Every year the 6-9 year old students at the Oneness-Family School look forward to their springtime Amman-a-thon fundraiser. Teachers Madhavi Ray, Sondra Dorsey and Shawn Harrity keep the enthusiasm alive all year by informing students about progress in the Azawak via Amman Imman's updates. The students learn about the effects of water scarcity and climate change on the population. They understand that they are the foundation of a grassroots movement that is bringing water and making a tremendous difference in people's lives. By the time the Amman-a-thon comes around in May, the students are duly inspired to practice their athletic skills that will enable them to raise funds.

This year the 6 part story of how the people of Kijigari were waiting for their borehole to be finished moved them and motivated their practice. Their enthusiasm was further rewarded by a visit from Amman Imman's founder and director Ariane Kirtley, visiting in the Washington, D.C. area directly from Niger to attend a reception for a gallery exhibit of her photos at the Bing Stanford in Washington Art Gallery and and A Walk for Water events.

Ariane's visit to the classroom happened just before Amman-a-thon week. Her talk with the students and attendance at one of their Amman-a-thon practice sessions reinforced their motivation to do their very best in hopping, skipping and jumping to raise funds.

The enthusiasm extended beyond the two days of Amman-a-thon activities. In addition to the money collected through their sponsors, several of the children held small fundraisers and contributed their allowance.

Altogether the students raised close to $2,400 to help finish the Kijigari borehole.

Thank you, Students!

Sneak a peak at their Amman-a-thon here:

We recently received a donation totaling $4308.65 from Five Oaks Academy in Simpsonville, South Carolina.  The dollars raised symbolizes the tremendous spirit of these 42 students, their passionate teacher and their generous community of givers.  Throughout the school year in various fundraisers some sponsored by the Wells of Love program, the students raised $614.50.  In May, 41 students took part in an Amman-a-thon raising $3,694.60 by turning cartwheels, jumping rope, dribbling a basketball and engaging in other athletic activities.  Teacher Bonnie Benthall sent us this letter:

Dear Debbie and Ariane,
It is with great pleasure and a happy heart that I send this donation to you today.  I'm extremely proud of my students and all their efforts.  They have worked so hard for this wonderful cause.  All year long the students have been passionate about helping Amman Imman.

We have sold water at carlines and festivals.  Each student made crafts to sell at Christmas time for the Hand-in-Hand campaign, and all but one student was able to participate in our Amman-a-thon. Additionally, many of our students were so moved by this cause that they decided to raise money at home by selling soaps door to door, setting up a road side fruit stand, selling drawings, and selling candy. Other students donated allowances with parent matching their amount.  Many students are part of a local girl scout troop, which graciously donated part of their girl scout cooking money to Amman Imman.

The generosity of our students and parents continue daily.

Our school has participated in many other fundraising events, but no other organization or cause has created this large an impact on our students. I speak for all staff members at Five Oaks Academy in saying, Amman Imman and the efforts on behalf of Amman Imman have inspired our students to understand the true importance of philanthropic giving and helping others less fortunate.

I feel blessed to be a part of such a remarkable cause.  Thank you both for your support and efforts.

In Peace and Love,

Bonnie Benthall and Five Oaks Academy

Thank you, Bonnie, for being a beacon of light 

for your students and the children of the Azawak. 

You are an inspiration to teachers everywhere 

who want to teach their students 

what it means to give and take action.

Here are some photos from the Five Oaks Amman-a-thon through which the students engaged their philanthropic spirit, improved their athletic abilities, and employed their math skills while raising funds.

Over 600 students at the seven Boyd School campuses in Chantilly, Virginia took action to save lives in the Azawak of West Africa this spring.  Upper Elementary students in first grade through middle school, led by teacher Rodney Berthold and his middle school class, participated in A Walk for Water at a local park, while the younger students, ages 2 through 6, held Amman-a-thons at their schools.

