FeedsStudents exceed fundraising goal
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Seventh graders, Kris Scott and Robin Seay, present a check to Lara Wineman, African Well Fund representative.A fundraiser taken on by students at North Middle School turned out to be more than a drop in the bucket.
The seventh graders started the school year with a goal to make a difference and they wanted to come up with $5,500 to install a well at a school in rural Uganda, said Steve Hudock, who started the initiative with fellow seventh grade teacher Ron Hoepfner.
“This program is a great opportunity for students to take on a leadership role within their community while raising money for a worthwhile cause,” said Hudock.Last year, the class raised $7,700-enough to have three wells installed in Zimbabwe.
This year, they raised more than $8,100-enough to build the well at the Uganda school, educate the recipients on its use, and fund half of another well in Africa.
The students and their teachers partnered with The African Well Fund (AWF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and maintaining wells in water-sparse regions in Africa. Now that the funds have been raised, AWF will drill, install, and help to maintain the well, according to Hudock.
Students participated in a variety of fundraising activities, including a spaghetti dinner. They visited other classes and schools throughout the Van Buren School District, as well, to practice their public speaking by making the case for the well to other students and teachers.
They launched a letter writing campaign that taught persuasive writing skills as they made their case to the community, local newspapers, elected officials, celebrities, and family members for donations and support. Michigan House of Representative member Dian Slavens, attended the spaghetti dinner fundraiser, and Michigan Governor Jennifer Graholm sent a response to a student along with a personal donation. Piggy banks and savings of the participating students were gladly donated to the cause as the seventh graders learned to care for those who they haven’t even met.
“This project has been more than just one that raised money for an African school,” said Hudock, “It was a project that brought together our community and also instilled a sense of pride and respect among the students.
“It taught them that they can be an active member in society and they can bring about change on a global scale,” he added. “Our students have learned quite a bit from this project and have grown as humans.”
