While Patricia Laurence Meche Tamgno was a YES student in the U.S., a cousin was born in Cameroon. At just 5 months old, the baby died of malaria. Patricia never had the chance to meet her baby cousin. Rather than grieving, Patricia took action. She applied for a YES alumni grant to bring to Cameroon what she had observed in the U.S.; public health education and volunteerism. In the summer of 2012 she engaged a large group of YES alumni to contribute to malaria eradication in Cameroon through the All Against Malaria project, a sanitization campaign. The YES alumni received training and knowledge about malaria from an expert physician at the local Japoma District Hospital which was a co-sponsor of the project.

The All Against Malaria initiative had several phases which started with YES alumni along with others volunteering for an intensive cleanup at the hospital. Next, the YES team distributed information targeted at the local vulnerable population especially pregnant women, the elderly population and students, informing them of the sanitization campaign and inviting them to a public workshop called "How to Prevent Malaria at Home, How to Set up Mosquito Nets". The public health workshop was held in in the town of Douala and was attended by 200 persons who listened to the trained YES volunteers and local health experts speak about malaria and its prevention. YES alumni demonstrated how to use mosquito nets and tested and quizzed the attendees on their use before distributing the mosquito nets.  

Another phase of All Against Malaria was an event at the Orphanage St Jean of Deido in Douala City. The YES-led team helped clean, washed kids’ clothes and and gave small gifts to the children. They talked about malaria and taught the nurses how mosquito-nets should be set up properly.

Patricia reports that the project has changed the role of the volunteers in the community. She did not imagine that the youth who worked on the project would positively influence the community and make such an impact. She and the team have received many thanks and letters of congratulation asking them to repeat the initiative.

Throughout the program, Patricia and her team were supported by local public authorities such as the local Chief of the Pariso area. They also received tremendous support and guidance from the iEARN-SchoolNet staff that run the YES program in Cameroon.