Myers Elementary students raise $18,000 to build well in Sudan

Myers Elementary fourth-grade students have raised $18,000 to build a well in Sudan, after they were inspired by a book they read. The book, A Long Walk to Water, tells the true story of Salva Dut who had to walk for day to find his family in Sudan. The students were inspired to do what they could to help, and the fundraising project was begun three years ago. Students made comics and brochures about the project and communicated with local businesses to raise funds. They recently had the opportunity to talk with Salva via Skype. “We want students to leave a school district … ready to encounter the world and make it a better place,” said Myers fourth-grade teacher Tommie Murray in a recent interview with WTAJ about the initiative. “By doing projects like this, I think we are doing what schools were made to do, which is prepare young people to go and make [the world] even better.”