very exciting program. Together, we will create the next generation of advocates, spokespeople and leaders for the issue of Malaria. We are honored to be working with our partners at ONE and Malaria No More on the Griot project.
Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
December 15, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Very excited to see the effort get launched. I’m more excited to see how it develops in the coming months and meeting those who take part.
January 12, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Great idea! We need more education/training programs like this.
January 12, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Eradicating malaria, rather than the massive drug infusion programmes, has been of particular interest to me as a retired Publi Health practitioner. I grew up in Trinidad, in the Caribbean, where there were mosquitoes, but no malaria. Basic public health programmes, consistently practised throughout towns and villages worked and helped to eradicate the disease. More of these in Africa will and can help to do the same
yolande agble.
January 12, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Had the disease about 8 times when I worked in West Africa. I guess it’s still in my body somewhere. I hope to be back in the region soon, so not sure if I can volunteer for this…
The next few days should help to clarify. If I am not going overseas, I’ll sign up, for sure!
January 12, 2010 at 2:38 pm
This is going to be a great program and we will be able to increase awareness of this awful disease and realize and end to malaria deaths.
I encourage passionate volunteers to apply today and join Malaria No More and ONE as we work to change lives across the globe.
January 12, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I work a 9-5 job. Does that make it impossible for me to participate?
January 12, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Marti,
You can certainly participate. Working a full time job will not prevent you from taking part. Great question to ask. Thanks!
Mark, ONE.org
January 12, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Empowering individuals to take action against this horrible disease is an exciting concept. I look forward to seeing what people across this country and the globe can do!
January 12, 2010 at 5:33 pm
I’m an American living in Germany (possibly moving back to U.S. within next year). Is this something I could participate in here as well?
January 12, 2010 at 5:39 pm
I am a RN who is also disabled and, therefore, uses a power wheelchair for mobility. While I would have no trouble with the online activities I must be honest and say that while local travel and train travel are possibilities, I would need the assistance of a partner to attempt air travel. I do meet the criteria stated above but my disability makes me wonder if I would be wasting your time if I took the course. i would be very disappointed not to, I admit. Malaria has been an interest area of mine ever since I took a course in epidemiology and studied small pox and malaria. I have thought since then that a strong effort to eliminate malaria like the one used for small pox had a real chance of success. I am also concerned about the spread of malaria to places where it has never had a foot hold before as climate change progresses. I believe that a state of the art malaria control program could be the only thing between human beings and endemic, world-wide malaria. Since this is a world-wide program, Malaria No More may be just what I’ve been hoping for.
January 12, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I’m already in a pretty intense education program, but I have all the the prerequisites. Do I have to start right away?
January 12, 2010 at 6:34 pm
This seems like such a great opportunity! I’m really excited to get my application in! Thanks for posting this!
January 12, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Thanks so much for all the great questions! I’ll try and tackle them in one post.
Kim,
We’d love for you to apply for the program! The course is online, which means that folks from across the globe should feel free to send in applications and help educate their communities.
Wini,
We’re so glad to hear that you’re interested in the program. While some travel may be required as a Malaria Griot, it should certainly not be a hindrance to anyone applying. Just let us know about your concerns on the application form. As my colleague Mark has said, we want to spread the word about malaria, but we do not expect anyone to become a total road warrior!
James,
The course is scheduled to begin in early to mid-February and we’d love for all Malaria Griots to start at the same time. We hope that you’ll apply!
Kara, ONE.org
January 12, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Thanks for the encouragement, Kara. i am going to fill out the application and see what happens.
January 12, 2010 at 11:29 pm
How old do you have to be, to take part in this program.
January 13, 2010 at 2:31 am
I had malaria twice while a Peace Corps volunteer in Gabon in the late 80′s. I don’t have the time or public speaking skills to be a griot but am wondering if there is another way to participate? Guess I should check out the Malaria No More website. Thanks for doing this! Great idea.
January 13, 2010 at 11:14 am
Count me in. http://www.ONE.ORG is my favorite organization and I would be honored to be a part of helping others. Glad they are willing to take the time to teach us so we can help fight this together as ONE~
January 13, 2010 at 1:35 pm
In spreading the information don’t forget about local public access TV stations. They are available to local community members, usually without charge. You can be a guest on someone’s show, do a show of your own or put on a dvd from ONE. I had an earlier ONE dvd broadcast on our local public access TV channel in the past.
January 13, 2010 at 3:23 pm
This is a very interesting idea and program. I support it, but I think I’m too young and inexperienced to participate. As a teenager interested in activism, I would love to see more programs like this, but directed towards younger people with less experience. Maybe something designed to get teens involved in efforts like this?
January 13, 2010 at 10:17 pm
I am interested and have experience…what time of day are the courses run and do the courses have to start in February? I am currently assisting Alexander Diaz with shoe collections for soles4souls. We are up to over 70,000 pairs of shoes and think there is around another 20,000 pairs uncounted. We are collecting until mid march and have a vigorous schedule through then due to working closely with 85 schools and a large area hospital. (there’s just 4 of us)…I believe whole heartedly towards ONE and would enjoy the experience.
January 13, 2010 at 10:44 pm
All, some really great ideas here.
Ben, we’ll keep your thought about developing something especially for younger people.
And, Alimasi , on this effort, our thought is that juniors and seniors might be able to participate in the program — with parents ok, naturally.
Rose Marie, thanks for reminding us about public access. That had not come up yet.
Becky and others who have asked about timing, the Malaria Griots has been designed for a class of participants to take it together, learn from each other and teach we at Malaria No More and ONE as well. So, it’s not totally self paced. That is why a common starting time is in place. The intention is to run the program again after the first class makes it through. If the timing is not right this round, I hope you can take part another time. Very interesting project on soles4souls!
Again, thank you all.
Mark, ONE.org
January 14, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Just wanted to let everyone know that we just posted a great video on the ONE blog from our friend and partner Elliott Masie on what it means to be a Malaria Griot. You can check it out here: http://www.one.org/blog/2010/01/14/what%e2%80%99s-it-mean-to-be-a-malaria-griot/
Hopefully this will help answer many of your questions!
Kara, ONE.org
January 16, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Is this only for people in the USA, I am in the UK and would like to take part…
January 17, 2010 at 1:33 am
We must eradicate this disease now and the Griot Project is a good start, something like this would be very useful in our own Country.
January 17, 2010 at 4:56 pm
I am having issues uploading my power point presentation via email. The file is too large! Is it possible that we mail them in? Or can I upload it to a website somewhere?
thanks you!
January 22, 2010 at 6:44 pm
I’m a current High School Junior. Will there be more opportunities like this in the future that I would be able to participate in? I doubt I’d be able to as a student…
February 24, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Thanks for this opportunity to particapate in the world stage Reach-out.