Keith Valley Middle School to be Recognized by United Nations on January 27

The book, A Long Walk to Water, which was assigned to 7th graders in the fall of 2015, inspired Keith Valley Middle School students to launch a project to help the people of Sudan. The novel, which focuses on the country’s ongoing civil war, extreme poverty and ecological degradation prompted students to ask about improving conditions for Sudan’s residents. This thoughtful query evolved into the Wishing for Wells campaign that raised $6,000 to build a well that will provide clean water to the people of South Sudan.

In the fall of 2016, the students, who are now 8th graders, created a PowerPoint presentation highlighting their 2015-2016 fundraising efforts and collaboration with the organization Water for South Sudan. The PowerPoint was submitted to the Committee on Teaching About the United Nations, an organization whose aim is to provide educators worldwide with opportunities to learn about the work of the United Nations and raise awareness about its goals and work. Keith Valley was selected by the evaluation committee as one of three American schools that will be recognized at the CTAUN Conference scheduled for Friday, January 27, 2017. The event will be held in New York City at the United Nations.

Keith Valley teachers will attend the conference and later share the experience during an 8th grade student assembly. This is a very special honor for the hundreds of students and staff who participated in the Wishing for Wells project.

Current 7th grade students are continuing the good work initiated by their peers. Students have opted to launch another fundraising project and plan to enter Water for South Sudan’s “Iron Giraffe Challenge” to raise money for drilling equipment.