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Walking for Water, Acting for Change!
Turning empathy into action starts with a single step—or, in this case, a 5K walk with two gallons of water in tow.
On June 2, Columbia Secondary School marked 12 incredible years of partnership with H2O for Life by hosting its annual Walk for Water and climate education day. Timed to coincide with NYC Public Schools’ Water-Themed Climate Action Day, the event set out to tackle big goals: raise awareness of global water scarcity, fundraise for its partner school in Haiti, and give students a hands-on lesson in global citizenship.
Small Steps, Massive Impact
After researching multiple options, the student Green Team officially voted to back the project at Ecole Centre de Formation et d’Application Jean Calvin in Haiti, putting youth voice right at the center of their sustainability efforts.
The 10th-grade Global History students—who spent the year studying pressing world issues—put learning into motion. Walking 5 kilometers while carrying heavy water containers, they experienced a fraction of what millions endure daily just to secure clean water. Their effort wasn’t just symbolic; it helped build deep empathy while securing vital fundraising pledges.
Creativity Meets Sustainability
Action took many forms across campus. Students who couldn’t join the physical walk jumped in to run bake sales and educational booths. To make fundraising fun and eco-friendly, volunteers handed out upcycled gifts to donors:
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Decoupage vases crafted from recycled soda bottles
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Handmade earrings created from discarded bottle rings
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Upcycled paper crafts and homemade baked goods
Meeting the Climate Challenge
With New York State recently mandating climate change education across all schools, this event seamlessly blended state goals with real-world practice. NYC Public Schools’ four annual Climate Action Days (focused on Energy, Waste, Health/Green Spaces, and Water) give us the perfect framework to turn policy into passion.
By combining fundraising with hands-on learning, our students proved that understanding global crises doesn’t have to be abstract—it can be interactive, impactful, and deeply rewarding.
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Projects in Need
Ukumbi Primary School
Ukumbi Primary School is a government-owned day school situated in Ukumbi Village. The school serves both boys and girls from nearby communities and currently has a total enrollment of 760 pupils, supported by 11 staff members, including both teachers and non-teaching personnel. Despite its commitment to providing quality education, Ukumbi faces a significant challenge regarding access to safe and reliable water.
Guano Kaskita Simon Bolivar
Surrounded by the mist of the mountainous climate, amid coffee plantations and small streams, is Simón Bolívar School, located in the community of Guano Kaskita. Here, 112 children study, and currently there are two teachers: one for kindergarten and another covering the entire primary school.Normally, there would be three teachers: one for kindergarten, another for first and second grade, and a third for third through sixth grade. However, because one teacher became seriously ill, the other had to take over all groups. This situation makes teaching more challenging, so the children must work twice as hard to pay attention and keep up with their lessons.According to the teachers, some students come from communities up to two hours away. “Those who live nearby walk 20 minutes; those farther away, up to two hours, to get to school,” they explain.
Mukuthu Secondary School
Mukuthu Secondary School was founded in 2013 through a community initiative. The parents acquired the school land, while the buildings and other infrastructure were acquired using government funds and support from the parents. The school has grown in terms of population and academic performance over the years. There are currently 110 students, 61 girls and 59 boys, and 14 administrators/staff.
