Why We IGC: Grand Prize Winner Edition
Fallston Middle and High School students and faculty welcomed Salva on Thursday, September 15, 2022, for small group student meetings and a special school-wide presentation. Water for South Sudan’s Development and Communications Coordinator Elissa Rowley sat down with Jennifer Brown, longtime Spanish teacher and Service-Learning Coordinator at Fallston Middle, to hear about what she’s learned by participating in the IGC and winning the grand prize.
Why did you first decide to participate in the Iron Giraffe Challenge? How did you learn of it?
While a middle schooler, our daughter Ava read A Long Walk to Water. “You have to read this book,” was the message she brought home. Once I finished the book and read the note at the end listing WFSS and how to help, I thought, “This could be a great service-learning project for the kids.” I took it to the other teachers, and they jumped on board.
How did your participation in the IGC enrich the learning experience for your students? What do you think they get out of it?
The most common remark I hear is, “Oh my gosh, it’s 2022, and there are people that don’t have water?” The kids think about the water they waste and all of the things they take for granted: being safe and having water, food, and family. Many of these kids haven’t experienced major hardship. I make sure they see the results of their efforts.
Salva speaking to students at Fallston High School
What’s been the most inspiring part of fundraising with your students?
Seeing the comments that come with the donations and the generous support is inspiring. But it’s the kids that bring their coins or their own money—that hits me the most. They know how important it is to give—that hits me the most. They know how important it is to give what they have, even if it isn’t a lot.
Did anything about participating in the IGC surprise you?
That we won! When we finished our classwork on the drawing day, I turned on the video. We watched the drawing as Lynn Malooly was getting ready to draw the winner. When she pulled out Fallston’s name, I didn’t understand what was happening, “Did she just say Fallston Middle?” The kids said, “Yes! What does that mean?” I told them, “I think that means Salva’s coming.” The kids were screaming down the hallways with excitement as I went to share the exciting news with the teachers. It was such a shock.
What would you say to a teacher who’s considering participating in the IGC? Do you have any advice for them?
After listening to Salva speak to our student body, I was reminded to teach these kids daily that hard times cannot define you. Just keep moving and going forward. You can be part of something big with small actions. The kids walk away with those big-picture ideas.
You have everything you need, but any one of the girls who get an education in South Sudan could change the world. Had Ava not told me about the book, I don’t know that I would have ever read it, or done this. Since 2018 we’ve raised more than $20,000, which means we’ve contributed to three co-sponsored wells. Seeing the inscription on the cement platform brings it home, and the kids can’t believe a country in Africa has a well with Fallston’s name on it.
Take this opportunity. So many wonderful things come from participating—for you as a teacher, your students, and the people of South Sudan. Do it!
“Just keep moving and going forward. You can be part of something big with small actions. The kids walk away with those big-picture ideas.”
