Clean water means hope. Springboro Schools has raised $7,100 (and counting) to help build a well for Chitipi Primary School in Lilongwe, Malawi, Africa. With the help of teacher Randy Youst, 7th and 8th grade students at Springboro Junior High School have partnered with DOXA Wells, a Springboro based company, to build a new well for the nearly 1,500 students at Chitipi.
Mr. Youst saw an opportunity to make an impact in the community by enlisting the help of his Junior High students to work with DOXA Wells, who would be supplying the equipment and providing the install. With such high demand for clean water near Chitipi Primary School, an additional well is needed. The importance of having a long-lasting, dependable well is crucial for clean and safe drinking water. Mr. Youst will be visiting Malawi this summer and plans to setup a video chat between both sets of students at Chitipi and Springboro Junior High.
The students set out to hold a series of fundraisers over several weeks, with the goal being to raise $6,500, which is the estimated cost to provide a new well. These fundraisers included a Candy Sale, a Dodgeball event, and the Student Council donating proceeds from their Junior High Dance to the cause. The fundraising also included a “Walk for Water” where students walked 2.5 miles (or 10 laps) around the track at Watkins Stadium, carrying a full bucket of water, to simulate what it is like for the people in Malawi who walk 1-5 hours each day to retrieve dirty water for their village/school when there is no alternative. This inspired the name for the fundraising campaign, “Springboro Walk for Water.” The students not only achieved their fundraising goal, but eclipsed the mark, with more on the way. Additional funds raised will go toward repairs on existing wells.
“This is an important life lesson,” said Maureen Reuther, Principal at Springboro Junior High. “School is not just about academics, it’s also about life and how we treat one another. Sometimes we are going to have to help support those that are less fortunate, and I’m proud of our students and staff for stepping up and making a positive impact on those around the world.”