From July of 2013 to June of 2014, I was Rwanda's National Coordinator for Stomping Out Malaria in Africa, an initiative of the United States Peace Corps working to bring an end to malaria sickness and death. I regularly contributed to the organization's blog and social media outlets, as well as published several documents to facilitate the sharing of best practices internationally.
My Highlights from the Stomping Out Malaria in Africa Blog
Malaria Month Madness at Peace Corps Rwanda: An Introduction and thank You to the African Peace Corps Community
By Beth Walton Braaksma Stomping Out Malaria in Africa June 2, 2014 The thing that I love most about the Stomping Out Malaria in Africa Initiative is its ability to allow volunteers (PCVs) to share resources and best practices across the continent. Both in person at events like Malaria Boot Camp, and online through Monthly Town Halls, Facebook, the Google Drive, and this blog, there is something so inspiring about seeing our peers in other countries mobilize together behind a common goal. Sharing our stories allows us to better serve our communities in new, innovative ways; be more efficient and effective with our resources; and have a larger impact than the volunteers before us. This past month Peace Corp Rwanda celebrated World Malaria Day with its 2nd Annual World Malaria Month Competition. It was by far the most active month STOMP Rwanda has ever seen and we owe it all to our international peers. 
We’ve Got the Fever: Malaria fever that is
By Beth Walton Braaksma Abazungu! Reposted by Stomping Out Malaria in Africa April 30, 2014 This is one of those blogs where I feel the need to start off with an apology. I haven’t blogged in a long time. I could tell you I live in Africa and Internet is hard to come by. I could talk about the ups and downs of Peace Corps life and explain that sometimes you just don’t feel like taking the time to describe how different your life is to the people back home. I could tell you that my life has gotten much less exotic since I moved to Kigali, and that I have been lacking inspiration. There are many things that I could say, but the truth of the matter is, I’ve been a little sick lately. I’ve got malaria fever. Last March, I was afforded the opportunity to attend Stomping Out Malaria in Africa’s Boot Camp in Senegal. Since then, nearly everything I have done has been malaria-related. I even recently went live on You Tube translating for my friend Justine as we shared our work with Peace Corps Volunteers and partners around the world. Click here to read the full article text. 
Justine Niwemugore: Rwanda’s Very Own Malaria Super Star
By Beth Walton Braaksma Stomping Out Malaria in Africa March 4, 2014 In Rwanda, working harder often means more money. While promoting work place quality, Performance Based Financing oftentimes discourages volunteerism among host country nationals, leaving PCVs scrambling to find resources to pay their counterparts for their extra time and help. As you can imagine this makes life difficult for PCVs with little monetary resources at their disposal and a great need for local assistance with project sustainability, language and technical support. It also makes life difficult for host country nationals who themselves are often underpaid and overworked and don’t always see the connection between staying late and community change. Click here to read the full article text. 
Peace Corps Camps: A Taste of American Values, One S’more at a Time
By Beth Walton Braaksma Stomping Out Malaria in Africa January 20, 2014 As a young girl, going to camp was one of my favorite things. Overnight camps, day camps, you name it, I was there. Serious hours were logged playing sports and games, making s’mores, bonding with new friends, swimming in mucky lakes, performing at talent shows and staring at stars. To this day, there isn’t a campfire I can’t build, a song I can’t sing, a cheer I can’t chant. Camp was my serenity. It was a place to escape the dramas of junior high and high school and make new friends. It was an opportunity to explore new interests, to be creative, and to learn in a non-traditional setting. Most importantly, it was a weekly escape from my parents. At camp, I only had to be concerned about me. Click here to read the full article text. 
GLOW PCVs GLOW-Do More More More with Malaria
By Beth Walton Braaksma Stomping Out Malaria in Africa October 2, 2013 When National Malaria Coordinator Virginia Burger called last May to suggest that instead of just doing one malaria lesson at the upcoming Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Camp, we do malaria lessons every day, we both laughed nervously. Pairing malaria prevention with peer education was in line with the camp’s values of promoting leadership and healthy lifestyles. Moreover, the camp was being hosted in the East, Rwanda’s most malaria endemic province. Using Malaria No More’s Night Watch curriculum, we could show these at risk girls that in order to protect their dreams and goals for the future, they need to protect themselves now. Click here to read the full article text. |
Stomping Out Malaria in Africa Marketing and Public Relations OutreachIn March 2014, the STOMP Rwanda Team hosted its first Malaria Expo, bringing together health care professionals, educators and Peace Corps Volunteers to help Rwandans find a malaria free future. Check out our first video!
In April 2014, I was selected to participate in Peace Corps first ever live World Malaria Day Webcast, involving Peace Corps Volunteers and Africans from all over the continent.
In May 2014, I authored and designed this piece to thank our sponsors and celebrate STOMP Rwanda's World Malaria Month win. Click here to download a high-resolution PDF.
In February 2014, I authored and designed this flier for for promotional use for STOMP Rwanda's first ever Malaria Expo. Click here, to download a high resolution PDF.
In December 2013, I authored and designed this Annual Report featuring the work of STOMP Rwanda in FY12-13. Click here to download a high resolution PDF.
In December 2013, I authored and helped design STOMP Rwanda's page on the Stomping Out Malaria in Africa website. Using the same text, we developed a print flier, summarizing the program. Click here to download a high resolution PDF.
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