Malaria is a disease that concerns people of all ages. But so often when we think of ‘the fight against malaria’, we think of grown-ups. Yet a new generation of child advocates is breaking through with a sense of irrepressible optimism. The work of these ‘childhood heroes’, showing the world that there is no age limit on being a hero, is inspiring others to innovate, raise expectations, and make a substantial difference in the fight against malaria.
The Global Impact of Malaria
The human disease, malaria, is caused by a parasite transmitted via the bite of a mosquito that has sucked the blood of an infected person. The disease remains a major public health concern and is a leading cause of death in Africa. There, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in 2020 that there were 241 million cases of the disease and a total of about 627,000 deaths. Despite effective treatments and prevention efforts, malaria remains a challenge.
Since the early 2000s, for instance, the spread of malaria has declined in part due to targeted public health campaigns around the world. The fight against malaria is never over, however, and it takes sustained creativity to make further reductions. Turning to our intrepid cast of young heroes, we see that even the youngest among us can do our part.
Meet the Young Advocates
1. Emma: The Inventor of the Mosquito Trap
The youngest of the innovators is Emma, a 15-year-old Kenyan. Her family suffered from malaria for decades and she wanted to find a simple way to capture mosquitoes using ordinary materials, around a light bulb, and with a small amount of carbon dioxide. She tested her invention in several communities.
Moreover, her project involves not only reducing mosquito numbers; it also functions as an educational tool. Emma gives talks in local schools to give her peers an understanding about how and why malaria is transmitted, and to harness their support for her project. She has received recognition from health organizations and motivated a new generation of young people to tackle global health problems in innovative ways.
2. Liam: The Fundraiser Extraordinaire
When Liam, at 12 years old and living in the US, started raising funds for an international malaria research and prevention program, he was a 7th grader, about to turn 13. The bake sale that started it all took place at his school, and quickly grew to include local charity runs and online crowdfunding campaigns. The young American scholar had developed an interest in malaria research as part of a school project on global health and wanted to convert cool facts and figures into action.
The money raised by Liam has helped distribute thousands of insecticide-treated bed nets: a vital weapon against malaria Liam’s story attracted the attention of local media and motivated other youth to fundraise for various causes. Through their efforts, children as young as three years old are proving that they too can play a significant role in responding to global health problems.
3. Aisha: The Advocate for Education
Aisha, aged 14 and a resident of Nigeria, has become a champion of malaria education in her community. Aware of the need for awareness as a preventive measure, Aisha began a campaign to educate her friends and their families on efforts to prevent malaria. She organized a series of community meetings, distributed pamphlets with informational material, and reached out to community health workers for information about the disease, its prevention, and treatment.
Her commendable initiative has helped to raise awareness about malaria in her community; in the three years following the class, people in her village are much less likely to have gotten malaria. Aisha’s story demonstrates just how much one can accomplish in public health with education, as well as the integral role of the youth in this spread of knowledge.
The Power of Youth in Global Health
Emma, Liam, and Aisha’s stories are also part of a larger pattern: youngsters aging into their late teens and twenties are growing, in increasing numbers, as global health change-makers. Not only do they have the capacity to make a difference, they are examples of the promise that is inherent in every young person. Their journeys as childhood heroes show that passion, creativity, and commitment are the ingredients of change.
Why Youth Advocacy Matters
Young Turks: Since these advocates are fairly new to the field, they may come to the problems with newer solutions that the adult veterans might not have considered.
Relatability: Young people can talk to their peers in ways that adults can’t. Their messages and campaigns can be more relatable, and therefore more likely to resonate with other young people, and therefore more likely to lead to greater participation and action.
Long-term impact: investing in youth advocacy ‘future-proofs’ global health The effects of investing in youth advocacy will extend far beyond the immediate gains of their current health campaigns. Building a network of alumni who have been trained in advocacy will sow the seeds for a future generation of leaders, activists, collaborators, and change-makers – all of whom can continue to advocate on behalf of youth and other vulnerable populations well into the future.
How to Support Young Advocates
Empowering young champions against malaria, or any global challenge, involves encouragement, resources, and opportunities. Here are several ways to support young heroes on the move:
- Mentorship: Veteran advocates provide direction and support to younger advocates by helping them negotiate obstacles, refine ideas, and expand initiatives.
- Provide Resources: Funding, materials, and training can help young advocates make better progress. Schools, organizations, and communities can either provide resources themselves or help to connect young advocates with relevant opportunities.
- Convey Acknowledgment: A young advocate’s personal story can be one of the most effective arguments for their cause. Taking the time to listen to it, share it with others, or recognize it as an inspiration in private or in the news, awards, or events, can help turn adolescent noise into adult solutions.
- Encourage Partnership: Young advocates can be more effective when they collaborate with other activists, other organizations, or other experts. By working together, youth activists can enhance their impact and leverage a broader platform for their work.
Success Stories from Around the World
But the impact of these young voices extends far beyond stories: the world over we see examples of young people making a difference in the fight against malaria and other global health problems. Here are a few:
- The Malaria-Free Future Campaign: a youth-led global campaign where youth leaders in different countries work together to raise social media, educational programs, and fundraising to support malaria prevention and treatment.
- Youth Ambassadors for Health: In many countries, youth ambassadors are working with international health organizations to build awareness about malaria prevention in their communities. Youth ambassadors are using their public platform to advocate for malaria prevention, build relationships with local leaders, and lobby for better health policy through local and national governments.
- School-Based Initiatives: Many schools across the globe have expanded their curriculums to incorporate global health issues such as malaria, and students can get involved by working on projects related to malaria, such as conducting research and doing community outreach and advocacy.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Youth Advocacy
It’s young people once again leading the way, inspiring and necessary contributions to the fight against malaria. As global health issues move through their lifecycles, expect youth advocates to become ever more important. With youthful exuberance, creativity, and ambition, their efforts and spirit are making a significant impact that is bringing hope to a future with no need for such efforts.
By backing and cheering on these young health heroes, we can build a new generation of global health leaders equipped with the tools to tackle the world’s most pressing health challenges. In addition, their stories will continue to remind us that every effort toward sustainable global health matters and deserves a place in our humanitarian initiatives across various fields. Ultimately, supporting these individuals strengthens our collective resolve to create a healthier future for all.
The fight against malaria is still far from won, but they are now being joined in the struggle by a new generation of ingenious, compassionate young ‘Advocators’ – as pictured here. Collectively, these childhood heroes are inventing things, fundraising, educating, and activating so that older generations can, and will, achieve what is right and life-saving for all children.
Their stories call us to believe that all young people can become citizen changemakers and further engage them in building a healthier, fairer world. As we embark on our shared journey towards ending malaria, let us take inspiration from these young changemakers and remember the Next Generation.
