Sixth grade teachers Jean Crosby and Lynn Connelly at St. Joseph’s Catholic School are always looking for ways to teach students life lessons that extend beyond reading, writing and arithmetic. They want students to learn things like compassion, kindness and the importance of serving others. But, how do you teach kids compassion? With that goal in mind, they invited Set Free’s Executive Director Sarah Kelley to the school to talk about the ministry’s work in India. “Her message was so beautiful,” recalls Lynn. “[Set Free] wants to take care of the whole person, not just the water, but also spread the message of Christ.”

An Eye-Opening Message

Sarah’s stories deeply impacted the students. They learned how children, just like them, don’t have access to clean water, and how others are forced into slavery. The students even practiced carrying jugs of water, just like children in Africa and India must do for their families. Sarah explained how Set Free works to share Christ through the gift of clean water, and cares for hundreds of children pulled from slavery. “I think our little 6th graders found it hard to fathom,” says Jean. “A lot of them did not know there was still child slavery.” Lynn adds, “when they realized there were children in slavery it really touched their hearts. They wanted to do something.”

Can We Sell These?

The teachers knew their students were taking the message to heart because 60 of them sat quietly the entire time, soaking it in. The students heard about how the rescued girls make stuffed elephants as a way to learn a trade so they can gain employment and end a cycle of poverty. “[Our students] were like ‘can we sell these?’ When they heard it was helping others it took on a life of its own,” says Jean.

Young Seamstress Makes Elephant

Elephants Practically Sell Themselves

The students started selling elephants and the goal quickly expanded. The school now hopes to sell enough elephants to fund an entire well drilling project in India. “[The elephants] sell themselves. We just didn’t know it was going to take off,” says Jean. “We had the elephants in our rooms and the kids came flooding in.” The school plans to adopt this project again for the 2019-2020 school year, when the theme will be ‘compassion.’ “I think for the students it’ll be very meaningful that they were able to accomplish this as young as they are,” says Lynn.

Get Your School Involved!

Do you teach, attend, or know of a school that would like to sponsor a well in India or Africa? Selling elephants is a great way to incorporate math and entrepreneurship into lessons. Learning about the country teaches geography and history lessons. We’d love to support you in your goal! Please reach out and let’s change the world!