At 6 years old junior Jacob Devlin, did his part to help the lack of water in the world. His parents helped him set up a non-profit donation system to raise money to build a well in Kenya. Now, ten years later he wanted to try again. Only this time he was going to recruit some help.
“There’s still a need for water there, so it’s still important to do,“ Devlin said. “I thought it would be a fun project to do with my friends.”
The Well Bros project began on Feb. 2 when Devlin asked his friends, juniors Lincoln Wright, Rainer Cheek, Anay Bhakta, Sam Kleinjan, Bowen Knox, and Gatlin Gerhard, to be a part of a non-profit organization raising money to build a well in Kenya. Since then, they have workshopped ideas to raise funds for this special cause.
“It means a lot to me because I can actually solve a problem,” Knox said. “I had some doubt but I knew with enough hard work, we could get it done.”
The Well Bros offer manual labor such as mulching flower beds and car washes, with all the proceeds going straight to the cause. They are also working on selling merchandise to raise money.
“I thought that it was a great idea to raise money to support a well in a foreign country,” Kleinjan said. “I’m excited about mulching houses, mowing lawns, and having fun with my friends.”
But they know ultimately this project is about more than yard work and friendship. This project has helped the boys realize they can meet a real need in areas less fortunate than theirs.
“It makes me feel like I contribute more, and I am doing something for the betterment of these countries,“ Wright said.
So far the Well Bros have raised $3,146 and are far from slowing down. The boys need to raise $25,000 to have enough money to build their well. Supporters of this program can donate via the Well Bros online portal, wellbrosproject (thewaterproject.org).
“There’s a real need for clean water there, it makes a big difference in their lives,” Devlin said. “It’s going to do something really good, and impact the community.”
The boys are aware of the work needed to accomplish this goal, and they hope to have the money raised by the end of the year.
“It means a lot, I like volunteering, and this is a way for me to do something really impactful,“ Devlin said.