This is the third year that Boyd School students have worked alongside Amman Imman: Water is Life to raise funds.  This year, I had the pleasure of presenting Amman Imman at many of the campuses. With the support of their teachers, parents, friends and neighbors, the students raised over $4,000.

Ariane Kirtley joined the Walk and spoke with the students before they started:

Some photos from Boyd School A Walk for Water

These Middle School students led the fundraising drive at their school.

About 100 upper elementary and middle school students took part in A Walk for Water.

We thank these 

Heroes of Compassion 

for walking to make a difference!

African studies came to life dramatically for the elementary students at Sunset Hills Montessori School in Reston, Virginia this year.  Along with learning about African biomes and exploring through various Montessori cultural materials, the students had an opportunity to realistically align themselves with children in the Azawak region of West Africa.  Upon learning about the tremendous hardships endured by the children and families due to an absolute lack of water, the children were empowered to take positive action.  When the school community understood the depth of the problem and realized that through Amman Imman's unique work in the region they could help, everyone jumped right in.

First, teacher Nicole Hambleton worked with Attaher Mohamed, a Tuareg from the Azawak, whom she met while volunteering for Amman Imman.  Nicole and her students purchased mosquito netting and other supplies to send to Attaher's uncle's village school near Abalak, and wrote letters to the students at the school.   The lives of children in a desolate valley in Niger began to get a little closer.

Local jewelry artist Raven Orthaevelve made beautiful pendants with the inscription, Amman Imman, Arr Issudar which means "Water is Life, Milk is Hope", a common saying heard in the Azawak in Tamashek, one of the local languages.  Using their own hand prints, all of the students made a khamsa, a symbol of good luck or protection in many cultures.  They sold the pendants and the khamsas  to raise money for the Kijigari borehole.

Jewelry donated by artist Raven Orthaevelve

In the classroom, students created dioramas of the African biomes and flags of African countries.  They also chose cultures from different countries and packed suitcases to represent the fundamental needs of the people of that culture, conducted fourteen point research, and planned trips to various countries of the aid of travel agents. A trip to the Bing Stanford Gallery to see Ariane's photos of the stark terrain of the Azawak valley and the climate's affect on the lives of the people brought their exploration to life, and helped them connect even more deeply with the people of the Azawak.   "This experience (at the gallery) really brought the work they have been doing to help the children of the Azawak home for them as they were able to see pictures of some of the children they wrote to and hold crafts the children had created and sent to America," reported Nicole.

In doing so, a region once foreign and remote became dear and familiar.  The student's concern and desire to help their African brothers and sisters deepened.   When the opportunity to participate in A Walk for Water came about, the entire community rallied to express their compassion and active support.

Parents Leisa Fowler-Sheridan and Tammy Dalakis supported Nicole in galvanizing a solid brigade of Sunset Hill families who woke up early on Saturday morning on May 15 to board the school's bus and drive 45 minutes to Lake Frank.  Driver Jennifer McCallister volunteered her time.   The children and their families walked 3.25 miles around the lake in beautiful weather in unity with over 200 people.  Reports Nicole, "To the families, it was totally worth it.... the children were very proud to be able to present a check for $1,171, plus nearly $500 in family donations to Amman Imman from their sales over the previous two weeks. Natalie Barrett couldn't make the walk and so she and her friend opened a lemonade stand and donated all of the proceeds to Amman Imman!"

In total the Sunset Hills community contributed over $2,000 towards finishing the Well of Love in Kijigari.

Thank you to the amazing students, parents, teachers and friends of Sunset Hills Montessori School!

Parkview Montessori Middle School students were proud to participate in A Walk for Water on May 7, 2010 to raise money for Amman Imman: Water is Life. The students walked 3 miles around the track at their school, in solidarity for the children of the Azawak who during their 9 month dry season must walk or ride a donkey over 30 miles in a day searching for water.  While the children in the Azawak do not have a choice but rather must walk for water to survive and help their families, the Parkview students chose to walk together and raise funds, joining a growing movement of students working together to bring water to this vast region.

