In spring of 2019, the seventh-grade students at Chagrin Falls Middle School (CFMS) held the Second Annual Cardboard “Cardboard Regatta” award-winning unit in which the students designed cardboard boats to paddle and ride at the community pool. The fundraiser was a part of their reading, “A Long Walk to Water” which included lessons on the importance of clean water worldwide and how to protect this resource. Their fundraising efforts have now materialized into fresh water for the people in South Sudan.
The fundraiser was held for the “Water for South Sudan” program, which delivers sustainable quality-of-life service to the people of South Sudan through access to clean, safe water and the improvement of hygiene and sanitation practices. CFMS was able to raise over $15,000 towards this project and the school was notified on March 27 that the well they sponsored had been drilled.
The Executive Director for Water for South Sudan, Lynn Malooly, wrote to the school saying that with the most recent well, the group has drilled more than 400 wells since 2005. She continued, “The installation of a new well can also serve as a starting point for conflict resolution between different groups, thus bringing peace and stability.” Each well pumps approximately 1,800 gallons of water per day and serves from 500-1000 people.
This new well is located in the village of Patai in Apuk North County, Gogrial State, South Sudan. The Donor Relations and Data Coordinator for the program, Cheri Crist, wrote to CFMS teacher, Brian Johnson, saying, “Thanks to you, a village in South Sudan now has access to clean water. Without water, life cannot sustain itself. Thank you for watering the seeds of change in South Sudan. Your generosity will provide countless opportunities for communities in South Sudan!”
