Two St. Joseph School District students are getting recognition for their efforts in trying to make a difference around the globe.
Matti Maretoli, a seventh grader at Bode Middle School and Sam Willoughby, a sixth grader at Pershing Elementary, are featured in Chelsea Clinton’s book It’s Your World, which came out Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, for their work on Walk for Water.
The Walk for Water team has raised over $21,000 dollars over the past three years to build at least three freshwater wells.
It’s Your World seeks to inspire readers to make a difference in their own communities and the world, featuring stories about children and teens making a difference in their communities. “My hope is that this book will show you that you can start making a difference now on issues you care about, in your own way, for your family, your community, and our world,” said Chelsea Clinton on the book’s website, www.itsyourworld.com. Matti and Sam appear in a section of It’s Your World about access to clean drinking water.
“I think it’s really cool to be in the book,” said Matti. “It’s a big honor. It’s really exciting, and I like how it doesn’t put me in the spotlight – because I didn’t do this by myself, but really everyone helped.”
Matti became interested in wells as a fifth grader in 2013 after she read the children’s book “I Walk for Water” by Lindsey Andrews, which tells the story of a boy in Africa who walks long distances to get water for his family. Matti’s family has been in contact with Lindsey Andrews, who is impressed that her book inspired Walk for Water.
Matti originally planned to raise just $100 dollars by asking for donations from people she knew, but soon she knew she wanted to do more. She spoke to Rebecca Ripperger, Wellspring Community Church’s youth director, who helped her get started organizing a 6K run to raise money and awareness for the well.
The first Walk for Water, took place at Missouri Western State University in July 2013. The 6K length of the walk reflected the length that an African family walks each day to bring home water.
To raise money for the event, Matti and her friends Sam Willoughby, now a sixth grader at Pershing, and her sister Tori Flowers, now an eighth grader at Bode spoke to people and businesses in St. Joseph, bringing in participants and business sponsors.
In 2013, the event raised over $5000, enough to build a well in Uganda. The 2014, Walk for Water raised over $5000, and the Walk for Water committee, made up of local kids, voted to build a well in Guatemala. The 2015 Walk, which took place at the Mark Young Dahl trail, raised over $10,000; the kids committee is still deciding where to use the funds.
Matti’s father Matthew Maretoli passed away in 2013, leaving Matti funds that she used to travel to Rukoni, Uganda to visit the well. She dedicated the well in honor of her father.
Matti previously received the Humanity4Water International Award in 2013, presented by YeyeOsun: Institute of Sacred Balance, and the Kids are Heroes award in 2013. Mayor Bill Falkner honored her in 2014. Matti and Sam will have a chance to meet Chelsea Clinton when she visits Rainy Day Books in Kansas City, MO on November 10.
If businesses are interested in sponsoring the Walk for Water, an individual wants to provide support, or local kids want to join the committee, please e-mail Matti at walkforwater@rescuedreaders.org.
