Jags Bring Marissa Closer to her Goal

Jags Bring Marissa Closer to her Goal
Posted on 01/19/2016
Goal Image

Picture a woman walking three to five kilometres to collect drinkable water several times a day. Now imagine this woman doing the same thing every day of her life. The women in Tanzania do this instead of getting a good education or caring for their families at home to keep their community healthy.


Marissa Druken, a grade twelve student at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Barrie, had the opportunity to experience the Tanzania water walk with the local women when she went on the mission trip to Africa last May. She said, “I went over there thinking I was going to change their lives, but when I came back I realized they had changed mine.” This motivated her to fundraise enough money to build a well for the community she visited in Arusa, Tanzania. To raise awareness for the water crisis in Tanzania she has been carrying around a water jug weighing 43 pounds through the hallways at St. Joe’s from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day.


This hasn’t been easy. After the first day she said her muscles were aching and her whole body was shaking. Initially it took her ten minutes to get to each class, but in the past ten weeks she has adapted and can get  from class to class faster. Her body is now familiar with carrying the water jug around, so she isn’t as sore by the end of the day.  When asked how long she intends to do this she said, “My plan is to carry it until I reach my goal of $5000. If  I don’t  reach my goal for years from now, I will  still be happy carrying it every day.”


The staff and students at St. Joe’s came together as a community to support her outstanding fundraising efforts by having a Charity Dress Down Day on Friday, January 15, 2016. To participate students were asked to bring a minimum of $2. In the ten weeks leading up to the Dress Down Day Marissa had raised $3,500. The  Charity Dress Down Day pushed Marissa’s earnings to near  $4,500, only $500 shy of her goal.   


Marissa is an inspiration to everyone around her and is an amazing role model for all the students at St. Joe’s. The St. Joe’s community is incredibly proud of Marissa and her accomplishments. We are confident she will reach her goal soon!

Written by Jocelyn Penny, Student Journalist