MS Students Unite to Support the Iron Giraffe Challenge

On April 26, the entire middle school came together for the Iron Giraffe Challenge 3K Race as part of MS Field Day. The Iron Giraffe Challenge is an annual fundraising campaign by the nonprofit organization Water for South Sudan, encouraging schools worldwide to raise funds for clean water projects. This year, YISS exceeded its fundraising goal, raising a total of ₩2 million, which will be used to build a freshwater well in a South Sudanese village.

The inspiration for this effort came from Mrs. Pakos' ELL class, who recently read Linda Sue Park's New York Times bestseller, A Long Walk to Water. The novel tells the true story of Salva Dut, a South Sudanese refugee who founded Water for South Sudan after enduring years without access to clean water in his homeland. Moved by Dut’s story of courage and resilience, the ELL class enthusiastically joined the Iron Giraffe Challenge to make a positive impact.

In the weeks leading up to the event, students enhanced their informational writing skills through research on water conservation and developed their collaboration skills by organizing a fundraiser and raising awareness about water scarcity in South Sudan.

Mrs. Pakos and the ELL class would like to extend their gratitude to several contributors: the Student Council (StuCo) for donating Gatorades; Mr. Trevino, Ms. Hansen, Ms. Sevey, and Ms. Kershner for their help in planning the fundraiser; the middle school students for participating in the race and securing pledges; and the middle school teachers for raising awareness during homeroom and assisting with the race.

This collaborative effort not only raised significant funds for a vital cause but also fostered a sense of community and global responsibility among the students.