Mrs. Nirmala and the Eradication of Malaria Project

MY HERO interviewed Mrs. Nirmala, a teacher who is a key project facilitator for the Eradication of Malaria Project through iEARN, as well as one of Mrs. Nirmala's students, J.Chandana, providing a youth's perspective on the project...

How did you become involved in this project?
I was trained by the WorldLinks organization in July 2003 and there, I was introduced to iEARN. By seeing the "News Flash" and receiving messages from Mr. Ed Gragert of iEARN USA, I joined in the project and later involved my students.

What have you learned so far in working with the children?
It is quite interesting to work with the children. My students are learning a lot through "tell collaborations." Project-based learning helps very much in the learning process.

What do you think the children, so far, have learned from working with you and one another?
By being involved in the project the students have learned how to collect information and analyze it. They have learned the importance of project-based learning and teamwork. This is the first time they've worked online and they are very enthusiastic.

How do you feel that this project has benefited your community already? The project benefits our community a lot by educating on the causes and preventative measures of the disease, malaria.

What do you feel are the key factors towards the elimination of malaria in your nation?
The key factors towards the elimination of malaria are to educate the people to maintain a mosquito-free environment [and to let them know] that it is possible to follow preventive measures for malaria.

How do you feel is the best way to educate the masses regarding this disease, particularly within your nation?
I educate my children and in turn they will go to their families and villages and the communities within our nation, a process which I had already started.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your work with the project, your community/country, or the eradication of malaria?
I would like to share a few points in relation to my project work. I chose the Eradication of Malaria Project to literally educate the masses of my country through my children by their direct involvement and by the collection of material on their own and discussing the project with them in detail. They, too, are actively taking part in the project and the fieldwork which gives me encouragement and the spirit to proceed further in my project.

J. Chadana, a student's perspective...

Please tell us a little about yourself
I am J. Chandana and I am in the 9th grade. I am 14 years old. My favorite subject is biology and I would like to become a doctor.

How do you feel about the Eradication of Malaria Project, so far?
The Eradication of Malaria Project helps people all over the world know about the dreadful disease, and how to prevent it.

How do you feel about communicating with children from other nations?
It’s great. By communicating with children from other nations, we can share ideas with each other.

How do you feel about being a part of a global classroom? How is this type of learning different from what you were accustomed to? Do you enjoy it?
I feel great about being a part of a global classroom. This type of learning is different from [typical] classroom teaching. It is project-based learning.

What do you hope that you and the other students will be able to accomplish?
I try to create awareness among the people about malaria, i.e, origin, causes, effects and preventive measures against malaria.

What do you think you’ve accomplished so far?
I visited many health centers and collected information regarding malaria, its symptoms and effects.

What have you learned about malaria or the eradication of malaria that you didn’t know before?
I learned a lot about malaria. It is amazing that a single-celled organism can cause such a dreadful disease. I learned about the causes, the spread of malaria and preventive measures [against] malaria.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about the project, your experience with it, the eradication of malaria, your nation, etc.? Our project, the Eradication of Malaria, is wonderful; I hope it will save many lives.