Free children from malaria – youth summit in Dar es Salaam

The Royal Commonwealth Society will hold a Malaria Youth Summit in Dar es
Salaam on Wednesday 20th July.

The Summit will take place at the British Council and be attended by 30
secondary school students. The event will include a panel discussion,
featuring a wide range of speakers from organisations working on the malaria
prevention programme in Tanzania, a creative workshop engaging students in
local storytelling techniques to create a malaria awareness campaign aimed
at younger children, and a screening of the acclaimed Tanzanian film, Chumo.

The event will be held with the support of the British High Commission,
DFID, the British Council, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s
NATNETS programme, Malaria No More, COMMIT and READ International.

The event forms part of the *Me and My Net *project, which is a creative
competition giving under 18s the opportunity to have their voices heard on
the global challenge of malaria. *Me and My Net* is sponsored by Sumitomo
Chemical’s Olyset Net. Visit www.meandmy.net for more information on the
project.

*Notes to Editors *

* *

The Malaria Youth Summit will take place at the British Council, Samora
Avenue / Ohio Street, Dar es Salaam. **

* *

Journalists are welcome to attend the event from 3.30pm on Wednesday 20
July. Please contact elaine.crisp@thercs.org if you would like to attend.

*Me and My Net *

Me and My Net is a creative competition run by The Royal Commonwealth
Society and supported by Olyset Net giving under 18s the opportunity to have
their voices heard on the global challenge of malaria. With 500 million
cases every year, and up to a million deaths, we believe that young people
can and should have a say about this important issue. Between April and
September 2011, under 18s can enter a written piece, a drawing, film or
photograph on the theme of mosquito nets into the competition for a chance
to win one of more than 100 prizes including a one week trip to London. For
more information visit www.meandmy.net.

*The **Royal** Commonwealth** Society***

The RCS is the oldest and largest civil society organisation devoted to the
Commonwealth. Founded in 1868, it conducts a range of events and activities
aimed at promoting international understanding. Its educational, youth and
cultural programmes include one of the world’s oldest and largest schools
essay competitions, and an innovative international youth leadership
programme. Headquartered at the Commonwealth Club in London, the RCS has
some 10,000 members internationally through a network of branches and
Commonwealth societies. The RCS is a registered charity in England and
Wales. (226748). thercs.org

*Olyset Net *

Sumitomo Chemical’s award-winning Olyset® Net is a proven, effective tool in
the fight against malaria. The Olyset Net works by preventing Anopheles
mosquitoes from biting people, reducing the transmission of malaria.
Anopheles mosquitoes are the species of mosquito they carry malaria from
person to person via infected blood. Olyset ® nets are manufactured in
Tanzania by a joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical and A-Z Textiles in
Arusha.

The Olyset Net contains an insecticide, which is a chemical used to kill
insects which may harm us. The nets resist against washing and tearing which
helps them last longer and when looked after correctly, they can last for up
to five years. Olyset Nets never need re-treatment with insecticide.

*Contacts *

Jessica Smith at The Royal Commonwealth Society: jessica.smith@thercs.org /
+44 (0) 20 7766 9205

Mark Polatajko | Head of Political, Press & Projects Section | Email: *
mark.Polatajko@fco.gov.uk * |