Featured blog post
Small Steps, Big Impact: Matoska’s Water Warriors
Matoska International School in White Bear Lake, MN, has partnered with H2O for Life since 2011, collectively raising over $72,000 to fund international clean water and sanitation projects. Led by passionate fifth-grade “Water Warriors” who educate younger classrooms, create signage, and rally the community, the program turns local action into global relief.
Recently, Matoska’s student “Water Warriors” took to the shores of White Bear Lake for their annual Walk for Water. This wasn’t just a walk in the park—it was a powerful exercise in global citizenship. To truly understand the daily reality faced by millions of children worldwide, students filled up two-liter jugs and carried the heavy load for 1.5 miles down to the lake.
When a community comes together, those small jugs add up to massive waves of change. Thank you to the Matoska students, staff, and families for proving that you are never too young to make a global impact!
You can learn more about how students are driving change through this initiative in the PBS NewsHour feature on H2O for Life. This video highlights the incredible connection between US school fundraisers and the installation of clean water systems in schools around the world.
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Projects in Need
Guano Kaskita Simon Bolivar
Surrounded by the mist of the mountainous climate, amid coffee plantations and small streams, is Simón Bolívar School, located in the community of Guano Kaskita. Here, 112 children study, and currently there are two teachers: one for kindergarten and another covering the entire primary school.Normally, there would be three teachers: one for kindergarten, another for first and second grade, and a third for third through sixth grade. However, because one teacher became seriously ill, the other had to take over all groups. This situation makes teaching more challenging, so the children must work twice as hard to pay attention and keep up with their lessons.According to the teachers, some students come from communities up to two hours away. “Those who live nearby walk 20 minutes; those farther away, up to two hours, to get to school,” they explain.
Ukumbi Primary School
Ukumbi Primary School is a government-owned day school situated in Ukumbi Village. The school serves both boys and girls from nearby communities and currently has a total enrollment of 760 pupils, supported by 11 staff members, including both teachers and non-teaching personnel. Despite its commitment to providing quality education, Ukumbi faces a significant challenge regarding access to safe and reliable water.
Mukuthu Secondary School
Mukuthu Secondary School was founded in 2013 through a community initiative. The parents acquired the school land, while the buildings and other infrastructure were acquired using government funds and support from the parents. The school has grown in terms of population and academic performance over the years. There are currently 110 students, 61 girls and 59 boys, and 14 administrators/staff.
