World Malaria Day dinner!

The only mosquitoes in sight at the fund-raising dinner, held on World Malaria Day (25 April) at the Empire Banqueting Suite in Leicester, were young people masquerading as the deadly creatures during the evening’s dramatic entertainment. Excitement filled the air as Michael Tweed and Bilal Hassam, the FaithsAct Fellows who have been located within St Philip’s Centre since October 2009, compèred a splendid three hour event which hosted at least 250 people. Tables were filled with people of all ages, and coming from numerous traditions. They were treated to serious information about the impact of malaria in countries like Malawi and Zanzibar, to comedy, music and speeches, and to a wonderful 3-course dinner. The whole occasion was a marvellous credit to the hard work of the Fellows who, together with Raheema Caratella from St. Philip’s, have quietly built up their networks over many weeks.

At least £9,500 was raised from this event, with many people taking the opportunity to give extra to buy bed nets for African families. This amount includes a personal matching contribution by Tony Blair, from the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. All of this will go towards the purchase of simple bed nets, which have been proven to be the best safeguard against catching malaria from deadly mosquitoes. The disease exists in over 100 countries and kills up to 1 million people every year, most of these in sub Saharan Africa, and most of them young children and pregnant mothers. The FaithsAct Fellows have made a huge impression in St Philip’s and throughout the city. Energetic, focussed and skilled at drawing young people from all faiths into working together for causes linked to the Millennium Development Goals, the Fellows come to the end of their stay with the Centre on 20th May. Their aim has been to develop what they call an interfaith HUB, which will carry on the work that has begun. An initiative of the Tony Blair Foundation, there are many such HUBs developing around the country and the world. Everyone who has watched their work grow over such a short period of time has expressed deep admiration for what has been achieved.

FaithsAct Fellow Michael says, “It’s been a real thrill launching the Leicester Interfaith Youth Hub this year. Right now, faith communities in Africa are working together to tackle the injustice of malaria, and in Leicester young people have shown faith communities can work together here too. I am planning to continue my learning with a move down to London, to apply my experience in grass roots action to the management consultancy sector at Accenture. I’d just like also to say a big thank you to everyone at and connected with St Philip’s, especially Raheema Caratella. This year’s Hub launch wouldn’t have been such a success without her support”. Bilal also writes, "It has been an absolute pleasure working with the St Philips Centre over the past eight months. Young people of Leicester have proved that they too can be part of the interfaith movement and demonstrate how faith can be a force for good in the world. I am looking forward to returning to my final year of medical school at the University of Nottingham and am looking forward to hearing about the wonderful things the Leicester Interfaith Youth Hub will go on to achieve in the coming months and years." 

Dr Alan Race, first printed in Faiths Engage, the Newsletter of the St Philip's Centre www.stphilipscentre.co.uk