Empowering students to lead with purpose.

Throughout 2023, our grade 8 students participated in a year long fundraising project for a common goal: building bathroom blocks for a Primary School in the small town of Valledupar, in Colombia. At the time, the Primary school was not publicly funded, and therefore, did not have the means of building bathrooms for their 135 students. When CIS learned about the situation, our grade 8 students made it their mission to help. Through different fundraising activities, such as movie nights, popcorn sales, nacho sales, and other initiatives, students were able to raise almost 4,000 euros. The money was collected and sent to a local architect in Valledupar town, who built a brand new bathroom block for the students. Before the bathroom block was built, students only had half a day of learning at the school, as they did not have running water either and thus, students had to go home early due to heat and to be able to use their own bathrooms at home. Thanks to our students and to the help of local architects and builders, the 135 Primary school students are able to extend their day at school, learn for more hours, and be able to have running water to drink and to go to the bathroom. A huge change from the previous situation. The money raised was also enough to buy brand new classroom textbook sets, art supplies, pens, pencils, erasers, and chalk for the teachers, and some delicious treats for the students.

Our MYP Principal, Mrs. Ana Srepel, visited the school in July 2023 and was able to deliver the final batch of school supplies, meet the children, and deliver a plaque with our school logo on it, to finalize and close the first phase of the project. She was able to spend the day with the students, the teachers, and the parents, and discuss with the students what they wanted to be when they grew up. Some of the students want to be doctors to help their small town, teachers, soccer players, and lawyers. These young children are now one step closer to being able to fulfill their dreams, and our students at CIS were able to create new and forever lasting ripples in this community and in their own hearts.