William Floyd Middle School students and teachers were recognized for their noble fundraising mission to build a brand-new clean water well in Africa.
Through a month-long campaign that began last February, students raised and donated a total of $1,118.92 to Strides for Africa, which will pay for the construction of a water well at Zokeseh Public School in Nimba County, Liberia.
This fundraising effort, which was matched by Milburn Flooring and Renu Contracting and Restoration, will help more than 771 people at the school and within the surrounding community have clean drinking water for the next 20-25 years.
The fundraiser was spearheaded by the school’s seventh-grade ELA classes as part of their unit on Linda Sue Park’s novel A Long Walk to Water, a book that focuses on the struggles that people living in third-world and developing countries face in trying to access clean drinking water. William Floyd Middle School principal Camelle Person credits sixth-grade teacher Michael Rivera as a tremendous source of guidance and input for this project given his past experiences working with Strides for Africa.
This fundraising effort helps the students connect what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world issues and discover ways they can help those in need.
“By participating in the project, students not only deepened their understanding of the novel’s themes but also took on the role of global citizens,” said Mrs. Person. “They learned the impact of collective action, the importance of community involvement, and the value of making a positive difference in the world.”
Strides for Africa development coordinator Jacob Breit hosted a congratulatory assembly for the WFMS students.
Jacob’s presentation highlighted the impact William Floyd Middle School helped make in addition to showing pre- and post-construction pictures of the well. The assembly was attended by the now eighth-grade students who participated in the completed Zokeseh project, and this year’s seventh-grade students who will soon be participating in a fundraiser of their own for a well at the Troupoe Public School in Liberia.
At the conclusion of the assembly, Jacob presented a personalized plaque to William Floyd Middle School as a token of Stride for Africa’s appreciation. Seventh-grade ELA teachers Mary Rose Warasila, Amanda Zabbia and Taylor Pierce accepted the plaque on behalf of WFMS.
A second plaque was also given to Michael VanDenburg of Milburn Flooring and Renu Contracting and Restoration, which Mrs. Person accepted on his behalf.
“Since first partnering with your school back in 2016, we have successfully completed enough clean water projects for thousands of people,” said Mr. Breit. “We cannot be more thankful to the students, family and friends of your community, and it is such an honor to visit each year.”