– From the “Story Elements” framework slides, CHOOSE ONE of the frameworks given. Doesn’t matter which – choose the one that speaks to you more. Once you’ve chosen one slide, ignore the other one.
- 1. Attention-getter – make us listen
- 2. The Challenge – state or frame the problem as a world-level challenge.
- 3. The Journey – explain your methodology in an active, action-oriented way.
- 4. The Battle – describe how, with the help of your allies (partners), you have or will overcome the challenge.
- 5. The Change – state the solution / outcome / catharsis of this story.
– As a Project Team, construct a story about your project using the five story elements in the order in which they are given, #1 through #5. Each element should have one or two carefully constructed sentences.
1- Sickle cell disease is a life threatening blood disorder that unfortunately is most prevalent in the countries that lack the resources to fight it. However, we have a tangible solution that offers hope.
2- As a team, the main issue we face is the high mortality rate of children in Sierra Leone; 50-90% of SCD-affected individuals in this region die before the age of 5 (NCBI). The wide range of this statistic clearly indicates the lack of testing that is occurring in this region.
3- Our project’s idea for how to improve the lives of those with SCD is to develop a diagnostic device that is affordable, available, and accurate. This plus a system to test newborns shortly following birth and connecting those who have SCD to treatment and other resources.
4- With the help of our global partnerships, the implementation and mass distribution of our point-of-care sickle cell diagnostic test strip for early diagnosis could significantly increase the life expectancy of SCD-affected individuals.
5- Our team aims to have every hospital in Sierra Leone supplied with our test strip to test newborn babies for sickle cell disease, so that those positive for SCD can take early action treatment to manage the severity of the symptoms and reduce the child mortality rate.