Gathering together at the school pavilion before the walk started, their teacher Peggy Smith gave them each life saver candies to remind them that they were literally being life savers by taking part in this walk to raise money that will help finish the borehole recently drilled in the village of Kijigari. This structure will bring water to over 25,000 people and animals,  those living within the village, surrounding communities, and traveling nomads.  Boreholes drilled by Amman Imman in this vast valley bring an Oasis of Life, stimulating life promoting activities such as education, agriculture and economic opportunities which would not be possible without having water first. Mrs. Smith's class of 25 students raised over $460 for the event, contributing toward this life giving water source.

In the week after the event as students talked about their school year with a council of elders as a part of their Heroic Journey Montessori year, many of them mentioned the walk and how much it meant to them to be given the opportunity to help the people of the Azawak.  

Ariane Kirtley, Amman Imman founder and director, sent this message to the Parkview students:

Dearest Students, Parents, Teachers, and devoted Friends of the Azawak at Parkview Montessori,

Thank you for coming together for "A Walk for Water" and joining in solidarity with the children of the Azawak. Today, as you walk, your spirits will unite with theirs, as they too will be walking long distances in search of water.

Today you are walking to complete the Kijigari Montessori Well of Love.  We are only $50,000 away from bringing your friends of Kijigari pure and sustainable water.  As the height of the dry and hot season has set in, and temperatures have reached over 120 degrees, families wait impatiently for the drink of water you will soon help to provide.  Thank you. 

Thank you for caring and loving your brothers and sisters that live across the ocean in a world unknown to you, and for taking precious time and energy to help save their lives.  You are beautiful, you are powerful, and you are proactively making this world a better place.

I wish I could be with you today as you walk for water. I, along with the entire Amman Imman team, join you in spirit.

Yours for the Children of the Azawak,
Ariane

A recent letter from Bonnie Benthall, teacher at Five Oaks Academy in Simpsonville, South Carolina shares a little about her community's response and experience during their Amman-a-thon fundraising drive.  The Amman-a-thon ties together athletics, math and philanthropy, providing students with a first-hand experience of how practice adds up to something concrete and powerful.

Dear Debbie and Ariane,

In the next few days you will be receiving our donation for Amman Imman totaling $4,308.65!  I am so proud of our students!

This has been a wonderful journey for our students and I know that they will never forget the experiences they have had fund-raising for Amman Imman this year.  The commitment from all of our students and parents has been amazing.

Our Amman-a-thon was such a success. Many of our parents/family members underestimated how athletic their children were, pledging $1 or even $3. One grandmother pledged $3 each time her granddaughter did a back walkover and each time she did a cartwheel in 5 minutes.  Her total came to $549!

I quickly called this child's mom to see if grandmother wanted to change her pledge. The mother called the grandmother and the grandmother said that she did not want to change her pledge amount. She said $3 so she is going to pay $3 per repetition. She said she "does not want to disappoint that little girl".    

Look out for our package!!  Have a wonderful day!!

In Love and Peace,
Bonnie

This certificate acknowledges the efforts of students around the world who are helping bring water to the Azawak of West Africa. In 2010, the borehole drilled by Amman Imman: Water is Life in the village of Kijigari, will be named for the Montessori students around the world who have been helping over the last four years. 

Empower your students and validate their action by presenting them with this certificate!

Hero of Compassion Certificate 2010

Every year Montessori of Maryknoll in Glen Ellyn, Illinios, a home-based Montessori school, reaches for the heart of compassion in their young students.  As the students learn about the desperate need for water in the Azawak valley, the school holds a fundraiser for Amman Imman: Water is Life.  The young students at the school get involved by preparing baked goods at home, growing plants at school, and then having a sale.   This year, the students raised $221.30.  By helping year after year as part of a collaborative effort of students around the world, these young students are empowered, knowing they are helping to meet the most basic needs of their African brothers and sisters.   You can read the story from last year's fundraiser here. 

Thank you to our 

Heroes of Compassion 

at Montessori of Maryknoll!