Windridge Elementary pumped to support African sister school

KAYSVILLE -- Students carried water buckets on their heads around the Windridge Elementary School track Wednesday and got firsthand insight into the hardships kids in Kenya face every day.

Sixth-graders at the Davis district school, at 1300 S. 700 East in Kaysville, got pumped about continuing the support they provide their sister school in Africa, Windridge Elementary Kenya.

Renae Horne, 12, and Gavin Jackson, 11, said their arms got very tired from carrying the buckets of water and they could imagine the difficulty African kids have carrying water for miles every day for their families.

"I dumped half the water in my bucket before I got to the end of the track," Renae said. "I want to help them get good water."

Gavin agreed, saying, "I think it would be really great to help them get water easier, instead of having to walk 20 miles for it."

Windridge Elementary sixth-graders have been raising money for schools in Kenya for the past five years. Three years ago, their efforts had amounted to about $12,000 in donations, which raised enough money to build the sister school.

About eight years ago, teacher Cindy Workman founded the nonprofit organization, Koins for Kenya, along with friend Bret Van Leeuwen, an Alpine businessman.

"Kids helping kids just seemed natural," Workman said.

Since then, Koins for Kenya has built three schools and provided support for 13 others by building classrooms. The organization has also given 300 scholarships to high school students in Kenya and helped seven students enroll in a university, Workman said.

Anthony Yama, a teacher from Kenya who volunteers as executive director of Koins for Kenya, visited Windridge Elementary to speak to the sixth-grade students and relate some of the experiences children in Kenya endure.

"There is very little water there because it hasn't rained in three years," Yama said, noting the severe drought conditions in parts of Africa. "There is no running water in houses."

Yama encouraged the children to be grateful for American luxuries most Kenyan children don't imagine exist.

"You have everything here," he said.

"You should not complain about little things, like school lunch. You should be a help to your teachers, have good attitudes and try to make a difference, first in your own community and then in other places."

The children at Windridge are raising money by bringing change to fill jars in their classrooms. The money helps build water systems near Kenyan schools and build classrooms in their sister school.

The children will also do odd jobs this year to donate to Koins for Kenya.

For more information about the nonprofit organization or to donate, go to www.koinsforkenya.org.