Salva’s Visit to International School of Denver
Recently, our Founder and Chief Strategy Director, Salva Dut, visited the International School of Denver (ISDenver) alongside our Executive Director, Lynn Malooly. We asked teachers Nadia Sobhani and Victoria Clemons to share ISDenver’s experiences participating in the 2024 Iron Giraffe Challenge and meeting Salva and Lynn.
Continue reading to be awe-inspired! Thank you, Nadia, Victoria, and the entire ISDenver School Family, for being a part of our global community.
Students at the International School of Denver (ISDenver) were over the moon to win a visit from Water for South Sudan Founder and Chief Strategy Director Salva Dut for two years running. For the second year in a row, ISDenver fourth graders participated in the Iron Giraffe Challenge after reading Linda Sue Park's New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water and won the grand prize.
Linda Sue Park retells Salva’s remarkable story about his life as a Lost Boy in Sudan. From his rural village upbringing to the creation of the non-profit organization Water for South Sudan, Dut’s story inspires students across the world to fundraise for wells in South Sudanese villages.
“It has been an absolute joy to welcome Salva Dut back to ISDenver. Our fourth graders had the unique opportunity to read A Long Walk to Water, which deeply touched them and helped them prepare for this special visit. The story inspired them, just as it has in the past years, to take action through fundraising initiatives. With the support of their families and an incredible amount of creativity, they raised over $2,000 for Water for South Sudan. We were all moved by Salva’s firsthand account of how access to clean, fresh water is transforming the lives of people in remote villages in South Sudan. His message, which began with the powerful words, “We are all connected in this world, we are one,” serves as a reminder of our shared humanity. It is a message of unity and compassion that I hope our students will carry in their hearts for years to come.”
Dut’s visit included a welcome from the Head of School, Bob Carignan, music performed by our 4th and 5th graders, student poetry readings, and a book signing. The winning class had a private audience with Dut before he spent the afternoon with 4th-grade students participating in Project Worthmore. Both Water for South Sudan and Project Worthmore are mission-aligned with the International School of Denver. Both organizations provide students with a pathway to global citizenship through education and service.
“Salva’s visit was an unforgettable experience that students will carry with them for the rest of their lives. By meeting him in person, students were able to step into his shoes and better understand his journey and the challenges he faced. Having a character from a book they read come all the way from Africa to express his gratitude for their support made his story come alive in a powerful way. His message inspired students to be more grateful, to persevere through challenges, and to embrace his parting words: “Be strong, work hard, try your best in school, and help others around the world.” It was a meaningful and transformative experience for all students and our ISDenver community.”
