Local Youth Theatre Troupe takes to Parliament Hill: Not So Amateur Amateurs perform “A Malaria Story”
Local Youth Theatre Troupe takes to Parliament Hill: Not So Amateur Amateurs perform “A Malaria Story”
Kingston, Ontario – April 15, 2010 To commemorate World Malaria Day, the Not So Amateur Amateurs (NSAA) will present the live performance, “A Malaria Story”, Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 6:00 p.m., Room 256-S, Centre Block, Parliament Hill.
The event, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Malaria Caucus Vice-Chairs, Senator Mobina Jaffer and Patrick Brown, M.P., (Barrie), along with Senator Hugh Segal, will bring together parliamentarians to recognize the occasion of World Malaria Day, April 25th.
In addition to the performance, representatives of the Buy-A-Net Malaria Prevention Group will be on hand to provide information and education on the burden of malaria.
”I am so proud of the young people and parents collaborating on this project. They have worked very hard because they really believe in this cause. It is wonderful when we can use our talents and resources to help others,” said Christine Harvey, Director, Not So Amateur Amateurs. “We could not have done this without the help of Ms. Rosemarie Neumayer in costume design, Pierre Couture for videography, and Deanna Lynn Productions for the puppetry talent which is so much a part of the production.”
Established by the World Health Assembly, World Malaria Day is a day set aside annually to raise awareness about malaria and to remind all citizens around the world that there needs to be increased action in the fight against this preventable, treatable disease that continues to take the lives of nearly one million people a year.
“We are delighted the Malaria Caucus has invited this talented group of young people to demonstrate through theatre the urgency behind malaria prevention and control. There is hope in stopping this killer disease that puts 50 million pregnant women at risk each year, and takes a child’s life every 30 seconds,” said Debra Lefebvre, Executive Director, Buy-A-Net Malaria Prevention Group.
The Not So Amateur Amateurs (NSAA) is a young people’s non-profit theatre company. The NSAA brings theatrical professionals together with young people of various ages and abilities. The NSAA gives young people the opportunity to learn all aspects of theatre, and the opportunity to showcase their talents to the community.
Launched in 2004, Buy-a-Net Malaria Prevention Group (www.buyanet.ca) is Canada’s first citizen-driven, registered charitable organization that seeks to prevent deaths from malaria. The campaign, whose slogan - “7 Bucks, Buy-A-Net, Save a Life” – provides advocacy and awareness about malaria, and raises funds needed for the procurement of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets and drug therapies. In partnership with community-based groups, the nets and medicines are distributed one village at a time, free-of-charge.
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Contact: Joanne Langlois, Buy-A-Net Malaria Prevention Group
(613) 542-1264 (613) 540-1202 (cell) E-Mail: buyanet@buyanet.ca
Christine Harvey, Not So Amateur Amateurs
(613) 653-7529 E-Mail: mydramaqueen@hotmail.com
Travelling Art Exhibit “World’s Collide” to be brought to Parliament Hill
Kingston, ON
Debra Lefebvre, Founder, BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group (BAN) today announced that BUY-A-NET has been invited to Parliament Hill and will unveil artist Heather Haynes’ new body of work, “World’s Collide”, which was inspired by the organization’s work in Uganda.
The exhibit is being officially unveiled in Ottawa on April 22nd from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at a reception hosted by The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P. (Kingston and the Islands), and Speaker of the House of Commons, in honour of BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group (www.buyanet.ca).The exhibit, featuring a collection of Haynes’ mixed media on canvas paintings, will also be making scheduled stops in Toronto (Envers Chapin Gallery, May), Gananoque (Fire Hall Theatre, June) and Montreal (Avenue Art Gallery, September). It is hoped that the exhibit will help to raise awareness about malaria and the devastation it leaves in its path in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The reception will bring together the High Commissioner of Uganda, His Excellency George Marino Abola, parliamentarians, other dignitaries, invited guests, and volunteers of BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group, as well as artist, Heather Haynes and BUY-A-NET founder, Debra Lefebvre, to recognize the measures taken by BUY-A-NET for controlling malaria.
“It was my distinct pleasure to travel with Heather to Uganda last year,” said Lefebvre. “I am very pleased that Heather has created this beautiful collection as a poignant memory of her experience and as a tribute to the people of Uganda. I think people will be drawn into the paintings and moved by their message. With World Malaria Day fast approaching (April 25th), the timing of this reception could not be better.”
