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Ripon High: Environmental Advocacy Club
The Environmental Advocacy Club at Ripon High in California focuses on learning sustainable practices and patterns for daily life implementation. We are eager and prepared to deepen our understanding of global and local issues we can address collectively. Our enthusiasm extends to fundraising efforts to positively impact areas in need of water and sanitation.
We planned 2 fundraising events to help support Green Land Junior School in Uganda. The first was a Coin Drive at school. We set up four coin jars in each English classroom, labeling them for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, making it a class competition to boost participation. Posters were also displayed to inform about the fundraising cause. The second event involved setting up a booth to sell keychains and bracelets during our year-end dance, chosen for its high attendance. Promotion was done via Instagram to remind attendees to bring cash. Additionally, club members engaged in making the keychains and bracelets during lunch, with some taking supplies home to continue the effort.
Indirectly, we raised awareness across the entire school of about a thousand individuals. Additionally, by hanging posters throughout the community, we extended awareness beyond just high school students.
“I’m so glad Emmie decided to bring this project to our club. It was a great way for our club members to get involved in creating an impact on the environment.” – Jenna, President of Environmental Advocacy Club
“All the merchandise made is so cute. I’m so glad I can make an significant impact towards a good cause.” – Student
“Sometimes it can be hard to fully understand how much people need help and I can feel hopeless. However joining environmental advocacy club I wanted to help people and the planet and I was able to accomplish and help out through making keychains.” – Club Member
– story submitted by The Environmental Advocacy Club at Ripon High
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Projects in Need
St. Kizito Kayabwe Primary School
St. Kizito Kayabwe Primary School hosts roughly 700 primary school students, taught by 17 teachers throughout 10 classrooms. This day school is government-aided, relying on governmental funds for support. Although piped water is on school grounds, it is highly unreliable, and students, mainly girls, must fetch water twice a day. The facility spends 130,000 Ush monthly (roughly $35 USD) on water alone. Additionally, students and staff must boil the water before it can be used to wash dishes, prepare food, and/or drink. To eliminate health concerns among students, we are hoping to install a new rainwater collection system and provide water filters and handwashing stations.
NUMA Water System - 14 Schools
Ghana is located in West Africa and is sandwiched between Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Togo. The northern border is the country Burkina Faso and the southern border is the Gulf of Guinea. The country is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. The landscape consists mainly of plains and low plateaus covered by rainforests in the west and Lake Volta in the east.Children in Ghana begin two years of kindergarten at age four. Then all children ages 6-12 attend six years of elementary education. If families can afford it, children go on to secondary education. Ghana’s school system is more advanced than many of its African neighbors.There are over 50 different ethnic groups in Ghana, each with their own customs and languages. But the country is harmonious and peaceful. The Akan tribe is the largest group and makes up about 45 percent of the population. They live mostly in villages and grow their food on farms.Our implementing partner, Water4, is planning the construction of 14 safe water points for schools in 6 communities in Ghana. In addition to the students enrolled, 5 to 8 teachers are living on or near each school campus and will also have access to the piped water resource. By providing safe water for teachers and staff, more teachers are willing to stay in these more rural areas rather than transferring to a more urban school district.
Unoa Primary School
Unoa Primary School was established in 1950, with Mr. William Mulu as the inaugural headteacher. Currently, the school is led by Mrs. Winfred Sila. The school, situated in Wote town adjacent to the AIC church and the National Cereal and Produce Board, occupies 11.5 acres of land with a title deed. It is a public mixed day and boarding primary/integrated school overseen by the Board of Management (BOM). Additionally, there is a small home unit established in 1982 in response to the rising number of disability cases in the region. This home unit has expanded to accommodate 60 physically challenged learners. The school has an enrollment of 1,262 pupils, with 615 boys and 646 girls. It boasts 31 equipped learning classrooms and 12 latrines, divided between boys and girls, with 4 and 8 respectively.During typical school days, students begin their lessons at 8:20 am and finish at 3:10 pm, with two breaks at 10 am and 1 pm, the latter being the lunch break. The subjects covered include mathematics, English, Kiswahili, science, social studies, CRE, music, and physical exercises. Daily, from 3:10 to 4:10 pm, they participate in games and co-curricular activities such as football, netball, and other sports, as well as athletics and music festival competitions with other schools. Following the games, teachers conduct remedial classes for students who need additional support from 4:10 pm to 5:00 pm.Students study English, which is the language of instruction at school. Pen-pal letters can be sent to the following address:Unoa Primary SchoolP.O. Box 96 – 90300Wote, Makueni, Kenya
