Plymouth Middle School Students Tackle Clean Water in Honduras

When an instructor presented Plymouth Middle School students with a water challenge, they decided to tackle a clean water project in Honduras.

Martin Michelli, Diego Umana and Jack Loso will join other volunteers from Cornerstone Church in Crystal for a summer mission project in Yoro, Honduras.

They will install a gutter and rain barrel system along with a simple water filtration system at a rural school. The gravity-powered system will allow the school to convert rainwater to drinking water.

“We came up with the idea when Fernando Pineda, a teachers assistant at Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion school, came to us and told us about his hometown,” says Diego Umana, one of the students going on the trip. “There’s a river and a small school that 72 students have to get water from this river that is 10 minutes away. They have to take time away from learning just to get a necessity.”

The water filtration system is a five-gallon bucket with a mesh screen on top. A spigot connects to a small water filtration system that’s about the size of a toilet paper tube.

“The system uses small tubes that clean water and uses fibers to remove bacteria and debris,” explains Martin Michelli, another student involved. “Not only are we learning ourselves, but we are providing people with clean water.”

After the delivery, students hope the Honduran students won’t have to trek to the river to get water during school.

Plymouth Middle School Students Inspired by Lego League Challenge

Earlier in the school year, students received a water-themed challenge in Lego League. They decided to tackle a real life water challenge instead.

“The kids weren’t getting clean and healthy water,” says Jack Loso, another student involved. “We decided to change that.”

The students will also participate in the church’s outreach. For the last 15 years, Cornerstone Church in Crystal has visited the region in Honduras for summer mission trips. The students plan to take part in the food distribution and Vacation Bible School activities, which includes playing soccer with the other students. The trip will be an inspirational one.

“It can really impact the lives of others in a positive way,” says Diego Umana.