COLLEGE AMBASSADORS

[CURRENT AMBASSADORS] March Content Brief

CONTENT Spring Cleaning: Taking Inventory of On-Campus Initiatives

KEY DATES

• March 13: Draft content due! Upload your content here for review.
• Week of March 23: We will post your content on the campaign accounts, adding you as a collaborator. Be sure to keep an eye out for the request!

CONTENT BRIEF | “Spring Cleaning: Taking Inventory of On-Campus Initiatives"

Content type: A roughly 30-second vertical selfie style (no editing needed—we’ll handle that!) to inspire action in the fight for a healthier world for all.

If you’d prefer to create a carousel/infographic instead, that’s totally fine.

Purpose: As spring starts, we are “taking inventory” of student research and on-campus global health initiatives at each of your universities! In the face of uncertainty when it comes to national budgets for STEM research, this is a great chance to tell our audience about any global health-related research you or your peers are involved in (or that you know of more generally on campus). Do you have a friend doing cool work in a student lab? Is there an initiative at your school that’s particularly exciting? We want to hear about it!

Your post should include some of the following elements:

• Your experience: Share a bit about the research you’ve been a part of, the initiatives on campus you’re involved in, and so forth! As long as you feel connected to the topic (and as long as it ties into global health), everything else will flow organically.
• Why this research/these programs matter: American academic institutions have long been the backbone of our country’s scientific advancement. What is the value of these programs to you? To the country as a whole?

EXAMPLES

Example 1 (Campus Initiative/Program Focus): "Hey everyone, I'm [Name], a student at [University], and I want to talk about [name of initiative - e.g., 'our Global Health Research Symposium' or 'the Student Global Health Alliance' or 'our partnership with WHO on malaria surveillance']. This program connects students across [disciplines/departments] to tackle real global health challenges. Last semester alone, we [specific achievement - e.g., 'published two papers on vaccine hesitancy' or 'sent students to collaborate with health workers in Uganda' or 'developed a prototype diagnostic tool']. American universities have always been engines of scientific discovery—from polio vaccines to HIV treatments. But these programs need funding to thrive. At a time when research budgets are under pressure, I want people to see what's at stake: the next generation of global health leaders and innovations are being developed right here, right now." Example 2 (Discovery/Exploration): "I'm [Name] at [University], and honestly, I didn't know how much global health research was happening on my own campus until I started looking. We have labs working on [example 1], programs focused on [example 2], and student groups partnering with [example 3]. It's easy to think global health research happens 'somewhere else'—at the CDC or WHO. But the reality is that universities are where innovation starts. Student researchers are testing new ideas, collecting data, and building the foundation for future breakthroughs. With federal STEM funding uncertain, we need to protect these programs. They're not just about publishing papers—they're about building the workforce and the knowledge base that will tackle the next pandemic, eliminate malaria, and ensure health equity worldwide."

Instructions: For this video, you will film a selfie-style video of yourself. Please feel free to also get clips talking to your peers, b-roll of any on-campus buildings that are relevant, and so forth.

1) Choose your talking point Whether discussing your own research, a global health initiative on-campus, or even just a cool class you took on global health—we want to hear your voice and experiences shine through! Please do feel free to lean on the examples above for inspiration, and to engage your peers as well.   2) Create your Content For video: Find a quiet, well-lit space and film vertically (you know the drill!!) using the content brief and suggested examples as a guide. For this video, feel free to film yourself out and about on campus as well! For static post/carousel: Use the format that works best for you! Feel free to outline the text/images you want on each slide, and we are happy to help create it.   Suggested Format Introduce yourself and your school→ [We will insert a title animation while editing: “Spring Cleaning: Taking Inventory of Campus Engagement in Global Health”] → Share your story/research/cool initiative you know of on campus → Emphasize the need for continued investment in global health research and initiatives at the student level   Wrapping Up Make sure to end your video on a strong note! The goal is to emphasize that these programs/this research/etc. have been essential to your academic experience and may even have the power to shape the health of our country for generations to come.

