L-B students raise funds for well in Uganda

FINDLAY — A group of students at Liberty-Benton Middle School have raised money to make it possible for children in Uganda to have access to clean water. Kendra Spears led the Wells of Life Action Team at Liberty-Benton Middle School, which began its work during the 2024-2025 school year. The students worked to raise money to restore a wall in Uganda so children there could have clean drinking water. Spears said 90% of Ugandans live in rural communities, nearly two-thirds of which lack access to safe water. Spears, then a Liberty-Benton teacher, helped the studetns learn more about Uganda and the need for the project, but the middle school's action teams are all student-led. Once Spears got them started, the students began researching the topic on their own. They learned that girls in Uganda often do not go to school because they walk miles to get clean water for their families. They learned that children die from illnesses spread by drinking unclean water. The cost to restore a well would be around $3,000. Spears said the students raised around $1,100, with other donors agreeing to make up the difference. Spears said she had the children come up with their own ideas for how to raise funds. They decided to sell water bottles at the concession stand for middle school athletic events, with proceeds going toward restoring the well. Spears had them get permission from school administration to run the event, and students then signed up to work shifts at the concession stand. They had labels on the bottles to let those purchasing them know that their purchases were making a difference. The students also had large water jugs that they put in a student lounge area, and held a class competition between the grade levels. Students would put change in a water jug, with each grade trying to raise more money than the others. Spears said she told them that, if they were going to ask their classmates to donate, they would need to explain why. So the students educated their peers on Uganda. They posted information above water fountains and sinks in the school, pointing out that they can take it for granted that they can wash their hands and get a drink of water "and kids in Uganda, they don't have that luxury." Students created a presentation with slides and videos, educating the student body on why they should bring their change in to make a difference. While the project started during the 2024-2025 school year, it was not until more recently that the students were able to see what their work had led to. They were sent a book of photographs from when Well #R516 in Mukunyu Village was dedicated. The book indicated that, thanks to the students, 1,130 people now have access to clean drinking water who previously did not. "I think that was pretty powerful for them," Spears said. The booklet from Wells of Life notes that access to clean water means greater access to education, income and health. Additionally, healthier children can spend more time in school. "Diseases from dirty water kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war," the booklet states. "Thanks to people like you, we are changing the narrative." Access to clean and safe drinking water decreases child mortality by 50%, the booklet states. Students at Liberty-Benton Middle School are asked to join an "action team" to do some kind of service project to make a difference. Spears said many of them work on projects closer to home, even on the school campus, while others may work on projects out in the community. Spears had become familiar with Wells of Life through her sister, who works for the nonprofit organization. The most rewarding part, for her, was "seeing them come together and really working as a team." More information about Wells of Life can be found at https://www.wellsoflife.org/