The ultimate goal of Mosquitoes Suck: The Tour is to raise awareness and funds that can be used to fight malaria in the Global South, particularly Africa. We have a unique third-party relationship with UNICEF, in which we allocate funds raised through event admissions revenue to that organization’s bednet-provision activities, with only a minimal amount retained to cover our operating expenses. Maintaining a partnership with such a well-respected organization as UNICEF has the dual benefit of ensuring that the funds we raise are utilized responsibly and efficiently, and giving potential MST venues assurance that they’re in for a quality presentation.
Accountability and credibility are not, however, the only things that make MST a dynamic awareness and fundraising initiative. Recognizing that young audiences aren’t likely to respond positively to monotonous speeches and bland presentations, MST utilizes a wide range of entertainment options - including comedy, magic, and various forms of multimedia - to ensure attendees gain an introductory-level knowledge of malaria issues, while also having a good time.
Typically, MST presentations are around an hour long, and place a heavy emphasis on audience participation. We’ve had everyone from teachers to students to policemen participate in our comedy and magical acts, and aim to make the educational portion of the show as engaging and light-hearted as possible, while also stressing the urgency of the malaria issue. Most importantly, MST strives to meet the specific requirements of the venue at hand. In other words, we’re prepared to custom-build the presentation in order to most effectively reach our audience, whatever the setting.
Watch the video we put together after an event at Ross CVI in Guelph, Ontario for a better idea of what MST may look like if it comes to your school, and check out the drop-down menu above to get more information about the performers.