Seventh grade students at Independence Middle School participated in a service-learning project to raise funds for Water for South Sudan, an organization that drills wells for villages that do not have access to clean water.
The entire grade level read the novel “A Long Walk to Water,” after which students took part in an optional H2O Challenge with their families, made and sold friendship bracelets to raise money and awareness, and facilitated a Water Awareness Night during a home basketball double-header.
Here’s how the events unfolded, according to English teacher Maryann Correia.
Early in December, the school sent H2O Challenge information home with students through their English classes, encouraging them to get their families involved by substituting tap water for more expensive beverages and then donating the money saved. Donations were collected through the students’ English classes or via online payment using a QR code.
Students then volunteered to make friendship bracelets after school. Supplies were donated by the school’s Parent Teacher Association, which also helped sell the bracelets during lunches.
The goal was to make 300 bracelets and sell them for $2 each to raise money for Water for South Sudan.
During the after-school bracelet making event, students and staff participated in a video chat with Adriana Mancini, outreach coordinator from Water for South Sudan. Mancini shared that, to her knowledge, Independence Middle was the first school to use friendship bracelets as part of a fundraising effort for their organization.
Finally, on Dec. 19, the school hosted Water Awareness Night during home basketball games. Student volunteers created an information booth with display boards and handed out student-made flyers about water inequity and the work of Water for South Sudan. The successful campaign has raised $1,299 so far for the worthy charity.