Need anything else? If you want help drafting your script, writing your exact caption, or brainstorming how to share your personal connection, just send us your topic and we can develop a custom version for you!

February Content Brief

CONTENT BRIEF: “Global Health Starts with US”

Content Type: A roughly 30-second vertical selfie style (no editing needed—we’ll handle that!) to inspire action in the fight for a healthier world for all.

If you’d prefer to create a carousel/infographic instead, that’s totally fine.

Purpose: Connect global health issues—like vaccine access, malaria elimination, or health equity—directly to your campus, district, or state, while sharing why student voices are critical in this moment. We want to show that global health isn't "over there"—it's shaped by decisions made in our own backyard by our own representatives, and students have unique power to drive change right now.

Your post should include some of the following elements:

• Personal connection: What drew you to global health advocacy?
• The global health issue: What global health cause matters to you? (vaccines, malaria, polio, pandemic preparedness, etc.)
• The local-to-global link: How does your representative's vote or position impact this issue? (budget committees, foreign affairs, appropriations, past votes, public statements, etc.). This doesn’t just need to be a call to action – if your representatives are strong global health supporters, you can call that out too! 
• Why now matters: Why is this moment critical for student engagement? (Consider: recent global health challenges, upcoming funding decisions, the power of youth movements, etc.)
• Call to action: Invite your peers to learn more, get involved, or take one specific action—such as signing our most recent petition encouraging your members of Congress to fund global immunization programs at www.shotatlife.org

NOTE: We have dedicated state-by-state fact sheets about the benefits of U.S. investment in global health for each individual state. Please let Holly know which state sheet you would like to help craft your content, and she will share accordingly!

EXAMPLES Example 1 (Video – Your story): "I became a global health ambassador after learning that a child dies from malaria every minute. As students, we have the energy, creativity, and moral clarity to demand better. We're not waiting for permission to advocate—we're the generation that will hold leaders accountable..." Example 2 (Video - Why now matters): "I became a global health ambassador after learning that geography determines whether a child survives to age five, due to varying healthcare access. That felt fundamentally wrong to me. As students, we have something unique to offer this movement: we can translate complex global health policy into language our peers actually understand and engage with. We bridge communities. We're not just advocates—we're communicators, organizers, and future decision-makers. With global health funding decisions happening RIGHT NOW in Congress, student voices matter more than ever. Young people drove climate action into the mainstream. We're doing the same for health equity. You can get started at the link below." Example 3 (Video - Local-to-global connection): "I study global health at Johns Hopkins in Maryland. But here's what's cool: Maryland is home to major global health institutions and research. So, when I advocate for global health funding with my Senators, I'm not just fighting for kids abroad—I'm also supporting innovation and jobs in my own state. Half the world still lacks access to essential health services. My state has the expertise to change that. And as a student, I'm uniquely positioned to connect these dots for my peers and my representatives. When we call our representatives, share our stories, and mobilize our networks, we shift the conversation." Example 4 (Carousel - Personal advocacy journey): Slide 1: "Why I became a student advocate for global health" Slide 2: "I learned that 14.3M babies got zero vaccines last year. We have the vaccines. We just need the funding to deliver them." Slide 3: "Then I learned my Senator votes on that funding. And that constituent calls can sway the conversation." Slide 4: "So I called. Then I requested a meeting. Then I organized 10 classmates to do the same." Slide 5: "Student advocacy isn't abstract—it's concrete action in YOUR district. Find your rep. Make the call." [After all videos, we will add an end card that says “Global Health Starts with US”]

Instructions: For this video, you will film a selfie-style video of yourself. 1) Choose your talking point(s) and add in your personal connection You can mix and match—this month’s content is much more free-form, as we encourage you to share your own story, why you care, and why your peers should as well.    2) Create your Content For video: Find a quiet, well-lit space and film vertically (you know the drill!!) using the suggested examples as a guide. For static post/carousel: Use the format that works best for you! Feel free to outline the text/images you want on each slide, and we are happy to help create it. 

Suggested Format Introduce yourself → Share your local connection (your state/representatives/campus) → Explain why student advocacy matters right now → Connect to a specific global health issue → Share your action or call others to action

Need anything else? Let us know via email or on WhatsApp!

