It can be difficult for an entire high school student body to be involved in raising money for a valuable cause. Dollar Wars, a fun competition between sister classes, makes fundraising interactive and motivates people to invest in the cause. This game assigns points to dollar bills, but in a unique way. Participants can put one dollar in their class’s bin, earning one point for their class, but larger bills, such as 5s, 10s and 20s, deduct that amount of points from other grades when placed in an opposing class’s bin.
The war was held from February 23 to March 6, with students gaining and losing points each day. This event not only raises money for the Bishop Korir Memorial Secondary School in Moiben, Kenya, but also brings the community together in friendly competition.
“I think it definitely helps sister classes work together, because they are trying to eventually win and gain spirit points. I think just as a community, it brings us closer, because we all eventually like donating to the same cause and fighting for good,” said Maddie Fowler, President of NDB’s service club.
Director of Campus Ministry Amy Jobin shared that they chose this school because three Notre Dame sisters traveled to Kenya last year and visited a school for the deaf. When they returned, they shared that the school was originally created to serve Deaf students, but the local diocese also expressed a need for stronger education for hearing students. As a result, the sisters made the school fully integrated, serving both Deaf and hearing students. Now, all students, faculty and staff are required to learn Kenyan Sign Language. The students live on campus, take classes together, share meals, play sports and are fully integrated in every aspect of school life.
“…[Sister Margaret] said they would probably use this money for curriculum materials to get more books for the library, like just things that schools need,” Jobin continued.
Throughout these two weeks, students came together and made an impact by supporting women’s education in Kenya, following NDB’s mission of women empowerment.
