Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Fifth-graders at Maxwell made posters about yellow fever and urged their schoolmates to contribute to "Nothing But Nets," which combats malaria in Africa. Lily Wright, Rand Kelly, James Bryant and Diana Wallace explained the fundraiser to a fourth-grade class on the kickoff day. (Photo: Tammy L. Lane)

Students at Maxwell Spanish Immersion Magnet School are hoping that a little spare change will make a big difference around the world.

“To spend $10 to save someone’s life, I think that really makes an impact on them,” said Michelle Tudor, a fifth-grade teacher.

One of her students, James Bryant, suggested the fundraiser for “Nothing But Nets,” a grassroots campaign to combat malaria by distributing bed nets to protect children from mosquitoes. Each net costs $10.

“They put special chemicals (on the nets) to keep the mosquitoes away,” James said.

In the past two years, more than 2 million bed nets have been distributed to people in seven countries. Businesses, sports fans and faith communities are among the contributors.

“I’m just happy to help,” James said Monday as he and his classmates kicked off the project with the morning news show and brief presentations to classes around the school. “It feels good to help other people.”

The idea came together by coincidence. James’ class was reading “Fever 1793,” a historical novel set during the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic, and he saw a video at his church with this memorable line: “Every 30 seconds, a child dies in Africa from malaria.”

A Cincinnati Bengals star’s television plea also caught his eye. “I saw Chad Johnson in Africa encouraging the kids,” James said.

James brought the “Nothing But Nets” proposal to his teacher, who is coordinating the two-week service project. One student, Eli Schaub, got a head start last weekend and collected $106 from relatives and neighbors.

Tudor has also turned the fundraiser into a learning opportunity. The four fifth-grade classes divided into small groups to research yellow fever, how it spreads and its similarity to malaria; and they created posters to share their findings with the other children.

“They’re making connections between things we’re learning about in the classroom that actually happened in history and are still going on today,” Tudor said. “They’re learning we still have to help people in other parts of the world. And they’re gaining empathy and concern and compassion for other people.”

How to help:

To contribute to “Nothing But Nets” through Maxwell Elementary, contact Michelle Tudor.