On October 23 and 26, the Sugar-Salem Junior High will host Paddle for a Purpose Pickleball Tournament, raising money to build a well in South Sudan, Africa. The project emerged from the classroom, inspired by their reading of “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park, which tells the story of the struggles to access clean water in the region.
Connecting Education to Action
Geo-Inquiry teacher Sharee Barton sparked the idea in her class, and the students were quick to jump in. “The students have been very excited to do this project,” she said, clearly proud of their enthusiasm.
Sharee Barton’s students didn’t just stop with reading. They conducted local research on Idaho’s water resources and systems, visiting a water treatment plant and learning how water is purified. “We have lots of water, and we won’t run out anytime soon,” said student Leah Cooper, contrasting the situation in Idaho with South Sudan’s water crisis.
This growing awareness made the need for action even more apparent.
“Water is something that kids in southeast Idaho may not need to worry about, but that’s not the case for kids in South Sudan.” – (Sharee Barton)
A Life-Changing Encounter
Thanks to a fortunate connection, Sharee Barton’s class got to meet Thon Yak, a native of South Sudan and a student at BYU-Idaho. Thon Yak’s firsthand account of life in Africa brought their lessons to life. He shared with the class the hardships he faced, including walking four hours to school through dangerous forests and attending class without food or water.
“I think some of you guys just walk two or three minutes from the house to the school. When I grew up, I had to wake up at 3 a.m. just myself to go to a school that is four hours away from home.” – (Thon Yak)
Despite these immense challenges, Thon Yak persevered. His journey from a remote village in South Sudan to a university student in the U.S. left a deep impression on the students. “That did not stop me from the dream that I had.” he said, motivating the class with his resilience.
“Sometimes you come home and there’s no food. You understand that there’s nothing to be cooked, so you don’t even blame your mom.” – (Thon Yak)
Thon Yak’s presentation highlighted the stark contrast between the ease of life in Idaho and the daily struggles in South Sudan. His story deeply resonated with the students.
“It made us aware of the situation and it helped us know where to go with our project.” – (Leah Cooper)
Turning Compassion into Action
Moved by Thon Yak’s story, the students decided to take action by organizing the pickleball tournament. They chose to donate the funds to a reputable organization that ensures wells are actually built.
Beyond pickleball, Sharee Barton has also received interest from people who simply want to contribute to the cause, further showing the community’s generosity.
“We live in a beautiful community with people that are willing to share of their abundance, and that’s a blessing.” – (Sharee Barton)
The Sugar-Salem School District Superintendent Jared Jenks echoed the same message, encouraging students to think globally and act locally. “Look outside yourself to see how you can help the world be a better place.” he said. His words aligned perfectly with the students’ new understanding of the power of giving.
“One thing I hope you recognize is that you live in Sugar City, Idaho. You’re pretty fortunate. You have a lot of things that a lot of people in other countries don’t have. Even in our own country, there’s a lot of things people don’t have that you have. So, look around yourself, look outside yourself as well to see how you can help the world be a better place for not just yourself, but for others. You can make a difference. There are people making a difference every day and things like this will bless somebody else’s life, not just yours.” – (Jared Jenks)
Paddle for a Purpose Tournament Details
The pickleball tournament will take place at the Sugar-Salem Junior High tennis courts. The youth tournament for grades six through twelve will be held on October 23 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., with an entry fee of $10 per team.
The adult tournament will be on October 26 from 9 to 11 a.m., and the entry fee is $20 per team. All proceeds will go toward funding the construction of the well in South Sudan, a project with the potential to change lives.
News in Brief: Paddle for a Purpose Pickleball Tournament
Sugar-Salem Junior High will host the Paddle for a Purpose pickleball tournament on October 23 and 26, aiming to raise funds to build a well in South Sudan.
Inspired by the book A Long Walk to Water and motivated by a visit from Thon Yak, a South Sudanese student, the students took on the project to help those struggling with water access. The pickleball tournament is split into youth and adult divisions, with all proceeds going to support the construction of a well through a reputable organization.
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