Give Global, a club whose sole purpose was to provide people in the village of Coco, Guatemala with clean water, had their first meeting of the school year on Sept. 21. Last year, club members raised $15,000 to build a well in Coco, and they hope to raise even more this year to build classrooms in a Guatemalan school.

Junior co-founders Baylee Bennett and Sophie Dietze created this club to provide people in Guatemala with basic needs, like clean drinking water and shelter. Sixty percent of people live below the poverty line in Guatemala.

“Some of the elders in the village told us that they had never seen clean water in their 75 years of life. Seeing the water well first-hand was an amazing opportunity that I will never forget,” said Dietze.

While in Guatemala, Bennett and Dietze experienced the same struggles as the villagers in Coco. They had to brush their teeth with bottled water, and showers were a luxury.

“After going to Guatemala in the summer of 2016, and witnessing the people desperate for water…we wanted to do everything we could to spread awareness and do our part to help,” said Bennett.

After their trip, Dietze and Bennett knew they had to do more for the people they met in Guatemala.

“Before there was a well, the community had been drinking out of contaminated river that had caused villagers to become sick with parasites and other illnesses,” said Bennett.

According to Bennett and Dietze, the water Guatemalans drink is dirtier than the water in our toilets. Bringing water to the community was crucial because clean water helps eliminate disease, making the citizens of this village healthier.

This year, the club’s goal is to raise $30,000 to build two new classrooms in Los Castillos, Guatemala. Currently the school in the area is too small for all the children. Most children in the area cannot attend school due to overcrowding.

“Every child deserves the right to education. We are so determined to make this project a reality and give so many children the chance at a better future,” said Bennett.

To donate money to help build the classrooms, access Give Global’s donation link at @whprojects.worldhelp.net