By Jessica Easthope
Students at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy in Maspeth, Queens took to their schoolyard to raise awareness and funds for the water crisis in South Sudan, inspired by the semi-biographical book “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park.
The novel, which details the struggles of accessing clean water in war-torn South Sudan, moved 5th through 8th graders and their teachers to take action.
“As I’m reading the book, I’m learning that there are people who are struggling, and that makes me want to help them more because they don’t have clean water,” said 7th grader Luca Berardi.
His classmate Olivia Gowalaka added, “It’s good to feel like we accomplished something. And that a well will be built and St. Stan’s helped do that.”
The students participated in a walk-a-thon, chanting “Walk for Water!” as they completed laps to raise money for Water for South Sudan, a nonprofit founded by one of the book’s protagonists that builds wells in the region. Sponsors donated per lap, helping the students raise $1,200.
According to UNICEF, 6.5 million people—60% of South Sudan’s population—lack access to clean drinking water.
Teacher Rosemarie Rosen emphasized the Catholic call to action: “As Catholics, we have to be stewards of the earth, and that means everybody. So I wanted them to see how other people live and that they could do something about it!”
She added, “It was just so nice to come together as a community. To do something for someone else, this wasn’t for St. Stan’s, this was for people they’ll never meet. They’ll never understand how they live. And yet they did it.”
The students see their efforts as a reflection of faith.
“Jesus obviously is like a model, and by helping people get water, I really think that’s something Jesus could have done,” Gowalaka said.
Berardi echoed, “All of us need to help each other, and we need to be one. And these people are dying because there are other people that have water and they don’t.”
With a goal of $5,000 to build one well, the students hope their walkathon inspires others to contribute.
Donations can be made by sending a check to St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy at 61-17 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, Queens, 11378, with “WATER” in the memo.
Their small steps aim to make a big impact, bringing hope and faith across borders to those in need.