LAWRENCE — Learning is not limited to the classroom for 14 juniors at Lawrence High School.
The students in the Performing and Fine Arts Academy have been selling $1 tickets to raffle off a basket of books, an iPod home docking station, a Lawrence High sweatshirt, a digital camera, and a $50 gift certificate to The Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem, N.H.
The money will benefit Klean Water 4 Kids and Money 4 The Hungry.
The water project helps families in Africa and India dig wells to pump clean water and also educates them about the importance of having clean water.
"America is so fortunate to have clean water, we want them to have the same opportunity as we do," said Genesis Peralta, 17.
"It makes me feel that there's so many people in the world that can't help themselves and we can actually make a difference," said Keyla Rodriguez, 16, who, along with Peralta, is leading the project.
The second fundraiser is to help eliminate world hunger through projectbread.org.
The 14 students, all members of the school's Executive Committee, hope to raise $2,000 for each organization.
In addition to the raffle, students will have a trivia contest called "Your Curiosity will Cost You a $1," where students pay to answer questions.
They are also collecting canned foods and participating in Project Bread's Walk for Hunger in May.
Teacher Robert Gorham said the students came up with the idea for the project. The students did research on the organizations they want to support.
"It shows that young people can change the world and the students have dedicated their time for that," Gorham said.
Peralta and Rodriguez hope area residents can help by making a donation at the school or contacting their teacher at RGorham@Lawrence.k12.Ma.US.
This is not the first year the students have reached out to help others. During their freshman year, they raised $1,000 for Smile Train, an organization that offers surgery to children born with cleft palates.
They surpassed their goal of $1,000 by $70 and were able to help four youngsters.
"I love being part of this. It makes me feel good thinking, 'Wow, I can do this.' I can be part of something this big," Rodriguez said.
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