Students Give Money To Help Build Wells In Africa

Sabrina Boccuzzi and Madeline Stites, fifth grade students at Reed Intermediate School, combined what they learned while in fourth grade at Middle Gate Elementary School with their passion to help others to raise money to help bring clean water to the poorest countries in the world. And a recent donation completed their efforts.

Under Middle Gate fourth grade teacher Heidi Beauty’s guidance, the girls completed a “web quest” and learned how to run a business and became specialty candy makers for their fourth grade classmates. Through their efforts the girls raised more than $50 and decided to donate the money to build wells in Africa. 

The girls became aware of the plight of third-world countries in Africa  through the local dance studio, The Graceful Planet. Kat Barton, co-owner of The Graceful Planet Moving Arts Center, is an international volunteer and spent time in Africa in 2010. Recently Ms Barton met David Plaue of DigDeep Water, which raises funds to provide clean water where it is needed. DigDeep is a local organization based in Newtown and is planning a “Walk 4 Water” event at Fairfield Hills on October 20.

Sabrina and Madeline, inspired by the cause, donated the proceeds from their candy program recently to Ms Barton, who will be donating it in the girls’ names to digdeepwater.org.