Family Dollar has partnered with BGCA to provide funding to Club youth across the nation in order to do more in their communities. In Ohio, four Clubs were able to take part in creating change within their communities, one of those being Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio.
After thinking on and discussing issues that impact them, teens decided to focus on learning the importance of equity and access as it relates to clean water. Taking a deeper look into how water impacts their daily life as well as educate their community on why it is essential to keep water sources clean.
BGC Northeast Ohio partnered with Drink Local. Drink Tap. Inc. which is an international non-profit focused on solving water equity and quality issues. They provided BGC NEO with educational information about how relevant water issues are right here in Ohio as well as across the world. Director of Teen Initiatives, Courtney Horne, said how impactful it was for teens to learn that concerns with quality drinking water are not just third-world issues but ones facing families right here at home.
In addition, the group made a visit to the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District wastewater plant. Here they were able to explore more about water utilities and learn how wastewater is processed, cleaned and pumped back into Lake Erie.
The youth board wanted to advocate for the importance of clean water throughout their own community. To do this, they created a lesson plan to teach their BGC peers what they had learned throughout this process. One student, Ka'Mya Allen (15, Broadway Club - Cleveland) touched on the success of their project by saying, "The Club kids were really interactive and willing to learn about clean water. I learned a lot doing this project that I never knew about." The teens were able to provide all Club members who attended their session with a free water bottle from We Are The Ripple. 10% of the proceeds from each water bottle, purchased by the Youth Board, went to their program partner, Drink Local. Drink Tap. Inc. to support their clean water project in Uganda.
As a result of this project, the Club was able to form partnerships with water utilities and the water alliance in the Northeast Ohio Region. These partnerships are providing youth with opportunities to interview professionals with the goal of leading to workforce development.
After this project's success, students were excited and inspired to continue advocating for what they know is an important issue. The group has plans to visit the EPA in Washington D.C and the Ohio Statehouse to have conversations and discussions over important topics as they seek to continue creating change.