Hannah Choi

Member of the Thirst Project Club and junior Sarenna Wood designs wristbands for the club fundraisers. Wood said her favorite part of the club is the energy they have when talking about their projects. “Everyone just gets so excited and starts thinking of more ways to raise money and support for the project,” Wood said. “It’s a really great cause and I’m super proud to be a part of it.”

After an official Road Warrior from the Thirst Project headquarters came to talk to junior Salma Ahmed’s Biology class about their organization, a group of five junior women became inspired to start a similar club themselves.

The Thirst Project is an international organization that raises money to fund wells and bring water to developing countries and places that lack access to clean water. 

“If it was not for her, I highly doubt any of us would have come to know about the Thirst Project and what it stands for,” Ahmed said. “The Road Warrior was the person who introduced us to this amazing foundation and sparked us to start the club here.”

They began by creating an executive board made up of juniors Salma Ahmed, Sarenna Wood, Claire Reifschneider, Alina Henry and Rishita Nannapaneni. They then created a goal to raise $6,000 this year, which is half the money needed to build a well. By the time they graduate, they hope will have enough money to build one well in a country in need.

“We were shocked by the number of people who did not have safe water and the impacts it has on these people,” Henry said. “We needed to be a part of this change.”

Every other Thursday, students of all grades meet to discuss their fundraising plans to build wells in countries in need of clean and accessible water. To raise money, the club will begin selling wristbands, putting together a raffle and starting a GoFundMe to raise awareness. 

“As of now we are checking with the Activities Office about selling wristbands and getting a drawing started,” Henry said. “I am really excited to see this all be put in motion and have it be successful.”

Ahmed hopes the Thirst Project Club will educate students about the other parts of the world. 

“We are very fortunate to live in a country where we can get the things that we want, but there are people around the world who can not get that,” Ahmed said. 

Freshman and club member Megan Hoenecke believes the club gives students an opportunity to make a difference. 

“It is an interesting program that allows students to really experience what mission work is about and how they can make a difference just by being part of a high school club,” Hoenecke said.

The Thirst Project members are invested in their fundraising goal because of the need for help in developing countries to have clean water.

“I feel attached to this club because it made me really upset that something we take for granted, fresh and clean water, was not easily accessible to millions of people in the world,” Ahmed said. “I wanted to change that or at least try to change that.”