The adage “think globally, act locally” encourages people to be cognizant of the health of the entire planet by taking action in their own communities. For a group of students at Capistrano Valley High School, their action in Mission Viejo impacted the lives of people more than 9,000 miles away in Uganda. Partnering with local organization Wells of Life, the Capo Valley youth ambassadors raised money to restore a fresh water well in Uganda.
Capo Valley senior Siena Huang led the charge on the project, contacting Wells of Life to present its mission and purpose to the Model UN program. Compelled by the organization’s mission, she became more involved as an intern and started the Water Club.
“When I learned about the mission of Wells of Life and found out how many people don’t have access to clean water, I wanted to become more involved with the organization. This is a really important cause, and I wanted to do what I could to empower other young people to help,” Huang said.
The students made Ugandan-styled bracelets that they sold locally and solicited donations from teachers and organizations to raise $4,100 to repair a well. That well in Uganda features a plaque with the Capistrano Valley High School name, forever connecting the communities.
The club started with around 40 members, and they continue to recruit underclassmen to keep it going after the founders graduate. They are spreading the word to other CUSD high schools, helping them build clubs and sharing the knowledge of fundraising and event organization.
The fundraising continues into this year, as they work to build partnerships throughout the community for longer-term sponsorship. A big event is coming on May 3, with the Run4Water 5k run/1k walk at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley. You can donate to the team here (TEAM CAPO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL) to help raise the $4,000 for another well.
For over a decade, Wells of Life has been working to improve the lives of citizens of rural Uganda. The mission of the organization is to provide access to safe, clean water through the installation or restoration of sustainable borehole water wells. The Healthy Village Program aka WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) also works with the villages on educational programs. Wells of Life has a team of 24 local Ugandans that help work in the villages teaching the families healthy hygiene and sanitation practices that keep them more healthy.
“Culturally, in Uganda, children are required to fetch the water for a village. That often leads to children missing school, and if a family has a boy and a girl in school, then the girl is the one tasked with bringing the water back,” said Michelle Danly, Director of Programs of the Wells of Life US Headquarters in San Juan Capistrano. “The majority of the time, that water is unsafe and unclean, leading to the spread of disease.”
A single water well can give access to clean water to over 1,000 people, and Wells of Life has built and restored over 1,200 wells. Going beyond supplying the clean water is education on washing, hygiene and cleanliness that most Ugandans have never experienced. Wells of Life employs 24 native Ugandans who teach healthy habits to villagers to further impede the spread of waterborne disease.
While the work these students have done with Wells of Life is inspiring, it speaks to a larger purpose that they are drawn to in terms of service. Their dedication and drive to contribute to a greater cause is something they hope to inspire in their peers.
“It is vital for people our age to serve others to help find a purpose for our future endeavors,” Huang said. “It enables us to discover our skills, how to work with other people and our true passion.”
