Nearly 100 second graders participated. According to Dawn Scholtens, instructional coach and former second grade teacher at Sunset Heights, the Shower Strike raised $180,000 nation-wide.

“It was really special because this has been so important to me. We’ve done it for six years, so to have everyone join in this year together and to make it so big and have them name a well after Sunset is really special,” said Scholtens.

The second graders have been staying in touch with the students in Kenya who will benefit from the well, which is being built this week. The well is scheduled to be completed by June 11. Sunset students sent letters and pictures over to students in Ol Moran, Kenya. Today, the class will get to see pictures of the kids at their school in Ol Moran.

The well will be built near the school so that more children have the opportunity to go to school and get fresh, clean water. According to the Well Aware website, the Ol Moran Primary School serves 433 primary pupils and 103 preschool pupils. Ol Moran Secondary School serves 414 students.

Students in Ol Moran, Kenya show off the pictures they received from second grade students at Sunset Heights Elementary School. The students pictured above will benefit from the Sunset students’ recent Shower Strike fundraiser, in which they raised money for a new water well near the Kenyan school.

Scholtens began doing the Shower Strike six years ago with her second grade class at Sunset Heights. She heard about the program through her sister-in-law, who used to be on the board for Well Aware.

“She told me about it and I though it would be fun for my second graders to do it,” Scholtens said. Now the other second grade teachers have joined in so we all do it together.”

Although this is Scholtens’ last year doing the strike, second grade teachers will continue the tradition next year.

Students at Sunset raised more than any other school and will have a well named in their honor in Kenya this May. They will also have the opportunity to see pictures of students in Kenya who will benefit from the well today during class.

“This is just really special to me because the kids understand that they can make a difference clear around the world,” said Scholtens. “That’s something I want them to remember even as they grow up, that they can always help someone else and always make a difference.”

To learn more about the Well Aware water projects, visit wellawareworld.org.