MEDIA RELEASE PR38148
Kiwanis Selects Three Finalists for Worldwide Service Project
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Proposed projects will combat global diseases
Kiwanis International is searching for its next global cause, and its International Board of Trustees has
selected three Worldwide Service Project finalists: Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases for their
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) proposal; Malaria No More and the Canadian Red Cross for their joint
malaria proposal; and UNICEF for its proposal on maternal and neonatal tetanus.
"The three remaining proposals are extremely impressive," said Kiwanis International President Paul
Palazzolo. "Any one of them would make a great Worldwide Service Project, and each would significantly
improve the lives of millions of children around the world."
Last fall, Kiwanis received nearly 200 Worldwide Service Project proposals. Earlier this month, the board
heard presentations on four potential projects.
"Today, we begin engaging our members in the discussion on Kiwanis' next Worldwide Service Project,"
Palazzolo said. "By visiting www.kiwanis.org/wsp, our 600,000 adult and youth members have the opportunity
to view each proposal and participate in an online discussion forum."
The website and discussion forum will be available in eight languages: English, Spanish, French, German,
Italian, Dutch, Japanese and Chinese.
The Kiwanis International Board will announce the next Worldwide Service Project at the Kiwanis
International Convention in Las Vegas, NV, in June.
Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases: NTDs The Global Network for Neglected Tropical
Diseases proposal's goal is to ensure that the more than 1 billion children born between 2003 and 2020
journey into adulthood as the first generation to grow and thrive without the burden of NTDs.
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of 13 parasitic and bacterial infections that are the most
common infections of the 1.4 billion people-including 600 million school-aged children-who live on less than
US$1.25 per day. They include intestinal worms, elephantiasis, and trachoma, the world's leading cause of
preventable blindness. Together, NTDs blind, disfigure, stigmatize and kill, keeping those infected trapped in a
cycle of poverty and disease.
There are highly cost-effective, proven interventions for the seven most common NTDs that account for 90
percent of the global NTD disease burden. For approximately 50 cents per person per year, the diseases can
be prevented and treated. The Global Network proposes that a 10-year, US$150 million investment will
leverage US$1 billion globally.
Malaria No More and the Canadian Red Cross: Malaria The Malaria No More (MNM) and the Canadian
Red Cross (CRC) project proposes to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015-a goal endorsed by the global
community.
Malaria kills 3,000 children in Africa every day. But thanks to a new generation of tools, on-the-ground
successes and increased political and public support, the world is better prepared to defeat malaria now than
at any other time in history. Investments in malaria are reaping huge rewards, and have helped reduce malaria
deaths and illnesses by more than 50 percent in several African countries, including Rwanda, Eritrea, Zambia,
Botswana and the Islands of Zanzibar between 2000 and 2008.
The project would raise US$60 million over six years for mosquito net distribution, training and technical
assistance and awareness.
UNICEF: Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus
Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) kills one baby every four minutes. MNT can abruptly turn the joy of
new life into wrenching tragedy. Its effects are excruciating-tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions
and become hypersensitive to light, sound and touch. Even a mother's soothing voice and comforting caress
are unbearable for the infant. Few babies survive. Tetanus may claim the mother's life as well.
In impoverished countries, where women have little access to health care, many are forced to give birth in
an unsanitary environment. Tetanus spores are found everywhere-in the air, soil and contaminated objects.
Bacteria can enter the mother's body through open wounds and pass through a newly cut umbilical cord. Once
the baby is infected, a lethal toxin attacks his or her nervous system.
Tetanus is highly preventable. Three doses of a vaccine can protect mothers and babies.
The project would raise US$110 million to eliminate a deadly disease and save 129 million mothers and
their future babies.
What is a Worldwide Service Project?
Children and communities worldwide have diverse needs-access to healthcare, clean water, safe shelter,
safety from slavery, access to education and so many others. A Worldwide Service Project is a directed
program that engages all 600,000 youth and adult Kiwanis family members to make a positive difference in the
world by helping children in need.
Kiwanis successfully completed its first Worldwide Service Project, virtually eliminating iodine deficiency
disorders (IDD). Kiwanis raised more than US$100 million, which helped change lives in more than 89 nations.
The number of households estimated to be consuming iodized salt has jumped from 20 percent in 1990 to
more than 70 percent, and the effort has been heralded as one of the most successful health initiatives in the
world.
About Kiwanis International
Founded in 1915, Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child
and one community at a time. Kiwanis International and its service leadership programs for young people,
including Circle K International, Key Club International, Key Leader, Builders Club, Kiwanis Kids, Kiwanis
Junior and Aktion Club dedicate more than 19 million volunteer hours and invest US$100 million to strengthen
communities and serve children annually. The Kiwanis International family comprises 600,000 adult and youth
members in 70 countries and geographic areas. For more information about Kiwanis International, please visit
SOURCE: Kiwanis International
CONTACT: Jo Lynn Garing,
O: +1-317-217-6171,
C: +1-317-508-6337,
jgaring@kiwanis.org, or
Kristian Little,
O: +1-317-217-6176,
klittle@kiwanis.org,
both of Kiwanis International
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