A dozen students will wash cars at the Shell filling stations in Gualo Rai and Susupe from 9 a.m., to 2 p.m. on Dec. 13.
They are raising funds to help the foundation of Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of Hotel des Mille Collines in Rwanda.
Over 10 years after the Rwanda genocide, the Rusesabagina Foundation continues to help refugee camps in Africa.
As of yesterday, the students had already sold over $200 worth of tickets. Each are sold for $5.
Rebekah Yost who teaches grades six, seven and eight students, said her class watched the movie “Hotel Rwanda” which was part of their world history lessons.
Inspired, each of the student wrote a letter to Rusesabagina expressing how they feel about his compassion to the villagers fleeing from a militia group during the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
They thanked the hotel manager for being brave, making a difference and saving the lives of the Tutsi people and their children by bringing them into his hotel.
Along with the letters, the children also enclosed thank you signs and their group photo.
They will send their letters to Rusesabagina as soon as they raise enough funds on Saturday.
Yost said the fundraising is an opportunity for everyone to sacrifice just a little this Christmas season to help people who have gone through a horrendous tragedy.
In their own little way, these children are trying to be a part of something bigger, Yost said.
The money that will be raised will be sent to orphans and widows of the genocide that are still occurring in some African countries today.
The students involved in the car wash campaign are divided into two groups.
The Group A members are Miguel Dandan, Minori Yoshida, Raina Klaver, Sera Kim, Marin Nakamura, Victoria Chentsova, Nicole Arenovski, Christian Miller and Clay McCullough-Stearns.
Those in Group B are Jake Lee, Phalai Frink, Kristina Folta, Cody Race, Jay Ko, Joon Ko and Ilia Corella.