“We toured Ugandan villages for 10 days, handing out treated bed nets, educating people about malaria prevention, checking the status of ‘netted’ villages and learning a lot about the beautiful people of Uganda – and ultimately, learning a lot about ourselves,” says Haynes. “This trip was so inspiring to me that I wanted to celebrate the work that BUY-A-NET does and share my experience with as many people as possible. The best way for me to do this is through my art. It is my hope that this group of 30 paintings will shine a light on the issues of malaria and malaria prevention. It is just so important that people care.”
Launched in 2004 and recognized as one of Canada’s leading malaria fighting organizations, the BUY-A-NET campaign is the first Canadian grassroots citizen-driven initiative aimed at malaria prevention. The volunteer led campaign raises awareness about malaria, as well as funds for the procurement of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets and anti-malaria medicine. In partnership with community-based groups, the nets are distributed free-of-charge, one village at a time in Uganda, the group’s first target country.
“This reception is most gratifying for us at BUY-A-NET, as it is recognition of both the work and the success of this grassroots organization. Taking the message about BUY-A-NET to Parliament Hill is a wonderful opportunity to help bring attention to the scourge of malaria, and the efforts of Canadians who are saving lives in Africa from malaria,” said Lefebvre.
With the slogan – 6 BUCKS, BUY-A-NET, SAVE A LIFE – BUY-A-NET’S only goal is to prevent deaths from malaria in Uganda. BUY-A-NET is helping Canadians make a difference in the war on malaria. Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, malaria is the single leading cause of death among children in Africa, taking a child’s life every 30 seconds. Malaria is highly preventable with the use of a bed net, and it is also 100% treatable. “Nobody – absolutely nobody – needs to die from malaria,” reports Lefebvre. “Yet it takes more than one million young lives every year. That’s 3,000 children every day!”
Long lasting insecticide treated bed nets are the most efficient and cost effective way to protect deaths from malaria. Approved by WHO, the nets cost $6.00, last up to five years, and can protect an entire family.
For more information contact:
Joanne Langlois
Media Consultant
BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group
613-542-1264 or 613-540-1202
buyanet@buyanet.ca
www.buyanet.ca
To preview the art collection, please visit www.heatherhaynes.com
Invitation to Present on Parliament Hill
BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group Invited to Present on Parliament Hill to the All-Party Parliamentary Caucus on Ending Malaria
Kingston, ON
The inaugural meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Caucus will be held Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 on Parliament Hill. Led by The Hon. Patrick Brown, M.P., Barrie, Ontario, the primary objectives for the Caucus will be to spur greater Canadian involvement and investment in combating the spread of malaria, and to highlight and promote best practices for the control of the disease.
BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group is recognized as one of the leading Canadian organizations designed to raise awareness and funds for the purchase and distribution of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets.
Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, which bites primarily at night while people sleep, malaria is one of the leading causes of death amongst African children, taking a child’s life every 30 seconds. Bed nets offer a primary wall of defense and effectively and inexpensively stop the spread of malaria.
For more information contact:
Joanne Langlois
Media Consultant
BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group
613-542-1264 or 613-540-1202
joanne@buyanet.ca
www.buyanet.ca
Download the pdf document here
HAVE-A-HEART For BUY-A-NET
The Valentines Day “HAVE-A-HEART For BUY-A-NET” campaign event on Parliament Hill press release:
Ottawa – Canadian MPs and Senators will once again join forces with BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group on Valentines Day to launch the “HAVE-A-HEART For BUY-A-NET” information campaign on Parliament Hill. …
The Valentines Day “HAVE-A-HEART For BUY-A-NET” campaign event on Parliament Hill is sponsored by BC Senator Mobina Jaffer and Ontario Senator Hugh Segal. Senator Jaffer has worked extensively with BUY-A-NET. Last November, while visiting Uganda for the Commonwealth Summit, she teamed up with BUY-A-NET at the Mulago hospital in Kampala to distribute bed nets to the Oncology Unit. “I was horrified to learn of children surviving cancer only to die from malaria, a completely treatable illness,” says Jaffer. She further says, “Investing in Malaria control is good value for Canadian aid dollars: you can literally save a life for the price of six dollars!” …
Download the Press Release
