Project Wet, dedicated to water education, offers some great resources to supplement your Wells of Love program curricula activities.

Check out this free download, Discovering Drought.  Containing a lesson plan for 3rd through 6th grade, it links to a more extensive activity booklet about drought available inexpensively in their store.

From the lesson plan:
Although drought is a serious topic, it can be presented in a way that empowers your  students with knowledge and the opportunity to take action.
Also, I recommend visiting Discover Water, Project Wet's interactive website through which students can explore the role water plays in our lives.  There are activities that explain the water cycle, watersheds, oceans, fresh water, using water, and more.

A foundation of water knowledge will empower your students, adding context and meaning  to their philanthropic actions for the Azawak.  Discover Project Wet!
A student collected change
from her friends and neighbors
For young students, the heart of philanthropy opens when they discover a problem, gain understanding, and are given the tools at their level to take action that makes a difference.  The Evergreen Montessori School's global service program opens the door to philanthropy for their students.

Last year, elementary students at Evergreen learned about several organizations that address global issues. The students divided into committees, each group choosing one of the causes as their focus.  Over the course of several months, these young philanthropists studied the issues, participated in activities that raised awareness about their cause, and collected money to contribute towards their chosen organization's program. 

I shared Amman Imman: Water is Life with Evergreen students in the spring.  All the students were so receptive!  Upon learning about children and families in the Azawak suffering due to the lack of  water, three students decided to make Amman Imman their cause. They deeply wanted to help.

"When the students see a need, they feel an impulse to help.  And when it comes to caring, they don't stop themselves from responding to their impulse." says Lourdes Barden, Programs Director at Evergreen.
Hula hooping at an Amman-a-thon for the Azawak

To bring awareness about the plight of the people of the Azawak to the rest of the school, the three students  presented Amman Imman to other classes at the school. Several successful fundraisers, raising over $1000, grew out of their desire to help.
  • They sold muffins and coffee for a week at morning drop off.  
  • A 7 year old filled a jar with money by going around  to her friends and neighbors and telling them about her cause.  
  • The entire elementary class participated in an Amman-a-thon, hula hooping, jumping and shooting baskets for water.
  • The three students and their families attended the annual A Walk for Water at Lake Frank.
Students represent Amman Imman

At the school's Spring Festival, a service learning fair highlighted each of the organizations the students had chosen to support. Another bake sale raised more money.  Parents gathered to listen as students gave speeches about their cause.

Through the videos and updates shared by Amman Imman, the children witnessed the results of their efforts as 5000 people in the village of Ebagueye, as well as people in surrounding communities, benefited from the water that came from Amman Imman's borehole well.

"The children realized that they had the energy and power to touch the lives of people on the other side of the world, says Ms. Barden. "As 6, 7 and 8 year olds, they learned they could be as powerful as adults - on their scale."

We invite your students 
to open the door to the heart of philanthropy 
by participating in our Wells of Love program.

Contact me to Join Wells of Love 
or fill out our online form.

Evergreen tudents and their families attend A Walk for Water at Lake Frank.
Pictured here with Amman Imman's Debbie Kahn, Hadesh Mahmoud and Michael Kirtley.

Students at the Hershey Montessori School first learned about Amman Imman when students from Oneness-Family School visited their campus in 2008.   Since then stories of the Azawak continue to be shared at Hershey.  The school has followed the progress as four borehole wells, built in part by funds raised by students, have been constructed, now supplying water for as many as 100,000 people and animals during the hot season.

The Hershey Montessori school community keep the children of the Azawak in their hearts.   For a several years, the students expressed their commitment by raising awareness and funds through school-wide Walk for Water events. This year, we received a different message; not from the head of school but instead from a young leader: 

Dear Ariane,
My name is Suchita Rajan.  I was the organizer for the Walk for Water. My friends Ashley Joyce, Maya Harwood and Taylor Jones also helped.  We raised $375.24.  I hope you keep on continuing your work and building more boreholes all over the Azawak valley.

Sincerely,
Suchita Rajan

.....We feel humbled and deeply touched to know that a student led the way for the Hershey community this year...... 

 Congratulations, Suchita, 
on leading your school's humanitarian efforts 
to help make a difference
 in the lives of the children of the Azawak!
Gem Earrings
Gem Earrings by Annika

Eight year old Annika's creative spirit is prolific.  So is her compassion in using her art to help those in the Azawak who lack the most essential of resources.  Annika sells her jewelry on Etsy with half the profits benefiting Amman Imman's mission to bring water to the Azawak of West Africa.  If you visit her Etsy shop today, you'll find it empty.  That's because all of her original handmade items have been sold.  Go here to see her earrings, necklaces and weaving.  They are simply beautiful!

Her Etsy profile tells us a little bit about her:
My name is Annika and I am 8 years old.
I love art and playing! I like making jewellery, particularly necklaces. I also love weaving. I love trying new things - that's part of life! 
Half of the money I make selling my crafts will be donated to project Amman Imman, to bring clean, sustainable water to the people of the Azawak Valley in Niger. 
If you'd like to wear some of Anika's art and help bring sustainable water sources to the Azawak of Niger, visit Annika on Etsy.  You can request a custom item, wait patiently for her next creation, or simply send her a message and thank her for her sharing her creative spirit with the world.

Thank you, Annika 
for your creativity and compassion! 
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