Mosquitoes y Yo: Student Scientists in Ecuador
Donation protected
History of Mosquitoes Y Yo
In 2016, two professor friends collaborated to create an educational program to improve college preparedness among students in Des Moines, Iowa. The students served by the program attend schools served by a university-school partnership called the ISU 4U Promise. Through this partnership, students are eligible for tuition awards in support of their future undergraduate studies. The educational program builds on young learners' innate curiosity about the natural world. With its particular insect focus, Mosquitoes and Me aims to nurture students' capacity to ask and answer big questions and support this skill as an important part of their college-going journey. So far, the Mosquitoes and Me program has reached hundreds of students through its immersive after-school and summer educational experiences and community-based events. Mosquitoes and Me participants learn authentic science practices while applying ideas about mosquito ecology to their local environment. This unique program uses an ambitious and culturally-responsive approach to science education that emphasizes student-centered intellectual engagement and creative thinking.
In 2017, Avriel Diaz and Naveed Heydari (Walking Palms Global Health) translated and adapted these materials to create Mosquitoes Y Yo - a program for students in Ecuador. Mosquitoes Y Yo uses the same materials and spirit as Mosquitoes and Me, with an expansion to include the potential health impacts of mosquitoes in tropical countries - an important consideration in Ecuador, where dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and malaria are major threats to children's health. This program was launched using a summer camp format targeting students aged 8-14 years old. The camp participants in Ecuador loved the programs and continue to ask when we will host another Mosquitoes Y Yo camp! We run our programs entirely with local staff, providing training, benefits and full-time employment for our Ecuadorian team. Whenever possible, we buy our supplies and print our materials in-country to help support the local economy. Children attend the program at no cost and are provided with all course materials and snacks during the camp. 100% of our funds go directly to Mosquitoes Y Yo supplies and program staff salaries.
Funding Needs for 2019
To continue and expand these programs in 2019, we need funding to support our local staff and bring materials to Ecuador! We have ideas to grow our programs and impact, but our most immediate goal is to cover the expenses for staff training and preparation leading to two 10-day camps for 140 children in spring 2019, based in Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador. Our fundraising goal is $18,140, which would support the following:
· $8000 for five full-time staff to prepare for and lead two camps for 140 children in spring 2019
· $5870 for learning laboratory set-up and equipment
· $550 for educational materials and supplies for 140 children
· $2800 for daily healthy snacks during each ten-day camp
· $920 for field trips and transportation
Please consider carefully what level of support you can provide. While we appreciate any amount, specific levels fund concrete impacts:
· Every $18 funds an additional day of full-time salary and benefits for our staff
· Every $20 covers snack-time for an additional child throughout camp
· With $25, we can buy the materials to build a microscope stand for the classroom!
· $140 covers the printing of Scientist Logs for all participating children!
· $550 would cover the costs for a specialized training program for a staff member
· $2000 will buy a professional microscope for the learning laboratory
Your Donation Will Make You Part of the Team
Our funders will have an opportunity to video-chat with our camp participants and will receive a report summarizing camp activities.
In 2016, two professor friends collaborated to create an educational program to improve college preparedness among students in Des Moines, Iowa. The students served by the program attend schools served by a university-school partnership called the ISU 4U Promise. Through this partnership, students are eligible for tuition awards in support of their future undergraduate studies. The educational program builds on young learners' innate curiosity about the natural world. With its particular insect focus, Mosquitoes and Me aims to nurture students' capacity to ask and answer big questions and support this skill as an important part of their college-going journey. So far, the Mosquitoes and Me program has reached hundreds of students through its immersive after-school and summer educational experiences and community-based events. Mosquitoes and Me participants learn authentic science practices while applying ideas about mosquito ecology to their local environment. This unique program uses an ambitious and culturally-responsive approach to science education that emphasizes student-centered intellectual engagement and creative thinking.
In 2017, Avriel Diaz and Naveed Heydari (Walking Palms Global Health) translated and adapted these materials to create Mosquitoes Y Yo - a program for students in Ecuador. Mosquitoes Y Yo uses the same materials and spirit as Mosquitoes and Me, with an expansion to include the potential health impacts of mosquitoes in tropical countries - an important consideration in Ecuador, where dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and malaria are major threats to children's health. This program was launched using a summer camp format targeting students aged 8-14 years old. The camp participants in Ecuador loved the programs and continue to ask when we will host another Mosquitoes Y Yo camp! We run our programs entirely with local staff, providing training, benefits and full-time employment for our Ecuadorian team. Whenever possible, we buy our supplies and print our materials in-country to help support the local economy. Children attend the program at no cost and are provided with all course materials and snacks during the camp. 100% of our funds go directly to Mosquitoes Y Yo supplies and program staff salaries.
Funding Needs for 2019
To continue and expand these programs in 2019, we need funding to support our local staff and bring materials to Ecuador! We have ideas to grow our programs and impact, but our most immediate goal is to cover the expenses for staff training and preparation leading to two 10-day camps for 140 children in spring 2019, based in Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador. Our fundraising goal is $18,140, which would support the following:
· $8000 for five full-time staff to prepare for and lead two camps for 140 children in spring 2019
· $5870 for learning laboratory set-up and equipment
· $550 for educational materials and supplies for 140 children
· $2800 for daily healthy snacks during each ten-day camp
· $920 for field trips and transportation
Please consider carefully what level of support you can provide. While we appreciate any amount, specific levels fund concrete impacts:
· Every $18 funds an additional day of full-time salary and benefits for our staff
· Every $20 covers snack-time for an additional child throughout camp
· With $25, we can buy the materials to build a microscope stand for the classroom!
· $140 covers the printing of Scientist Logs for all participating children!
· $550 would cover the costs for a specialized training program for a staff member
· $2000 will buy a professional microscope for the learning laboratory
Your Donation Will Make You Part of the Team
Our funders will have an opportunity to video-chat with our camp participants and will receive a report summarizing camp activities.
Organizer
UEP SEPA
Organizer
Ames, IA
