By Gabi Tien '23
When there is a will, there is a way; this is certainly evident in NEST+m's Thirst Project Club's latest achievement. The Thirst Project is the largest youth-led water organization that focuses on ending the global water crisis in impoverished communities. Clean water is something we take for granted. By launching the Thirst Project lub at NEST+m, President Frances Lu ‘23 and Vice President Sumaiya Sayeed ‘23 have garnered a community striving to raise awareness surrounding the severity of the need for clean water, while actively making change by raising money for this ongoing issue.
The Thirst Project Club’s meetings consist of updates on their funds, brainstorming sessions that allow the members to propose events, and even just casual game nights to bond with one another. Thirst Project held numerous events to raise money. For example, in December, the club hosted a Christmas fundraiser. The members shared festive recipes, played games, and listened to teachers showcase their voices through a talent show. Most importantly, they raised more than $100. Though the Thirst Project Club's determination and consistent efforts to promote the need for clean water, they were able to surpass their goal of raising $500 for the year!
This achievement was no easy feat, but it was a result of collaboration and inclination to make a change. As the Thirst Project club first started, raising $500 almost seemed unattainable.
"It is kind of insane to think that we actually reached our goal,” said Sayeed. Now seeing us reach $500 shows how far our club has grown, and it is remarkable." Lu added that "promoting awareness and hosting interclub events with other clubs at our school really helped network (their) mission as well as amplify the impact people could make with these donations." Most recently, their donations have amounted to $582 meaning nearly 25 people can have clean water for the rest of their lives.
So how can the rest of the NEST+m community take steps to bring even more change? A great way to start is by attending the Thirst Project Club's meetings or donating to the Thirst Project Club. Just $1 can give 2 people clean water! By educating ourselves and encouraging our peers to collaborate and spread awareness on this crisis, we can continue giving people access to fresh water. Since we made this much money in less than a year, it shows the difference that we as students can make in our community,” said Lu. “Imagine the impact we can make if everyone were educated about this issue!"
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