Social Justice Initiative

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CARRIES A 43LB WATER JUG AROUND SCHOOL FOR TANZANIA
Posted on 11/11/2015

November 11, 2015 - BARRIE: Marissa Druken, a Grade 12 student attending St. Joseph's Catholic High School in Barrie, has taken a unique approach to raising money to build a well in Tanzania, Africa. She is carrying a 43 lb jug of water around school until she raises enough money to help a struggling village in Africa. Along with her full back pack, Marissa carries this jug during school from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, that's the equivalent of holding a child all day!

Marissa travelled to Tanzania with a group of students from St. Joseph's back in May to help build a school in a remote village. A teacher from St. Joseph's still keeps in contact with the local priest from this village, and indicated that they are currently in a year long drought, making retrieving water for the village difficult; they are in much need of a well.

In Tanzania, Marissa went on a "Water Walk" with the women of the village. They walk two kilometres, both ways, 12 times a day for water, so Marissa knows the struggles of this small village. She is determined to help. Now in her third week of fundraising, Marissa has collected almost $400. Students at St. Joseph's are approaching Marissa in the halls at school to donate money, but she has also set up an online GoFundMe page to raise money at https://www.gofundme.com/ab8h22jg.