Students celebrate completion of Sudan well

WATKINS GLEN--Just a year after the Watkins Glen class of 2020 raised more than $15,000 to fund a well in South Sudan, students have received word that the well has been completed.
The Water for South Sudan Charity notified the students with a letter and photos of the completed well in the village of Bookanyara. The well includes an inscription recognizing the students for their efforts.
Representatives from the class of 2020 shared the photos and additional information with the media and guests during a brief ceremony at 1 p.m. June 7 in the Watkins Glen high school library.
In the fall of 2014, the then seventh-graders read "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park, which tells the story of Nya, an 11-year-old girl in South Sudan who must travel two hours from her home twice a day to get the only water available for her family. The book also tells the story of Salva Dut, founder of Water for South Sudan.
After reading the story, students were inspired to take action and decided to lead the district in a fundraising campaign for the charity. Their goal was to raise $15,000, which is the amount it takes to build a well for a village in South Sudan. They made more than 48 presentations within the district in a single day, spoke to community organizations, sent letters to local businesses and held several fundraising events.
"This group of less than 100 students had such a powerful impact on this generous community that the funds were raised in just over four months," said Tammy Kellogg, seventh grade-advisor. "It is satisfying to see the final culmination of this project. Furthermore, it serves to demonstrate how even a group of seventh grade students can make a difference in the world. A good model for we adults to remember."