AP Environmental Science, also known as APES, and AP Biology classes held a fundraiser to help raise money for impoverished men and women in developing countries. The fundraiser began on Friday, October 14, and lasted through Friday the 21st.

    Students from the classes sold Halloween-themed treat bags for three dollars in the AC during both 1st and 2nd lunch. Those who bought the treat bags could choose to have them delivered anonymously to their friend or partner during 2nd and 3rd hour on Halloween day.

    All money raised from the fundraiser will be going to the class KIVA accounts. KIVA is an online program designed to allow groups, such as the Environmental and Biology classes,  make small loans towards groups or individuals in need from various countries. These needs vary from education to sanitation. The classes make a payment every month, and depending on the payback rate from the loans, they are able to make more loans.

    The idea was first brought up last year by the Ap Environmental Science teacher, David Maxey. The class fundraiser bake sale from the previous year helped raise over 200 dollars.  

    “I found out about KIVA while reading an article about a young girl who was given $1000 to open up an account on a micro loan website to help other people who did not have access to banks or capital. This young girl was making loans to other young women for college loans, instruments, ways to access clean water, and other things which would help improve the lives of these women and their families,” Maxey said. “I thought to myself- if an elementary school girl could do this why aren’t my APES doing something like this to better the world. So instead of giving one of my awesome and engaging powerpoint lectures that morning, I asked my APES ‘Why are we not doing something like this?’”

    Leading the fundraiser are seniors Shantelle Mogollon and Hailee Snyder.

    “We hope to raise at least 70 dollars- I know that sounds strange for a fundraiser, but this is a smaller fundraiser with the sole purpose of adding money to our KIVA account so we can make more loans!” Mogollon said.

    “It is extremely important to make these loans, especially regarding women, because if women in developing countries are able to focus on education rather than worry about clean water and crops, it will reduce the population growth in that area,”  (statistics show that educated women have less children) Mogollon said.

     “I do feel we are making a difference in the lives of people across the globe by giving them access to monies they would normally have trouble attaining. We have made a few loans which are risky but if the funds are used in the way that they were intended the loss may be worth it to better the lives of many children,” Maxey said.