“[People living in poverty] can’t just go get a snack like we do. Whenever they’re hungry they have to share with everyone. And they have to work for everything, even the kids,” Savannah Lumnus said, an attendant of the screening.

The Global Poverty unit that Spanish IV classes just finished up influenced the students and teachers to take action.

In their classes, they watched videos that cover the different aspects of poverty, especially focusing on Guatemala.

The series of videos include micro-finances (the lending of small amounts of money to businesses starting out at a low interest rate), food and malnutrition, water, unemployment, natural disasters and education.

“It makes you aware of everything that you’re using, like when I see people throw away water bottles,” Juliana Ferrara, Spanish 4 student, said. “It makes you think about how people travel miles in the morning just to get their water. And about how girls sometimes can’t go to school because they have to go get that water you just threw away.”

The objective of the project is to raise awareness.

“There are just so many things that we take for granted. I think one of the biggest things that the kids noticed right away was the part that we studied about drinkable water and about how we take for granted just turning on clean water and about how much we waste,” Mrs. Jenni Highfill, Spanish 4 teacher, said. “Just how that’s so key to our health. Being able to come to school and get a good education. All that together is really eye opening when you look at it.”

In order to raise money and help those struggling in Guatemala, the students decided to show a movie as a fund raiser that features four college students living in Guatemala on only one dollar a day just like many Guatemalans live their whole lives.

The movie was shown in the large theater for anyone interested, April 29.  Attendees donated a minimum of $3.

Living on One charges $350 for anyone to show the movie, but Mr. Terry Harris, the Rockwood director of equity and educational diversity, covered the cost completely, so all proceeds could go directly to the charities.

Half of the money is going to the organization that made the video, Living on One.

As far as where the rest of the money received will be going, the students researched and voted on other highly-functioning organizations to donate to, including Living Water International, Orphan Grain Train, Child Aid, Kiva and water.org.

The movie focused on raising awareness, inspiring action for extreme poverty.

“I cried whenever the woman had to give up becoming a nurse because she couldn’t afford it and she wanted to take care of her kids,” Allison Alvey, attendant of the showing, said. “And she had to decide whether to keep them home from school and keep their stomachs full or send them to school and just try to get by.”

The stories of the people displayed in the movie produced not only sympathy but also hope.

“The woman in the film started a weaving business because she got a loan from a micro-financing bank, so she could weave and pay for her education,” Alvey said.

All of those involved is Spanish 4 and the project had high hopes for the money that would be raised.

“If we sold all of our tickets, and we filled the theater, and everybody only paid the minimum,” Mrs. Lackey said, “then it would be $1,000.”

The goal was met at the showing thanks to all of the support.

The objective of the project is to raise awareness.

“There are just so many things that we take for granted. I think one of the biggest things that the kids noticed right away was the part that we studied about drinkable water and about how we take for granted just turning on clean water and about how much we waste,” Mrs. Jenni Highfill, Spanish 4 teacher, said. “Just how that’s so key to our health. Being able to come to school and get a good education. All that together is really eye opening when you look at it.”

In order to raise money and help those struggling in Guatemala, the students decided to show a movie that features four college students living in Guatemala on only one dollar a day just like many Guatemalans live their whole lives as a fund raiser.

The movie was shown in the large theater for anyone interested, April 29.  Attendees donated a minimum of $3.

Living on One charges 350$ for anyone to show the movie, but Mr. Terry Harris, the Rockwood Director of Equity and Educational Diversity, covered the cost completely, so now all proceeds can go directly to the charities.

Half of the money is going to the organization that made the video, Living on One.

As far as where the rest of the money received will be going, the students researched and voted on other highly functioning organizations to donate to, including Living Water International,Orphan Grain Train, Child Aid, Kiva and water.org.

The movie focused on raising awareness, inspiring action for extreme poverty.

“I cried whenever the woman had to give up becoming a nurse because she couldn’t afford it and she wanted to take care of her kids,” Allison Alvey, attendant of the showing said. “And she had to decide whether to keep them home from school and keep their stomach’s full or send them to school and just try to get by.”

The stories of displayed in the movie produced sympathy but also hope.

“The woman in the film started a weaving business because she got a loan from a micro-financing bank so she could weave and pay for her education,” Allison Alvey said.

All of those involved is Spanish 4 and the project had high hopes for the money that would be raised.

“If we sold all of our tickets, and we filled the theater, and everybody only paid the minimum then it would be $1,000,” Mrs. Lackey said.

The goal was met at the showing thanks to all of the support.