Amazing Supporters: HTMS Ambassadors
What started as a reading requirement evolved into a desire to help those in need in South Sudan.
The Hewitt-Trussville Middle School Ambassadors program focuses on how to make a local and global impact.
HTMS Ambassadors
“As one of the HTMS Ambassador sponsors, we feel that students should have opportunities to serve others within our school, community, state, and globally,” explains Miriam Vinson, 7th Grade English Teacher and Ambassador Program Sponsor.
A Long Walk to Water was one of the 7th grade’s school reading requirements. According to Miriam, it touched the students' and teachers’ hearts alike.
“When I read it during the summer before I taught the text, I was really moved by Salva’s story,” Miriam said. “I realized that while I was at home with my first baby many years ago, I had heard about the ‘Lost Boys of South Sudan’ on the news. I was moved to respond to this ministry in some way.”
As a result, fundraising for WFSS became the first successful global initiative for the program.
Last year, the HTMS Ambassadors raised $990 over ten days through a “Hat Day", where students could wear a hat if they donated to WFSS. They have also fundraised by hosting a “PJ Day “ and participating in the school’s Curriculum Night.
As part of their fundraising efforts this year, Miriam and her co-workers, Opal and Morgan, took a different approach by having their students write 90-second to two-minute persuasive speeches about supporting WFSS.
Left to right: English Teachers Miriam, Morgan, and Opal
The students utilized Smore, a live platform, to deliver their speeches. As part of the requirements, the students needed to include a rebuttal where students identified one reason that someone might object to donating and provide a stronger reason to support the cause.
“Persuasive speeches are an effective fundraising method because it enables students to take ownership of their efforts,” explains Opal South, 7th Grade English Teacher.
“I liked that they could take what they learned in the classroom and apply it in the wider world, which in English, we sometimes struggle to do,” Opal added. “I like that this project gave us the opportunity to do that.”
This was the most successful fundraising technique to date, generating over $4,700.
The funds primarily came from students sharing their persuasive speeches with their family members, relatives, and neighbors and encouraging them to make donations.
One student, KK, took great pride in his persuasive speech.
Outstanding HTMS 7th grader KK!
“I gathered information from the Water for South Sudan website and researched until I had enough information to support how I felt about the problem,” KK explained. “Reading the book really opened my eyes to what people in South Sudan needed and how they have such a lack of resources because of not having water.”
“I was very amazed at the opportunities that they realized they had to make an impact. They could make an impact with their words and thoughts,” Miriam added. “That was a big step for them to be able to realize that ‘my words can make a difference’ and it's exciting to see.”
We are beyond impressed and inspired by the HTMS Ambassadors’ incredible fundraising efforts. Thank you to Miriam, Opal, Morgan, and KK for supporting WFSS. You are all watering the seeds of change in South Sudan!
To visit KK’s Smore page, click here.
