We at Global Water believe in order to ensure the success of humanitarian projects for generations to come, we must educate the youth of today about the need and solutions for some of the humanitarian challenges the world’s populations face today (such as access to safe, life-sustaining water).

With that in mind, Global Water wants to encourage students, teachers, parents and school administrators to join us in our program to increase awareness about water problems/solutions in the developing world, and to fight to create clean water resources for rural populations in developing countries.

We strongly encourage teachers that are interested in initiating fundraising activities to have their students include reflection letters of their experience. This helps students personalize their effort.

Some of the ways you can get involved:

• Give a presentation to your class to raise awareness about the importance of water for human needs. Global Water has created presentation slides with text descriptions for you to use whether you’re a teacher or student.

• Spark a class discussion with an essay contest or a debate on the topic – Is safe water a human right? If so, should a developing country’s leaders provide safe water to all their citizens (as developed countries now do)? Or pick another water-related topic relating to water conservation or pollution.

• Begin a school-wide pledge to conserve water.

• Start a fundraising effort with your school on behalf of Global Water; we’ll use the proceeds to help pay for safe water systems, latrines and hygiene-related facilities as shown on our website – (See our PowerPoint slides showing facilities we’re building for rural villagers in the developing world today). Contact us for ideas about fundraising; here’s a link to some to get you started – Creative Fundraising Ideas.

Another wonderful organization called RandomKid (www.randomkid.org) can also help you with fundraising ideas; in particular, the RandomKid folks can help you sell your own uniquely designed private-labeled bottled water as a fundraiser. A great benefit to this program is that they actually pay for your bottles (so you don't have to), and all their services are free
(www.randomkid.org/water.asp).

RandomKid is a very special organization led by a very special CEO and founder still in Middle School, herself. Talia Leman, RandomKid’s CEO is the winner of numerous international and national awards for her philanthropic work while in elementary school. It’s an amazing story that’s still being written. Here’s a chart showing some of the unique qualities of the RandomKid organization. (See RandomKid’s Uniqueness Chart)

Kathleen is Global Water’s K-8 Correspondent for students and teachers. Should you need any assistance with information, gathering resources or if you need any questions answered, feel free to contact her directly through email – Kathleen@globalwater.org. Contact Kathleen today and join us in our mission to provide safe water supplies in the developing world.

As an alternative, you may also contact the Global Water Program Management Office at: 805-985-3057. Thanks for wanting to do something special.

Here’s What Elementary & Middle School Students Have Done –

1) Tilia Prior's '07-'08 sixth grade class at Captain James Cook Elementary School in Canada created a very beautiful and heartfelt book of letters documenting their experience of raising funds for Global Water projects in Central America. They held a heated debate to discuss the importance of three different non-profit organizations, and in the end it was Global Water they chose to raise funds for. This class provided Global Water with a check for $1,130 which was a result from the hard work they put into a coin drive, bake sale and a Walk-a-Thon for Water. (Read Letters) This money was sent to Guatemala to support the Healthy Schools Program there.

2) The eighth grade graduating class at a Wisconsin middle school provided us with $60 they collected for a Global Water project in July, 2008.

3) A young girl by the name of Samantha Hida was one of the winners of a school-wide "Charity Is" essay contest at Kaneohe Middle school in Hawaii. She eloquently expressed why she felt Global Water's work is so crucial. Global Water in turn received a donation of $100 on behalf of her winning essay from a local business. (Read Essay)

4) A kindergarten class at Public School 11 in Brooklyn, New York raised $270 for a Global Water project. As the children studied non-fiction, focusing on underwater animals, they came to the conclusion that water is vital for all living species and wanted to help the children of the world. These children know that everyone has the right to clean water. Thank you PS 11!