SNOHOMISH– There is a new high school classroom in a Kenyan town, thanks, in part, to fifth graders from Dutch Hill Elementary School.
About 20 kids started raising funds at the beginning of the year to buy bricks to build the classrooms.
By late February, the class had raised $85. The amount was enough to buy 275 bricks and build two walls about seven feet tall.
“Even with a little bit of money, you can still make a difference globally, regardless of age,” said Snohomish resident Amber Strehle, whose daughter’s classmates raised the money.
It all started in August 2010 when Strehle met Janet Johnson, a friend of her husband who was going to visit her native Kenya. She was going to give money to help built schools and wanted Strehle, a photographer, to document the trip.
Strehle made the 12-day trip in late March, visiting Nairobi, Kitui and the village of Mulundi. Strehle talked about the trip and the country’s living conditions with her 11-year old daughter, Isabelle.
Isabelle decided she wanted to help as well.
“I felt I should take part in it,” Isabelle said.
After Strehle talked to Isabelle’s teacher, Nicholas Movius, it became a classroom project. The bricks were cheap. And, at about 5 cents each, the children could make a big difference with a small amount of money.
For about two months, the students and parents started putting spare change in a glass jar in the classroom. Every two weeks, Strehle would count the change and put a paper brick for every one bought on a wall, to show the class its progress.
Isabelle was happy she and her class were able to make life better for kids on the other side of the globe. “It’s very fun helping other people,” she said.
Johnson, who lives in Seattle, said the children’s gesture was very inspiring.
“Their collection made them top donors. The average contribution is $20,” she said.
As a way to say thanks, a photograph of Isabelle’s class is on display in the main office of the Kwa Muema High School in Mulundi.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
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