About the Program

The College Ambassador Program is a new initiative underway to help Shot@Life and United to Beat Malaria reach and empower younger generations. As such, College Ambassadors are “spokespeople” for the work of these global health advocacy campaigns, using their online presence to connect with other students, professionals, and leaders across the United States. Being a College Ambassador will open doors to networking and professional development in the global health and international relations sphere, and create a support system for using your voice in the movement for global health equity.

College Ambassadors Will...

RESOURCES FOR CURRENT AMBASSADORS

How to Stay in Contact

Join the WhatsApp Group | Email the Global Health Advocacy team

hpappano@unfoundation.org

Key Dates to Post

Here you will find a list of United Nations holidays and other important dates for visibility on the issues that Shot@Life and United to Beat Malaria work for. Keep these in mind when deciding when to post each month!

Key Talking Points

United to Beat Malaria

Every person around the world deserves to live a healthy, fulfilled life, but malaria threatens this promise for many of the world’s most vulnerable people, including young children, women and refugees. Despite tremendous progress made, a child still dies nearly every minute from the disease. This is a historic injustice that can — and must — be stopped through collective action. United, we will beat malaria and create a healthier, more equitable world for all.

• Malaria — caused by a bite from a female Anopheles mosquito infected with Plasmodium parasites — is one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. It is entirely treatable and preventable.
• We've made remarkable progress against malaria over the past two decades. Since 2000, U.S. and global malaria investments have prevented 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million malaria deaths, cutting the death in half.
• But in recent years, progress has stalled: malaria still kills a child nearly every minute. Half the world’s population remains at risk of malaria.
• The world faces a critical gap in funding to fight malaria. Strong investments in malaria programs not only save millions of lives, but also bolster economies, empower youth, and strengthen health systems throughout the malaria-affected world. That’s why our role as the largest U.S. grassroots campaign fighting to end malaria is so crucial to sustain progress. Our campaign educates and activates people, groups, and communities around a common objective: to save lives and eradicate this disease within our lifetime.
• Promising advancements in malaria interventions like the rollout of malaria vaccines and dual-active ingredient bed nets help strengthen our suite of tools to end this deadly disease.
• We can only beat malaria together to create a healthier, more equitable world for all.

Shot@Life

Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective ways to save and improve lives worldwide. Every $1 invested in vaccination efforts saves more than $50 in healthcare costs, lost wages, and lost productivity due to illness. Without these lifesaving tools, children have no protection against deadly and debilitating childhood diseases like measles, polio, pneumonia, and rotavirus.

Vaccines have already changed the tide of history. Immunizations have saved more than 154 million lives over the last 50 years—more than any other medical intervention. But over the past several years, global immunization services have stalled, leaving tens of millions of children completely unvaccinated and at risk of contracting preventable, deadly infectious diseases. We must work to regain the immunization ground lost over the past several years. Together, we can ensure that everyone, everywhere has a shot at a healthy life.

• #DidYouKnow immunizations currently save more than 4 million lives each year? Vaccines ensure every child is protected from deadly diseases and has a @ShotAtLife. To learn more about how to advocate for global vaccinations, visit shotatlife.org
• Vaccines protect entire communities and future generations from infectious disease. Sign the @ShotAtLife petition that lets your legislators know you support global immunization programs 👉 shotatlife.org/petition
• I advocate for global vaccine access with @ShotAtLife because every year, 1.5 million children die from vaccine-preventable diseases. We can solve this issue with lifesaving #VaccinesForAll.
• Every $1 invested in vaccination saves more than $50 in healthcare costs, lost wages, and lost productivity due to illness. This makes vaccines one of the most cost-effective global health interventions. #VaccinesWork

Ambassadors in Action

Shot@Life's Vaccine Vignettes explainer series, each featuring a College Ambassador narrator (see the episode on measles, featuring 2024-25 ambassador Rani Chor, below).

For any inquiries, please contact hpappano@unfoundation.org

And for more on our campaigns' work, visit

www.shotatlife.org | www.beatmalaria.org