Students at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School attempted to set a world record on Friday, for the most water transported by hand over 1km, in aid of World Vision’s 40-hour Challenge. Lead by the school’s Head of Service, Bex Skinner (Year 13), the school’s 700 students were encouraged to take part in the challenge which required each pupil to walk 1km with a bucket of water from the school pool, in a bid to highlight the disparity between the availability and convenience of clean drinking water here in New Zealand, to that in many other countries. Students were asked to seek sponsorship for the challenge, which had so far raised $7,756.69 of their $8k target, for which funds raised will to go towards providing fresh water access in Malawi, where it’s estimated the average child walks 6km to collect fresh water each day. “This water bucket challenge is important to me because it encourages empathy towards others whose daily lives are so different from our own,” says Skinner. “Although we can never compare our experience to their everyday lives, my hope is that students will get to step into their shoes for a small period of time and have a better understanding of the cause we are fundraising towards as a school.” Fellow Year 13 student and Head of Chapel, Nina Cantos, adds: “The bucket challenge helps us reflect on our privilege of having access to the basic necessities in life and understand the value in dedicating service for others.” In total, the students transported 3,195 litres of water – the equivalent of 12,780 cups of tea – but will have to await official notice to learn if they have set a brand-new world record. Rangi Ruru’s Head of Community and Global Connections, Tania Morgan, says it’s important to instil a sense of social responsibility and a desire to give back amongst our young people.
